Farriery Articles

The columns listed below have been written by both farriers and non-farriers with a wide range of experience. Some are quite "famous" within the profession, whereas others are not as well known. What they all have in common is the urge to share their knowledge and experience with others. For that we should be thankful, as their writings enrich all of us.

If you want to have a discussion about something you've read in these articles, have something to add, or have a question, the Bulletin Board sections of this site are designed to take your questions. Exchanging ideas and information is what this site is all about. We all benefit.

The articles are divided into 8 sections:

Within each section the articles are listed in alphabetical order. To access an article, select the pointing hand preceding its title.

General Farriery

Anvils by F. Thomas Breningstall

Applying the Equine Digit Support System by Gene Ovnicek, photos by Rob Edwards
(Note: This is a photo essay containing 25 photographs. It will take a few minutes to download, but it's worth it.)

Balance by Jerry Jones

Balance: Buzz Words and Brainstorms to Decode Duckett's Dot by Sue Bumbaugh

Balancing the Normal Foot: Hoof Preparation, Shoe Fit and Shoe Modification in the Performance Horse by O.K. Balch, D. Butler and M.A. Collier

The Basic Mechanics of the Foot and the Horseshoe by James R. Rooney, D.V.M. (Prof. Emeritus)

Addendum & Correction to The Basic Mechanics of the Foot and the Horseshoe by James R. Rooney, D.V.M. (Prof. Emeritus)

Building a Shoeing Stock by Doug Beck

Correct Shoeing for Veterinarians and Owners by J. Scott Simpson

Corrective Trimming and Shoeing in Contracted Tendons of Foals by Yehuda Avisar, DVM

Creasing Horseshoes By Scott Simpson

Defining Vertical Depth of the Equine Heel by M. Savoldi, J. Bramblett, and V. Rose

Equine Asymmetrical Dexterity by Ernie Gray

Equine Magnetic Therapy by Greg Sefton

Facets of the Four-point Trim by Andrew L. Dibbern

Farrier's Roundtable: Shoeing Draft Horses by the Staff of The Draft Horse Journal

Fix-It Shoeing by F. Thomas Breningstall

Foal Feet Care by F. Thomas Breningstall

Gait Fault in Horses: Genetic Influence by J. Scott Simpson

Gas Forge Welding by F. Thomas Breningstall

Gluing On Aluminum Shoes by Andy Juell (This is a photo-essay, and will take a few minutes to download. It's well worth the wait!!)

#@%*@ Grabs! by Tom Stovall, CJF

Hammer Command by F. Thomas Breningstall

Heel Expansion - Says Who? by Henry Heymering, RJF, CJF

Heel Wedges: Their Effects on Tendon and Ligament Strains by Kent M. Thompson, PhD

Hoof Balance: The Rudiments of the Farrier's Art by Dave Millwater

Hoof Structure Pictorial by Rusty Freeman

Hoof Wall Separations by Tom Stovall, CJF

Horse Hoof Care is Important All Year 'Round by Kimberly Meenen

Hoof Repair Composites: A Primer by Danvers Child

Horseshoe Nails by F. Thomas Breningstall

Hot Shoeing: Pros and Cons by Tom Stovall, CJF

Improving your Horse while Helping your Farrier by Marion Shearer

Keep The Fires Burning by Marilyn Burns Sumpter

Kicking by F. Thomas Breningstall

Laminitis Survey by Robert A . Eustace, FRCVS

Making Forepunches by Bob Gillanders

Mechanical Treatment for Hoof Wall Disease by Tom Stovall, CJF

Medial/Lateral Balance of the Foot by J. Scott Simpson

Nailing: Tips for the White Line Phobic by Wendell Wells

Navicular Syndrome: Shoeing Methods by Tom Stovall, CJF

No Hoof - No Horse: double-blind & control studies with biotin in horses by Terri Moore-Cocanougher, MS

Nutrition & The Equine Foot: Some Things to Think About by Stephen G. Jackson, PhD

Overshoes by F. Thomas Breningstall

Posterior Digital Neurectomy: A Farrier's Point of View by J. Scott Simpson

The Proper Hoof Angle by Henry Heymering, RJF, CJF

Pus and Us by F. Thomas Breningstall

Rediscovering the Natural Hoof by Kim Henneman, D.V.M.

Review of "Hoof Balance & Lameness" by William Moyer, DVM, & James Schumacher, DVM

The Roller Motion Shoe by Walt Koepisch

Safekeeping by F. Thomas Breningstall

The Shoe: Missing In Action by F. Thomas Breningstall

Shoe for the Next Shoeing by Diana Mead Jordan

Shoeing a Hoof with a Fractured Coffin Bone by Lee Sackett

Shoeing Barrel Horses by Richard Dunivant

Shoeing Reiners! by Phillip Fisher, CJF

Side Support Shoe by Walter F. Koepisch, Jr.

