Author Archives: Dan

By Bob Pethick, CJF APF Farriers should not be trying to straighten limbs in aged horses. You’re simply trying to make the horse comfortable for it’s conformation. To help a horse become comfortable, you need to limit hoof distortion by … Continue reading →

Two methods of clinching are the hammer clinch and the use of a clinching tool. Both methods have the same goal – to provide a neat, safe and effective clinch. In recent years, many farriers have come to rely almost … Continue reading →

by Dave Farley, CF APF When asked to work on a horse with a club foot, take extra time to evaluate the whole horse. Look at the horse from all angles. Watch the horse as it takes a couple of … Continue reading →

A successful commitment to customer service requires some planning. There is no doubt you have to be quick on your feet in dealing with your customers but you can’t overlook the advantages of thorough planning. In the early stages of … Continue reading →

by Dave Farley, CF APF Most equine breeds and disciplines require some degree of traction in order to perform. A horse’s ability to perform would be extremely limited if you took away all traction. The natural concavity of the sole … Continue reading →

Guest Blog from Sara Vanderpol Each year the Canadian Farrier’s Team is selected to represent Canada’s farriers on the world stage. Jack Ketel (Kelowna, BC), Justin Fountain (Kamloops, BC), John Dixon (Abbotsford, BC), Sara Vanderpol (Elora, ON) and alternate Johnny … Continue reading →

By Roy Bloom, CJF APF-I Tongs are used to hold material too hot to hold with our hands. Maximum control is possible only if the tongs are set to the size of material being used. Photo 1 shows the jaws … Continue reading →

by Roy Bloom, CJF APF and Dave Farley, CF APF The undercut, sometimes called a hoof gouge, can be used in place of the rasp when clinching. The photos give an excellent view of the steps involved. Like all new … Continue reading →

Guest Blog from Rob Logsdon of FPD The Red Mile in Lexington, KY has long been referred to as “The World’s Fastest Harness Track.” Established in 1875, this track is the second oldest harness track in the world and holds … Continue reading →

by Mitch Taylor, CJF AWCF APF The foundation of any shoeing job is the foot preparation. One statistic that all farriers should be aware of is that most chronic lameness is caused by poor or improper foot care. Look at … Continue reading →