Eric Russell wrote:

Phil- I'll make sure I suggest you each fit a shoe like the other person also. Then Craig can prove to you that he can fit a set back shoe. And you can prove that you can fit a toe clipped shoe. Since its a learning experience it'd be terrible if one of you were doing things the way you do due to a lack of skill to do it another way!

PerformanceHorseshoeing wrote:
So tell us all a little bit about the conformation of the horse these guys will be working on.

Eric Russell wrote:
Your a pain in the butt. Better schedule that for the end to give me time to practice.

Phil Armitage wrote:

You better take some xanax or something to calm your nerves a little. Unfortunately I may not be able to make it, I think performance said he was stopping by to swing the sledge that day.

Eric Russell wrote:
No problem, Craig will be there and he seems like a cool dude. Hey I may recommend pulling the shoe on my foot and go barefoot and wear a boot until the foot adapts. I don't know what I will do until I see the horse.

Phil Armitage wrote:
That probably won't go over very well with the audience.

Actually I'll be getting in that Thursday morning, the 14th, so if I can meet up with you that afternoon that'd be awesome. My brother took off Fri. to take me up to Cabela's in PA.

PerformanceHorseshoeing wrote:
Oh give me a break! I'll give you a pair of boots and a fishing pole and you can come on friday. WalMart sells them too. I'll even let you dig a hole in my backyard to find a worm for your hook.

Hahaha are you working on Thursday? Can I tag along?

Eric Russell wrote:
Why not? About time people stop only attending blacksmithing clinics and learn how to be a farrier. What is all this fascination with fire and sparks, ringing hammers? Learn how to see the whole horse and give the animal what it needs to efficiently do its job with minimum stress on the body. Horse owners are learning the difference and an artist without any science will be hurting for buisness.

PerformanceHorseshoeing wrote:
I'd imagine. Be at my house at 6 am. don't knock on my door. I'll come out when I come out.

See you then!

PerformanceHorseshoeing wrote:

Not so fast! I'm not married. I have no idea where I might wake up. Call the night before so I can give you an adress.

Phil, I've got a feeling Craig's going to look at the whole horse and make sure what ever he does to the foot he works on will be what's best in his eye's for the horse. Yes Craig's a very good blacksmith but some of the work I've seen of his on horses is very good also. He's not coming up there to make a shoe with a toe clip and just stick it on a horse and see how it turns out. I'll bet his trim will be fairly good and what's best for the horse in his eye's and then will fit an excellent toe clipped shoe to that foot. Your veiw of what's going to happen doesn't sound like you believe anything but your way works. Also I hope the boot remark was a joke because if it's not, that's another cop out or back down when the challlenge hits the fan. Best thing to do is make sure they have a horse with good enough feet that what you said is not an option. Be prepared bud, it's going to get real interesting.