How many farriers out there interested in NB Certification? How many of you are asked about Natural Balance from horse owners?

Phil Armitage wrote: Phil,

Usually the first to market gets the biggest market share. Why don't you be the first kid on your block to get the NB certification? You could be the first in your state!

I am pursuing NB certification more to push my own skills than for marketing purposes.

I have had only 2 customers contact EDSS looking for a NB farrier and get my name. I rarely have customers raise the issue balance with me. But I often educate owners about balance.

Like AFA certification this is not likely to be a marketing tool but something pursued for its own merit.

I am interested in the cetification program. I am traveling to Miles City, Montana (13 hours) for part of that. I have had a lot of clients ask about it. As a matter of fact, one of them is paying my way to get there. (After making sound her three horses and her other farrier turning down her offer). It is one style that I use to handle lameness issues. Because of this I need to be knowledgable myelf. This allows me to better educate clients and potential clients.

I have been sought after by 2 persons that have gotten my name somehow. I believe that owners are looking for a way to maintain their horses in a manner that is fitting for them. It goes to what was said earlier, something about PR and getting the worm - Sorry Tom.

Natural Balance is getting the word out by positive means. Therefore owners of horses are asking about it.

Tony

THamilton wrote: AaHAAA! Responding to market demand is the mark of an astute business man.

George_Spear wrote: Until the AFA gets around to marketing their certification, it has NO merit in the market. They have been leapfrogged by the marketing on the NB web site alone. It's a case of being first to market and then failing to promote the product. Makes for a good business case study. Somebody could get an MBA using this example for a thesis.

My practice is 100% natural balance, if a client wants a traditional shoeing job, then they need to call someone else. I got certified in August and since getting it and having my name on the website as a certified NB farrier, I've gotten 2 or 3 new calls. Phil

Phil, the NB method is great but not every horse needs it, some do have good well balanced feet? Do you turn these type away or shoe everything NB? Patty Stiller says she doesn't shoe all horses NB??? Just Wondering? Gary

Gary H.,

It is not a matter of using all NB shoes on a horse. Rim and Plains have their place too. When shoeing a horse that is not going to have NB shoes on, you still follow the principles taught you. By doing this you are helping to maintain the hoof balance.

I have been a NB shoer for 13 years. (No BS here, the person I learned from is a great friend of Gene's and tested the shoes during development for him.) I follow the NB protocol on every hoof I touch, whether I trim or shoe. This ensures everything maintains itself and I do not start to get a stretched hoof capsule.

I am following the market as Tom says, but I am also doing it for personal gain as I am a learner. I have to educate owners on what I am doing. The failure of many client/farrier relationships. To do so entails myself in certification.

Good day,
Tony

THamilton wrote:
In other words, All you do is give the horse a proper balanced trim.

Why not call it what it is?


Gary

A person could do that, but what happens is a lot of farriers do not follow the same protocol or set of ... "rules for lack of a better term" each time they shoe/trim a horse. While they may think the foot is balanced, what physical landmarks on the foot tell them that? Overtime the foot could appear balancd, but in reality it could be out of portion anterior and posterier or M/L or a combination.

I am sure you have run into these feet before. Waht aabout the times you have gone back to a foot that you have done for awhile and not seen for whatever reason and you think, " wow what was I thinkning?"

Good day,
Tony

There are rules to shoeing and trimming a horse. There are exceptions to those rules and exceptions to those exceptions.




The horse stays releativley sound, that is how.

No, to the anterior ya don't, posteriorly you do. If one uses "one" protocol for "each and every" horse, one has no clue about a horse and it's own, individual movement.



Horses "are ever changing organisms".

Gary, I shoe all horses using NB as the basis for the trim, breakover and ML balance.
I may not use NB SHOES on every one, though the vast percenatage do get the NB shoes because the fit the protocol so well.
If I run a cross a foot that is nicely balanced, with the toe and breakover where it belongs all on its own (usually a previously bare, well worn foot) ,I may use a St croix eventer. However most hooves previously shod with 'non NB' protocols don't fit the NB parameters on their own, until they have been in it a couple shoeings and change shape.
Patty

It depends on ones personal definition of "balance" . NB protocols for balance are diferent for example from Butlers definition of balance. So giving it a name helps define which definition pf "balance" is being used.
Patty

How about the goal being REALLY sound instead?
If I manage to improve on "relatively" sound, I consider my shoeing a success. There are certain anatomical rules that have been found to hold true for nearly every foot. In NB that is the trim base that build thye rest of the shoeing. Then from that base the shoeing applicances can be chosen and adjusted to the horses needs. But the trim rules have held consistantly true when the feet are checked radiographially. Have a wonky foundation , and the whole building is going to be wonky. As long as the foundation is consistantly true, you can build anything you need to on top of it.
Patty