Farrier Focus Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Butler shares lessons he has learned over a lifetime of working with horses and tips that can help you be a better farrier.

In this episode, we interview Dr. Doug Butler about the assessment and treatment of navicular syndrome. You'll learn what causes navicular syndrome and what the farrier can do to ease a horse's pain who has this condition. In Dr. Butler's trademark style, he shares case studies, examples, and insights that will be helpful to you in your daily work.

In this episode, Bob Smith of Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School details the pitfalls of accepting responsibility as a farrier over things which you have no control. This talk was given was given at a Farrier Focus conference in 2003.

In this episode, Dr. Robert Eustace shares a myriad of nutraceutical treatments that can be used on a horse's foot and the effects of each. You'll get a lot out of this episode on a technical level about the effect of nutraceuticals on the growth and stability of the hooves of horses.

In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler talks about the criteria a farrier should use when selecting which therapeutic shoe option should be utilized for different foot conditions. You'll get a lot out of this episode from a previous Farrier Focus conference.

In this episode, Jacob Butler details his experiences with certification testing to help farriers prepare for and do well in the exam. He shares details from his testing experiences that can help beginning farriers understand and avoid the pitfalls to performing well on the day of the certification exam.

In this episode, veterinarian Dr. Rachael Shuster teaches how to read radiographs with foot pathology. You'll get a lot out of this episode discussing this important topic of benefit to farriers and veterinarians from a previous Farrier Focus conference.

In this episode, Dr. Frank Gravlee of Life Data Labs and Dr. Doug Butler discuss the treatment of founder. You'll get a lot of great insights from this informative discussion from a previous Farrier Focus conference.

In this episode, we interview farrier legend Randy Luikart, who has been shoeing horses for more than fifty years. He is a past president of the American Farrier's Association and has been inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame. You'll gain a lot of insight and ideas from Randy on horseshoeing, ways farriers can work together, and how to master the craft of farriery. Original air date: March 7, 2017 

In this episode, we talk to farrier legend, Ada Gates-Patton of Southern California. Ada shares her experiences in beginning her farrier career in 1971 to becoming the first woman to ever become a licensed racetrack farrier and member of the International Union of Journeyman Shoers in the United States and Canada. She shares some of her experiences in working on the most famous race horses in the United States and other countries. She was the official Farrier Liaison for the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, California. She has been a consultant for many high profile cases all over the world and is an inductee of the Horseshoers Hall of Fame. She received the American Farrier's Association Edward Martin Humanitarian Award in 2008.  Original air date: August 20, 2019

In this episode, farrier Randy Fisher talks about how he moved from being a UPS driver to a successful farrier. He tells his story and shares specific things he does to enhance the relationship and communication he has with each of his clients. 

In today's episode, we are honored to be speaking with Carl Bettison, AWCF with Honors, from Milton Keynes, England. Carl has over 40 years experience shoeing horses.  Over the years, Carl has been greatly involved with the Worshipful Company of Farriers. He passed his Diploma and Associates exams with honors. He later became the Master of the Worshipful Company of Farriers for a term.  Carl is the owner and director of Stromsholm, the distributor of Kerckhaert Shoes. Stromsholm also carries a lot of other farrier supplies. Carl has the exclusive Royal Warrant to supply the shoes for Buckingham Palace and the Royal Family. In 2007, Carl also became the owner and director of Gibbins aprons. Carl is a great advocate for farriers whether he is helping with education or getting quality supplies to the farrier.    If you would like to contact us with questions relating to your business, specific cases, general horse hoof care questions, or suggestions for future podcasts, please email us at farrierfocuspodcast@gma

In this episode, farrier instructor Jacob Butler explains how to teach lower leg and foot anatomy of horses to farriers. You'll get a lot of insight on the specific ways you can learn and master this important skill so you can explain what is going on to the horse owners you work with on a daily basis. 

In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler teaches the process by which he teaches farriers to learn forging skills. He explains the exercises and skill levels by which farriers learn and the process of getting good at this critical skill area. You'll learn a lot about the teaching process and the process of forging from this episode.