Solar Punctures: 'Big' hole vs. 'Little' hole by Tina MacGregor

Some Tips For Shoeing Navicular Horses by Rob Kalb

Square Toes, Box Toes: What's the Difference? by Tom Stovall, CJF

Stop Losing Shoes! by Jerry Trapani, CF

Study Reveals Link between Toe Grabs and Injuries at the Racetrack by Laura Grubb with Albert J. Kane, DVM, MPVM

Surfaces, Friction, and the Shape of the Equine Hoof by James R. Rooney, D.V.M. (Prof. Emeritus)

Ten Equine Nutritional Tips by Bob Peacock

Think Flotation When Shoeing Show Horses by Walt Koepisch

Time Chasers by F. Thomas Breningstall

Tonka A Year Later: My Experience with a Posterior Digital Neurectomy by J. Scott Simpson

Trimming and Preparing the Feet for Shoes by J. Scott Simpson

Tutorial: Constructing A Fullered Straight Bar Shoe by Keith Fremlin

Tutorial: Making A Bob Punch Clip by Keith Fremlin

The Use of Hoof Testers by David Turoff, DVM, Photographs by Keith Sutter
(This article has 10 color photos, so expect it to take a few minutes to download.)

Using Aluminum Horseshoes on Quarter Horses by Walt Koepisch, Jr.

Using the Aluminum Wedge Shoe by Walt Koepisch, Jr.
(This article has about two dozen photos, so expect it to take a few minutes to download.)

Wet - Dry - Hot - Cold by Mike Wildenstein, CJF, Resident Farrier at Cornell University

What Makes It Work: Important Ingredients in the Equine Diet by Bob Peacock

What the Hell is a Phalangeal Lever & Why Should I Care? by Tom Stovall, CJF

Winter Shoes by F. Thomas Breningstall

Your Anvil is a Great Tool by Robb Gunter

Business, Career & Health

4 Keys to Achieving Farrier Competency by Doug Butler, PhD, CJF, FWCF

10 Common Complaints from horse owners about the way farriers do business by Beth Howe

Changing the Way You Work: The Alexander Technique photos & story by Carol Prentice, drawings by David Gorman
(This article is illustrated by over a dozen photos, and may take a few minutes to download.)

The Cost of Shoeing a Horse by Ray Miller

Farrier Finances, Part I by J. Scott Simpson

Farrier Finances, Part II by J. Scott Simpson

Farrier Industry-Related Problems by Ray Miller

Farrier Trip Charges by Ray Miller

Farriers: Keeping the Perspective in Balance, Speed, Pricing and Communication by J. Scott Simpson

Getting Paid by Andy Juell

"The Internet - Quite a Tool" by Andrew Bowman

Looking at the Law by Elmo Shagnasty

Toxics by Dan T. Bradley, CJF

Why Can't I Keep A Farrier? by Derin Foor

Interviews

ANVIL MagazineInterview with G.F. "Andy" Anderson, DVM & Bill Hackler (Part I) by Rob Edwards

ANVIL Magazine Interview with G.F. "Andy" Anderson, DVM & Bill Hackler (Part II) by Rob Edwards

ANVIL Magazine Interview with Wesley Champagne by Rob Edwards

ANVIL Magazine Interview with Scott Davidson by Rob Edwards

ANVIL Magazine Interview with Bob and Beth Garner by Rob Edwards

ANVIL Magazine Interview with Henry Heymering by Rob Edwards

ANVIL Magazine Interview with Rudi Kerckhaert by Rob Edwards

ANVIL Magazine Interview with Edwin L. Kinney by Rob Edwards

The Spreading Chestnut Interview with Melville Livingstone, CJF by Linda J. Howes

ANVIL Magazine Interview with Gene Ovnicek by Rob Edwards

ANVIL Magazine Interview with Joe Painter by Richard Klimesh

ANVIL Magazine Interview with Frank Smith by Rob Edwards

ANVIL Magazine Interview with Baron Tayler by Rob Edwards

Literary & Perspective

The 12th Annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium by Henry Heymering, CJF, RJF

Edgar's Squeaky Foot by Bruce Daniels

Editorial: Relevancy by Rob Edwards

Editorial: Watching Horses Move by Diana Mead Jordan

Laminitis - I Have Never Liked Working in the Dark by Peter Van Dyke

The Man Had Real Class by Bruce Daniels

Molly, A Love Story by F. Thomas Breningstall

On the Right Track by Edwin L. Kinney

PERSPECTIVES: Critique & Response by Matthew Taimuty - Dave Duckett - Gene Ovnicek

A Short History of the Term "Farrier" Tom Ryan, FWCF

Song of a Shoe by Eric Jelfs

Who Invented Horseshoeing? by Henry Heymering, RJF, CJF

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