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FPD Sponsored Clinics
FPD is proud to support and/or sponsor shoeing clinics throughout the year. The clinics, conducted in various locations throughout the country, provide informative shoeing and tool techniques demonstrated by well-respected industry professionals.
Here's a list of the confirmed clinics and clinicians that we will sponsor in 2010:
| Date | Host | Location | Clinician | Contact Info |
| October 29 | Indiana Farriers Association | Janssen Vet Clinic, Sheridan, IN | Conrad Trow CJF | 765-606-6052 |
| November 19 & 20 | The Horseshoe Barn | The Horseshoe Barn, Sacramento, CA | Doug Workman CJF & Bob Schantz CJF | 916-925-6534 or 800-338-BARN |
Click here to view our complete calendar listing clinics, contests, conventions or other farrier related events. These events are usually open to farriers, veterinarians, and to the horse owning public. Please call the contact person to confirm the details including time and place of the event.
Equitarianism Brings Veterinary and Farrier Care to Dominican Republic Equines
Through literally hundreds of vaccinations and dewormings, 60 surgeries, nutrition training, and a nationwide farrier clinic, all from June 6-13, the Dominican Republic's horses, donkeys, and mules are once again benefiting from a new concept known as "equitarianism."
The equitarian effort, headed by Jay Merriam, DVM, MS, of the Massachusetts Equine Clinic in conjunction with the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association, targets the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and is part of the association's "Samana Project." Since 1993 veterinarians, technicians, and other volunteers have been traveling to the Dominican Republic twice a year to provide much-needed health care to the country's working equids, as well as small animals.
The Samana Project summer 2010 team just completed "the most productive year ever," according to equine podiatrist and Samana team member Steve O'Grady, BVSc, MRCVS, of Northern Virginia Equine in Marshall, VA. "“The horses were just coming out of the woodworks, nonstop," he said. Vaccines and dewormers were given until the team’s stock, donated by U.S. manufacturers, was depleted. A team of three veterinarians and and numerous veterinary students performed 52 castrations in addition to other necessary surgeries in four days.
Now in his second year in the project, O'Grady and the team organized a nationwide farrier clinic, attended by at least two local farriers from each province. "Farriery addresses one of the most common and serious concerns of the working equid: problems with the feet," he said. Farrier equipment was donated and shipped to the Dominican Republic by Farrier Product Distribution in Shelbyville, Ky. Donations included Kerckhaert Horse Shoes and Vector Horseshoe Nails.
Like humanitarianism, equitarianism is meant to promote sympathy and benevolence towards individuals, but in this case, the individuals are the equine inhabitants of developing countries. Equitarian interests are on the rise, with more and more opportunities becoming available to equine health care professionals wanting to make a difference, said Merriam during the first official session on equitarianism, held at the American Association of Equine Practitioners Annual Convention last year.
FPD NEWS
To keep you updated on the newest products coming from FPD we've started a monthly newsletter. Just click on the month to view a pdf file for that month. If you'd like to receive this newsletter by email, please click here.
Current Issue: July 2010
| Archived Issues: | ||
| June 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 |
| February 2010 | January 2010 | December 2009 |
| November 2009 | September 2009 | August 2009 |
Spotlight on Blacksmiths - New York Racing Association
The seventh installment of The New York Racing Association, Inc.’s (NYRA) “Spotlight Series” is now available on demand at NYRA.com and profiles blacksmiths Fred Sullerberg and Michael Vinas.
In the video, Sullerberg and Vinas discuss how they became blacksmiths, the equipment they use, and the process of changing shoes on a horse. In addition, trainer Richard Schosberg talks about how blacksmiths can affect a horse’s performance.
2010 Preakness Stakes
BALTIMORE, Maryland - Congratulations to Mr. Steve Norman of Midway, Kentucky for being the farrier for the 2010 Preakness Stakes winner - Lookin at Lucky (Owned by Michael Pegram; trained by Bob Baffert; and ridden to victory by Martin Garcia). The winner was wearing Kings XT on the fronts and Tradition Regular Toe Toe Clipped on the hinds. We also extend our appreciation to the many other farriers who used Kerckhaert race plates on the 2010 Preakness Stakes field.
