This week (22 Jul 2018), a mule named Wallace the Great made headlines by being the first mule to win a British Dressage competition. Earlier this month, the British Dressage Board revised the rule book to allow mules to compete in British Dressage. Mules have been allowed to compete in dressage in the United States […]
On Saturday (9 June 2018), Justify, trained by Bob Baffert, will be the latest horse to attempt to achieve the Triple Crown. This prestigious honor is only held by 12 horses since 1919. Winning all three races to achieve the Triple Crown has technically been possible since 1875 when the Kentucky Derby was started. American […]
The summer season is upon us once again. For Butler Professional Farrier School that means we get to shoe the horses and mules at Fort Robinson State Park in time for the park to open on Memorial Day Weekend. Fort Robinson has draft horse teams, mule teams, and saddle horses used for the stage coach, […]
By Doug Butler, PhD, CJF, FWCF Farriery or horseshoeing is an ancient art. Sound principles of practice have changed little over the centuries. Its object is to keep horses sound and useful to mankind. It is a service occupation that allows recreation and work horses provide a more enjoyable experience for their owners. Fads have […]
Horses are living animals so they will inevitably move around while the farrier is working. This can be very frustrating to farriers who do precision work. A lot of movement makes a difficult job even more difficult. Ideally, horses should stand relatively still for the farrier as they work. Some horses do a better job […]
One of the biggest dangers confronting farriers is complacency. A farrier reaches a certain point, and thinks, “I am working at a satisfactory level. This is good enough. I don’t need to push myself anymore.” For some farriers that point is when they have accomplished certification. For others it may be when they get out […]
Two weeks ago, Bobby Morrison of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away due to a massive stroke. I was privileged to work with Bobby in the 1980s when he trained some amazing Saddlebred horses while he lived in Braddyville, Iowa. There are many trainers who can produce a champion from a well-bred horse of championship quality. […]
A serious affliction of horses today is laminitis and founder. When a horse has laminitis, the toe or front half of the foot is in pain because the laminae that adheres the hoof wall to the bone has become inflamed. This is a problem because the hoof wall supports the weight of the animal. The […]
As an American farrier that has shod horses from coast to coast and border to border for over five decades, I am amazed at the many different ways people care for their horses. What is considered neglect in some areas, in another is considered responsible care. There is variance in area and in breeds, […]
Often farriers are asked about the rings on the horse’s foot. They have the potential of giving us twelve months of information about a horse’s health. Visible rings indicate there has been some disturbance in the metabolism of the horse affecting the keratinization of the hoof. The indentation or ring is formed sometime before it […]
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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