Happy New Year! The New Year brings with it a determination to better ourselves through goals and resolutions. Sometimes it is easy to get into a rut or do “just enough to get by.” One of the wonderful parts of this craft is that there is always an opportunity to improve. No matter what skill […]
By Doug Butler, PhD, CJF, FWCF If you want to work with horses and the people who value them, farrier school may be the best opportunity for you. Becoming a farrier is a great career opportunity that is often overlooked in today’s horse industry. Farriers work for affluent people who have discretionary income and have […]
Ask a dissatisfied horse owner what their biggest frustration is about their farrier and you might get an extensive list. Ask an unhappy farrier what their biggest frustration is about their clients and you might hear an even longer list. Occasionally, farriers and horse owners don’t see eye-to-eye and it can be an aggravating experience […]
Hoof wall thicknesses vary. There is a very small margin for error. The farrier must pay close attention to selecting and driving each nail. Not all nails are manufactured perfectly, and misshapen nails might not drive straight. However, nail quicking isn’t the only kind of quicking that can affect a horse – he can also […]
Maria Ostry of Bruno, Nebraska (in Butler County) has been shoeing horses for 3 years now. She attended the Butler Professional Farrier School basic course in 2015 and the advanced course in 2016. She excelled as a student where she demonstrated a desire to learn and pushed herself every day to become better. She has […]
National Farriers Week is a dedicated time for horse owners to express appreciation for the farriers who keep their horses sound. It is also a good time for horse owners to learn what constitutes good farrier work. Horse owners who don’t know what constitutes good hoof care are at a disadvantage when it comes to […]
Whose responsibility is it to clean up after the farrier? Farriers inevitably make a mess each time they do their job. Manure, hoof trimmings and bent horseshoe nails litter the ground after each trimming or shoeing. Some farriers have the idea that the job is their responsibility and nothing more. They feel to let the […]
In recent years, there have been more and more women entering the farrier profession. There is a misconception that shoeing horses is a “man’s job.” Some may believe this is true because it is a very physically demanding craft. Women shouldn’t be discouraged by this inaccurate assumption. It is very true that being a farrier […]
Right now is a good time to get into the farrier industry. Horse numbers have remained steady in recent years. Even though the horse market has taken a hit, the number of people that are involved in the horse industry is quite high. Horse enthusiasts are still participating in equine events and activities. All of […]
Farriers can get annoyed with people that they feel are unjustly criticizing their work. A horse owner may “go on the internet” for a few hours and feel at liberty to offer advice with their newfound knowledge. When a (sometimes well-meaning) non-farrier does this, it makes him or her look ignorant. A customer once said, […]
Butler Professional Horseshoeing School
495 Table Road
Crawford, NE 69339
(800) 728-3826
jacob@dougbutler.com
If you think you want to become a farrier (or know someone who does), this book can help you make that decision. Horse owners will learn the importance of choosing a qualified farrier and how to select the “right” one.
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