2010 Kentucky Derby
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - Good Shoes. Good Hands. Good Foot. Whether Kerckhaert is designing shoes for different race surfaces - or finding solutions for the traditional problems with breakover - they are always listening and responding with innovative products. Even their traditional designs have improved support and strength.
Congratulations to Mr. Ray Amato for his work in shoeing the 2010 Kentucky Derby winner - Super Saver (Owned by Winstar Farm; trained by Todd Pletcher; and ridden to victory by Calvin Borel). Our thanks go to Mr. Amato and the other farriers that used Kerckhaert on more than two thirds of the 2010 Kentucky Derby field.
Dubai World Cup 2010
Dubai, UAE - The first edition of the Dubai World Cup at the brand new Meydan course was a great success. For the complete story click here.
Farriers Keep Alive the Art of Shoeing Horses
COVINGTON, Georgia (CNN) -- From the Civil War to the taming of the West to the Kentucky Derby, horses have played an essential role in the forging of American history, and the farrier has been there for every stride.
Doug Workman uses a forge to heat metal to 1,800 degrees so it can be shaped into a horseshoe.
Farriers are specialists in equine hoof care. They shoe horses to aid in the animal's movement and balance.
A lot of hard work and sweat is how farrier Doug Workman describes his job. Workman, a farrier for more than 20 years, is the current president of the Georgia Farriers Association, and he takes his trade seriously.
Workman makes horseshoes by hand in a process that hasn't changed in over a century. It starts with an iron oven called a forge that heats metal to an orange glow of 1,800 degrees. Hammer then crashes onto burning steel repeatedly, smashing and bending it, willing it into shape, all by the strength of man's arm.
Once the shoe is formed so that it fits to the horse's hoof like a glove, it must be attached. It is then that the farrier, with his head bent low, next to a thousand-pound horse, straddles the horse's leg between his own and drives nail into hoof.
Workman grew up around horses. As a teenager in Wyoming he began spending time with farriers and fell in love with the work. Traveling around the country, meeting with different farriers and learning different techniques, was how he honed his craft.
"It's a good deal," he says, "a good life."
The heyday for horseshoeing was at the turn of the 20th century, right before the invention of the car. It was a period in which horses were the main source of transportation and, in many cases, a person's livelihood. Today most horses are used for recreation but still require a farrier's touch.
A horse's hoof grows about a quarter-inch to three-eighths of an inch every month. If a shoe is left on too long, the hoof will grow out of balance and start damaging joints and tendons in the leg, says Workman. So it is necessary to trim hoofs and re-do horseshoes on a regular basis.
Most farriers nowadays care for about 200 horses, which means they're usually on a different farm every day plying their trade.
One day recently Workman and fellow farrier Dave Pervus were at the Star Light Farm in Covington, Georgia.
Pervus, a farrier for more than 12 years, says this is a detail-oriented work. They both stress the need for high-quality craftsmanship in their trade and understand the importance of a single nail out of place. A centuries-old proverb, they believe, illustrates the significance of what they do:
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
Workman says the economy has taken a toll on his industry but not as much as others.
Some of his clients have cut back to just shoeing the front two legs of their horses vs. shoeing all four. But most horse owners have a special relationship with their horses and think of them as children. As a result, Workman believes, their horses are not going to suffer a lot. "They might not take a vacation, but they'll keep their horses up," Workman says.
Farriers may not always have the best reputations, according to Pervus, who says people may think "we're just big oafs that wrestle horses all day." He explains that trying to maintain a horse's balance, soundness and health is a lot more difficult than merely nailing on a shoe.
Workman agrees.
"We are not just a strong back and a weak mind," he says. "We actually put a lot of effort into trying to further our profession."
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The Georgia Farriers Association puts on clinics, contests and discussions; it promotes good work skills and brings farriers together to share information and techniques. The goal is to further the knowledge and skill of the job.
Workman doesn't see farriers going anywhere. As long as people use horses, he says, farriers will be needed.
FPD, Inc. Completes Warehouse Expansion
August 21, 2009 - Farrier Product Distribution, Inc. (FPD), a leading distributor of farrier and related equine products, has completed a 7,800 square foot expansion to their existing 22,000 square foot office and warehouse facility located in Shelbyville, Kentucky. The contractor for the expansion was the Lloyd-Bilyeu Company from Louisville, KY.