In today's episode, our guest is Rose-Marie Clark from Sweden. She has over 40 years experience shoeing horses and has worked with many different disciplines and breeds including: trotting horses, race horses, thoroughbreds and Icelandic ponies. Rose-Marie is the inventor of the Rose Foal Shoe, a shoe that is designed to help foals with conformation problems; to develop normally and without lameness issues. The patented Rose Foal Shoe is designed so that it can be modified for many different scenarios, eliminating the need to carry a lot of different types of corrective shoes in the farrier’s truck. It’s also orange so it’s easier to find if/when the foal loses it! Rose-Marie teaches and gives lectures all over the world about corrective shoeing for young foals. She is a great innovator in our industry.  Check out her website where you can see photos of foals she has helped at cfarrier.se. Watch this video about how to use the Rose Foal Shoe.     If you would like to contact us with questions relating to your

In today's episode, we talk to World Champion Farrier Legend Jim Blurton, AWCF from Forden, Wales in the United Kingdom. Jim has been a practicing farrier for over 40 years. He has competed in and won numerous national and international competitions.  He’s won over 200 competitions worldwide, including when he became World Champion at Calgary in 2005. Jim now runs a multi-farrier practice where he employs 10 farriers and he shoes for some of England’s most prestigious and successful Eventing, Show Jumping and Dressage yards. He’s also regularly asked to consult for veterinary practices. Jim also makes high quality farrier tools that are exported worldwide and Jim Blurton Specialist horseshoes was established in 2007 and has quickly become the world’s leading supplier of quality remedial shoes --- shoes that are designed to help horses recover from the different stresses of competition and everyday problems. You can purchase these tools and shoes at jimblurton.co.uk. Jim is a popular clinician and has been eve

In today's episode, we talk to ABS Master Bladesmith Jason Knight from East Tennessee. Jason has over 30 years experience making blades. He earned his ABS Mastersmith rating along with the B.R. Hughes Award for the best knife by a Mastersmith candidate in 2007. His blades are unique and recognized throughout the world. His blades are some of the most sought after in the industry today. Jason Knight appeared as one of the judges on the History Channel’s Forged in Fire Series in 2016. Jason has won several awards including the 2017 Knife Collaboration of the Year, 2012 Best Bowie Knife, 2010 Battle of the Bladesmiths Champion and 2008 Blade Magazine’s Best Bowie Knife of the Year. Jason has a YouTube channel, a podcast called Beyond the Edge of Knight, and you can follow him on Instagram as well. Jason teaches classes on bladesmithing, including an online class entitled the Forged Series. You can check out more details about these courses at knightforgestudio.com.   If you would like to contact us with question

In this episode, we talk to Grant Moon of Derbyshire, England. Grant is a 6 time world champion at Calgary; he’s won numerous horseshoeing and forging competitions all over the world and he recently achieved his Fellowship in the Worshipful Company of Farriers – the highest qualification that you can get in farriery.  We discuss what he did for his thesis in hoof mapping and the accuracy of using external landmarks to localize internal structures in the equine hoof. Grant is a favorite guest speaker and clinician at conventions and clinics all over the world. He has done many instructional videos on Mustad’s YouTube channel where he shows how to make shoes and shows the tips and tricks of the trade that make the job easier. Also, partnered with Mustad, he’s started a new tool line that you can check out and purchase at mustad.com under GDM tools.   If you would like to contact us with questions relating to your business, specific cases, general horse hoof care questions, or suggestions for future podcasts, pl

In today's episode, we talk to Dr. Temple Grandin. Dr. Grandin is a world-renowned author and speaker on animal behavior, autism and education.  She is a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University.  She also has a successful career consulting on both livestock handling equipment design and animal welfare.  Dr. Grandin has appeared on National TV shows like Larry King Live, 20/20, Sixty Minutes, Fox and Friends and many others.  Articles about Dr. Grandin have been published in Time Magazine, New York Times, Discover Magazine, Forbes, USA Today and many others. HBO made an Emmy Award winning movie about her life and she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016. In this episode, Dr. Grandin talks about why skilled trades like horseshoeing are so important. She also gives some insights into how horses think and how farriers can ensure a positive experience for the horse during the farrier's visit. Later, she discusses some of her research and the different learning styles

In today's episode, we talk to Brian Brazeal. Brian is well-known for his innovative blacksmithing. Tools like the Brazeal style  hammer, Brazeal hammer tongs, Brazeal style hot cut hardy and the Brazeal striking anvil are all innovations that many blacksmiths and farriers use today.  Beginning his career as a farrier, Brian later transitioned to a full-time blacksmith; a career he has been at for the last 40 years. Brian has taught numerous clinics all over the world. You may have also seen several of his instructional videos on YouTube. In this episode, he talks about making tools, blacksmithing techniques, his passion for passing on the craft to the next generation and his experiences teaching all over the world.   If you would like to contact us with questions relating to your business, specific cases, general horse hoof care questions, or suggestions for future podcasts, please email us at farrierfocuspodcast@gmail.com. We might even feature your email in a future episode!