The focus is usually on farriers being big and strong. For sure, the need for muscle is important to be able to do the job competently day in and day out without collapsing in a heap (and even then, many of us have been known to collapse in a heap anyway). A farrier being able …
Farrier photo – clenching up again
This was taken during my farriery apprenticeship on the Isle of Wight. Probably about 1993. Back in the olden days when I clenched up and clenched up then clenched up.
What’s going on with these feet?
Q Hi David. We are trying find a big, safe, suitable horse for my husband to learn to ride on - he is keen on taking up hunting. We have found a horse who seems great in all respects - except his feet! I have included a shot that we took when we tried him …
What happens at farrier competitions?
Q. Can you tell me what happens at a farrier competition? Is it the fastest person to shoe a horse who wins? My own farrier (he’s about 80 years old) takes a long time to put front shoes on my Clydesdale mare. Do you think that’s why he always says he’s too busy to enter …
Barefoot versus shoeing
farriersnotebook blogs: Phrases like "shoeing is abusive" or "horses are barefoot in the wild" can easily sway inexperienced horse owners to keep their unsound horses trimmed instead of reaping the benefits of shoeing. Anybody that is any good at anything knows there is never "only 1 way" to do something! Trimming and shoeing horses are …
Kerckhaert in NZ
Kerckhaert horseshoes We sell a wide range of horseshoes from our warehouse in Christchurch, New Zealand. I've  set up the farrier supplies business to cater for what farriers, vets, saddleries and horse owners need regardless of what brand the gear is. The benefit of being independent and not aligned to any particular large international manufacturer means …
Billy Crothers shoemaking – video
The beauty of concave horseshoes. Five times world champion farrier Billy Crothers, manufacturer of HMS horseshoes discusses the merits of concave and shoemaking in this short, easy to watch video from Hoofwatch
Stud hole maintenance tips
Anthony Lawrence blogs about the care of stud holes Perhaps nothing in the shoeing process causes as much frustration (for those who use them) as stud holes. A vital component of traction for sport horses, they can be very problematic for competitors to deal with... and usually at the worst possible time, when you get …
Burning on farrier photo
Photo by Antonia Steeg
Problems with using a twitch
I haven't been a big fan of using a twitch on horses for quite some time. Some people argue that a twitch  might hurt the horse or are in others ways unkind. It's my understanding that using a twitch correctly on the nose of a horse releases endorphins which are considered soothing to the horse and …
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