Planning for the expansion began in the summer of 2008 and culminated with a March 2009 groundbreaking. The addition will help accommodate the continued growth of the major product lines distributed by FPD, including Kerckhaert Horseshoes for the riding and racing markets, Vector Horseshoe Nails and Bellota Rasps.
“We are always looking for ways to enhance the distribution of products to the stores we supply. Our ability to meet demand in turn allows the store owners to meet the needs of the farrier,” states Dan Burke, president of FPD. “With the continued success and growth of the products we offer, this additional space will help us keep pace with the demand.”
Holy Horseshoes! Bob Baffert's Bold Backstretch Blacksmith Burn-On
by Fran Jurga | 4 May 2009 | Fran Jurga's Hoof Blog
Needless to say, this is a story that racing fans would read only on the Hoof Blog.
Bob Baffert must have been holding his breath Saturday morning as he watched horseshoer Tom Doolan hotseating Pioneerof the Nile's hooves before nailing on new shoes for the Kentucky Derby.
In case you are not familiar with this process: "Hot seating" is as old as the hills...or maybe older, but you don't see it much around the racetrack anymore. When pleasure horses are shod with heavier steel shoes, the shoes are still heated in a forge and shaped and reflattened to fit the foot.
FPD, Inc. Makes Corporate Donation
Farrier Product Distribution (FPD), a leading distributor of farrier and related equine products, recently made a corporate donation to the Olive Britt/Eddie Watson Veterinarian/Farrier facility to be built at the Meadow Farm Event Park located in Doswell, Virginia. In January 2004, the State Fair of Virginia (SFVA) purchased the site, now called The Meadow Event Park. Included in the SFVA campaign, the Veterinarian/Farrier facility will be constructed as part of a rebirth of SFVA’s Equine Complex. The facility will be named in honor of Dr. Olive Britt and Eddie Watson. Dr. Britt was the attending veterinarian at The Meadow for many years, tending to the foaling of Secretariat and other Chenery family horses. Eddie Watson was well known and admired in the farrier industry for his work in the equine community.
“FPD is pleased to participate in this worthy tribute to these fine professionals. Both Dr. Britt and Eddie Watson represent the standard we strive to meet in our industry.” Dan Burke, president of FPD stated. “Over many years, I worked with Eddie Watson and had great fondness for him, and admiration for his skills as a farrier, practitioner and educator.”
In response to FPD’s contribution, Dwight Usry, Co-Chair of the Britt-Watson Recognition Campaign wrote, “You folks at FPD set the standard as far as I am concerned in your continual support of the farrier industry nationwide. This support continues with your generous gift to the Olive Britt/Eddie Watson Vet/Farrier Facility at the Meadow Farm Park.”
Founded in 1990, Farrier Product Distribution, Inc. is a wholesale-only distributor of farrier and related equine products. Considered a leader in bringing groundbreaking products and service to the Farrier industry, the company distributes to suppliers throughout North America.
Kerckhaert Horseshoe Company Announces Exclusive Importer for North American Market
The Netherlands: Kerckhaert Horseshoe Company announced recently that effective January 1, 2009, Farrier Product Distribution, Inc. (FPD) would be the exclusive importer in North America for all Kerckhaert products.
Founded in The Netherlands in 1906, Kerckhaert is the largest independent manufacturer of horseshoes in the world. The company is owned and managed by the fourth generation of the Kerckhaert family.
“We are pleased to announce our choice of FPD to exclusively manage our North American markets,” stated Martin Kerckhaert. “They share our philosophy of service, quality and innovation, and they are well positioned to manage this additional distribution.”
Farrier Product Distribution, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is considered a leader in bringing groundbreaking products and service to the Farrier industry.
For more information regarding Kerckhaert and FPD visit www.kerckhaert.com or www.farrierproducts.com.
Vector Horseshoe Nails sponsors North American Challenge Cup
Vector Horseshoe Nails are the proud sponsors of the North American Challenge Cup held at the American Farrier's Association National Forging and Horseshoeing Competition. Click here for the American Farrier's Association website for additional details. Congratulations to Mr. Billy Crothers of Great Britain for winning the 2009 Vector North American Challenge Cup in Chattanooga, TN.