Farrier Focus Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler talks to a group of farrier and veterinarians about how to balance high tech horseshoeing solutions with traditional techniques. Dr. Butler begins by sharing numerous experiences from his beginnings in horseshoeing as well as lessons he has learned over the years from teaching farriers and veterinarians. This episode is sponsored by Life Data Labs, Inc. (https://lifedatalabs.com) and by Butler Professional Farrier School. You can apply to attend upcoming classes by going to: http://butlerprofessionalfarrierschool.com

In this episode, we talk with Certified Farrier Jim LaClaire from Pensacola, Florida. He has been shoeing horses for 40 years since he started in 1979. Jim shares how he got started shoeing horses while serving for twenty years in the Navy and shares numerous lessons he learned from early mentors, experiences from shoeing horses on naval bases around the world and his perspective on the importance of continuing education. He also shares experiences from being a part of the Equine Locomotor Research Course at the Royal Veterinary College, London, England this past year, some lessons on working on therapeutic cases, and what it takes to develop better relationships with veterinarians.

In this episode, we talk with Jack Millman, of Worthington, Massachusetts. He is a Certified Journeyman Farrier, has a Diploma from the Worshipful Company of Farriers, and holds the APF designation from the Professional Farriers Association. He began shoeing horses in 1976 and has been shoeing now for more than 42 years. Jack shares his story about how he left the advertising industry, studied horseshoeing in Oregon, and numerous stories from his early mentors. He also shares lessons from his time as a certification examiner for the AFA, his philosophy on shoeing, lessons from growing and sustaining a great business, and his tips for farriers getting started today. In this episode, you'll hear great advice from a farrier who has been in the trenches for many years and has an enthusiasm and passion for sharing what he has learned with others.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier, Austin Edens, from Dripping Springs, Texas. He is widely known as one of the most successful and consistent international farrier competitors in history (including being World Champion) and a popular judge. Austin's farrier work today is centered on a sport horse client list and challenging veterinary collaborations. He has been shoeing horses since 1995 and has been working as a farrier, clinician, toolmaker, and contest judge for more than 23 years. Austin shares his story about how he got his start, memorable experiences from his career, contests he won, advice for farriers about competing, his practice schedule, and what his daily schedule looks like today. You'll learn a tremendous amount from Austin about what it takes to succeed as a competitor and farrier today.

In this episode, we interview Canadian farrier Paul Thibodeau of Port Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada. He attended Eastern School of Farriery in Martinsville, Virginia with Danny Ward. Paul shares his story about how he got started, lessons he has learned over 35+ years of shoeing horses, and memorable stories from his career of shoeing all over Nova Scotia.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier, Chris Madrid, of Stanley, New Mexico (which is 40 miles east of Albuquerque). He studied horseshoeing for two years at Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari, New Mexico with Nate Allen and Jacob Butler. He has been shoeing horses for more than 14 years. Chris tells his story about how he got started as a farrier, his lessons from competitions and getting the journeyman certification, as well as numerous stories and lessons from his career. He also shares what it takes to get over a tough loss, and the story behind his nickname of "Money". You'll learn a lot from this dedicated craftsman, champion, toolmaker, and farrier about what it takes to succeed today as a farrier.

In this episode, we're privileged to talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Jennifer DePollo Horn of Northern Michigan. She has been shoeing horses for more than 26 years. In addition to her career as a horseshoer she is also a highly creative artist-blacksmith. She has been an active member of the Executive Board of the Michigan Horseshoers Association for many years. Next year will be the 50th year for the MHA and it's annual contest and clinic. In this episode, Jennifer shares how she got her start, lessons she has learned from competitions, and how she got into being a creative artist and blacksmith.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Scott Davidson of Nine Mile Falls, Washington (just outside of Spokane, Washington) and Tucscon, Arizona. He has been shoeing horses since 1971 for more than 47 years. Scott shares how he got his start by studying under Scott Simpson, his experiences on the North American Horseshoeing Team in 1986 and 1989, and numerous experiences and lessons he has learned throughout his career.

