From the category archives:

Horse Foot Care

New Farrier and Horse Owner Resources

March 9, 2010 0 comments

“Share a little March Gladness…”
We’d be “glad” if you would check out each of our newly designed websites …
www.dougbutler.com – for horseshoeing books and training DVDs
www.butlerprofessionalfarrierschool.com – learn about our facility, staff, curriculum, class schedules, admission requirements, tuition
www.butlerhorseshoeingschools.com – sign up today to receive weekly blogs on humane horse foot care for owners, farriers, and [...]

Read full article →

Celebrating “March Gladness” at Doug Butler Enterprises

March 2, 2010 0 comments

March is a special month for many reasons – from basketball teams and their March Madness to the glories of Springtime, such as new baby calves on our neighbors’ ranches, early flowers popping their heads up through the lingering snow, and pastures and yards turning green to announce the long winter is over. Yes, Spring [...]

Read full article →

FAQ #14 By looking at the outside of the horse’s foot, how can you tell what position the P3 bone is inside the hoof, if it’s out of normality or – if so – at what degree? How can you analyze how to trim and what to do in relation to a rotated or tilted bone?

February 20, 2010

The best way to tell the position of the Distal Phalanx, or P3, is to have a lateral/medial radiograph of the hoof.  Usually, the foot will have to be placed on a block to get the x-ray beam parallel to the base of the bone.
Without an x-ray, you can look at the slope of the [...]

Read full article →

Have you thanked your farrier and others of value in your lives?

February 13, 2010

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.             –Alfred North Whitehead

We have several notable holidays in the United States.  Valentine’s Day is one of them!  Not only is it a good time to communicate with loved ones, family members and [...]

Read full article →

Horse Owner and Farrier Expectations

February 5, 2010

What should horse owners expect from their farrier?
You, the horse owner, have a right to expect a well-trained and experienced professional to care for your valuable horse(s). Unfortunately, some farriers short-change their education by not acquiring a firm foundation of basic knowledge about their craft. Even those who make the sacrifice to attend a school [...]

Read full article →

7 Farrier Fundamentals

January 29, 2010

It’s important to have a memorized sequence of performing farrier skills so  nothing is left out.  This is the sequence we teach at Butler Professional Farrier School.  The image in the mind guides the craftsman’s hands.  This sequence must be practiced until it becomes a habit.
1. ASSESSMENT
Consider horse, shoe wear, and conditions
2. TRIMMING
Consider position of [...]

Read full article →

FAQ #13 Why does a horse get nail-quicked?

January 22, 2010

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 be [...]

Read full article →

Trustworthy Farriers Horse Owners Can Depend Upon

January 15, 2010 2 comments

Farriers perform a valuable service for people who care about their horses. It’s important to be trustworthy and do the job right.
Let me share a true story. A stone mason was laying very large stones for the walls of a large church building. One of the stones had a crack on the [...]

Read full article →

5 Tips to Select a Sound Horse

December 9, 2009 2 comments

We all value our animals — both in terms of money and our emotional attachment to them. Although there are fewer horses today than a hundred years ago, there are more people who own horses, and individual animals have a much higher value.
Many well-meaning people buy a horse just because they become emotionally attached [...]

Read full article →

FAQ #9 What’s normal hoof size?

December 7, 2009

Answer: A hoof that is proportional to the horse’s body size allows for ideal distribution of body weight over the foot’s laminar surface. (Laminar surface refers to the area where the sensitive laminae, attached to the coffin bone, interlocks with the horny laminae at the hoof wall.) When the foot is proportional [...]

Read full article →

← Previous Entries