I started my farrier career in Tennessee USA. This was in the 90's and I have been in business as a full time farrier ever since.
I attended farrier for over a year in TN then stayed on help instruct some of the new students. I then set up my first practice in the North of Scotland in the Highlands and Islands, I still miss the area and people.
I don't miss the driving and the lovely weather so I moved back to California in 2002. I have been working in the San Francisco bay area ever since.
I have since married and we have 2 Arabian horses.
Maybe with our job the title should have been even more crazy than when we started.
I have never met a farrier who doesn't want to do the best for the horses we care for however, some of the owners unwittingly make it really hard. Here are some of that things that stop us doing our best.
Laminitis is another painful and chronic condition horses and owners can suffer from.
There are many types and causes for laminar damage so I am just going to stick with spring time for now.
One of the many chronic and painful conditions horses can suffer from yet hard to diagnose, treat and even decide on what it is.
To visualise where it sits I will list the bones involved and some of the different names that they have from the fetlock down or in human terms the middle finger or toe.
First phalanx or long pastern.
I have offered to check horses before they are purchased for as long as I have been shoeing horses. I offer this service for free as I am the one that will be stuck with dealing with conformational problems for the new owner.
In truth, thursh season is all year round. Some clients are really on top of keeping the hooves cleaned out others not so much.
