farrier

Beach Faulkner was at Keeneland one day when John Williams called him over and pointed at a horse being led off a van a couple of barns down. "Look at this," Williams said. "Watch him walk. You might as well put your name on the side of that horse." Beach remembers the great horseman's compliment with a smile. He's been working on horses' feet for 57 years, more than half of that time with son Tyler alongside, until he too has come to share the same mastery. They are farriers,...

   To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them - Montesquieu In the past, I frequently attended riding instruction clinics of a very sought after Olympic medal winning rider and trainer who opened every session with the following statement (paraphrasing), "I have been doing this my whole life, 50 plus years. I don't consider myself an expert and if I'm not an expert, than you most certainly are not an expert." That statement always received uncomfortable laughs from the participants, most likely connected to their...

I've often wondered about the significance and the origins of what I might label the arbitrary four-week shoeing cycle, and its strict adherence by some owners, trainers and stable managers. I recognize scheduling is simplified when the shoeing occurs the same day every month. However, having now done this job for some time, I have identified many circumstances where horses would benefit with more time in between shoeing and on more than one occasion that has been my recommendation (accepted or not). Unfortunately, there are some non-farrier professionals who fail...

Curtis Burns is passionate about horses. Like many in the horse industry, he credits the horse for everything that he has. A lifelong horseman, he grew up in the Minnesota, noting his then small stature had him poised to be an exercise rider or jockey prospect. However, at around age 14 a chance opportunity led him to the racetrack. "Pretty much from there I never went home," he said. Burns now wears many hats--farrier, innovator, teacher, and the manufacturer of the Polyflex Shoe and other farrier products. He told the...

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital will host the Second Rood & Riddle International Podiatry Conference, an educational seminar for veterinarians and farriers, Apr. 15-16 at the Spy Coast Equine Educational Center on Newtown Pike in Lexington, Ky. The conference aims to create a collaborative experience for veterinarians and farriers to work together, increasing and sharing their knowledge of biomechanics, laminitis, and innovations within equine podiatry. It will feature lectures and demonstrations by some of the equine industry's most notable members. Guest speakers include Dr. Renate Weller of the University of...

Sporadically, I have had trainers, owners and random onlookers approach me while I'm working on a horse with a remark that the horse's feet (specifically the front) 'sort of look different.' This normally only occurs when I find myself working on horses with extreme examples of mismatched feet, where one foot presents a longer-looking toe with a low or no heel, and the other, a shorter toe with a higher heel. My normal response usually includes a look (of disgust); however, their observations would be (somewhat) correct (on the surface),...

Farrier Tales continues to pull back the curtain on all things horse, horseshoeing, farrier, and related science, attempting to provide useful information and insight for horse professionals and enthusiasts.  Have you ever wondered why your farrier often seems so grumpy? The headline, a quote from the classic movie Cool Hand Luke, basically sums it up. Over the course of my career, I have cultivated innumerable friendships with a number of colleagues from various backgrounds and nationalities. Despite our broad range of disciplines and skill sets, many of our shared concerns...

Full disclosure, for anyone who knows me or has spotted my videos (Farrier Tales), I am not a 'plater,' but I am guessing that would be a foregone conclusion given the rotund nature of the horses featured. In fairness to them, they do go fast, but tend to have a few obstacles in the way. As one might expect, there is a significant amount of client crossover with the racing and show worlds; I've spent a fair amount of time at the farms, handling broodmares, wrestling babies and shoeing my...