In this episode, we talk with Brent Chidsey of Cynthiana, Kentucky. He is the founder of Stone Well Bodies & Equipment and Bay Horse Innovations. Brent is a manufacturer and supplier of a wide variety of farrier rigs and has been involved in the farrier industry for more than 28 years. In this wide ranging interview, he tells his story about how he got started shoeing horses and making rigs for farriers. In particular, Brent shares insights into how farriers should think about their rig and the important questions to ask to improve efficiency on the job. You'll get a lot of stories behind the history of horseshoeing rigs and the numerous innovations that have been added over the years.

In this episode, we talk with Dani Rueter of Paulina, Iowa. She has been shoeing horses for eight years. Dani talks about her beginnings as a farrier, her experiences at Butler Professional Farrier School, business lessons she has learned, and her thoughts about what it takes to succeed in the farrier profession.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Shane Allen of Ocala, Florida who has been shoeing horses for 35 years. He started shoeing horses in 1982 while studying at Northwest Missouri State University under Dr. Doug Butler. Shane shares his story about how he got started, lessons he has learned as a farrier, the differences between feet in Florida and Pennsylvania, how he ran his farrier business in several states for years, his thoughts on balance in life and with horses, and numerous lessons and experiences from his career.

In this episode, we're privileged to talk with farrier legend Gunner Gatski of San Diego, California. He has been shoeing horses for 55 years. Gunner shares his story of how he got started as a farrier in the army, memorable stories from his career including "The Horse with the Golden Shoes", "The Polish Chicken" and numerous other funny stories and memorable experiences. Gunner shares the origin of the Gunner Hammer and highlights from his life and career as well as his predictions and beliefs about the future of farriery.

In this episode, we're privileged to talk with farrier Steindor Thorisson, who lives in Sweden, but is originally from Iceland. He shares observations about Icelandic horses, their gait and observations about the farrier business in Iceland and Sweden. He also shares how he got his start, his schooling at Butler Professional Farrier School and the commitment it takes to master this craft. He shares business lessons and his thoughts about the future of licensing in the farrier business, based on what he has already seen happen in Sweden. You'll get a unique perspective on the farrier business in Iceland and Sweden from this interview with a very skilled and talented farrier.

In this episode, we talk with farrier Wayne Preece, FWCF of the Midlands of England. He has been shoeing horses for more than thirty-three years. Wayne shares lessons he learned from teaching at Hereford College and some of the biggest mistakes he has seen beginning farriers and competitors make from his years of teaching and judging competitions. He also shares numerous lessons from his years of experience of being a farrier in the United Kingdom and why horsemanship is such a vital skill for farriers to develop.

Today marks a special milestone in that this is the 100th Episode released of the Farrier Focus Podcast. To celebrate this historic moment, Dr. Doug Butler, Jacob Butler, Peter Butler and I reflect on lessons that have been learned and some of our favorite insights and stories that have been shared as we have talked with farriers from around the world. This episode shares some lessons that you may want to go back and listen to again (or for the first time) that can help you be a better farrier. In addition, the founders and instructors at Butler Professional Farrier School share their insights on how farriers can learn the skills of anatomy. Thank you so much for listening to the Farrier Focus Podcast over the past 100 episodes! We really appreciate it. If you have feedback or would like to recommend a topic or guest, please email [email protected].

In this episode, we talk with Eli Atiya, a farrier from Golan Heights, Israel. He has been shoeing horses for 6 years since he graduated from Butler Professional Farrier School. Eli shares lessons he learned in school, the value of a professional education, the importance of continually learning and some of his most memorable experiences. You'll learn a lot about how Eli has built his business, tips he uses to be more efficient and the keys that have been most important for him in building a profitable business.

In this episode, we talk with Robert Shepherd from the north Birmingham, Alabama area. He has been a blacksmith, tool maker, welder and farrier since 1987. Robert shares how he got his start, his experiences studying under Dr. Doug Butler at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri and lessons he has learned about making tools and Damascus knives.

In this episode, Dr. Butler talks to a group of farriers about turning points in his career and his observations on great achievements in the farrier business. He shares numerous stories and historical insights into how numerous products and techniques have been developed that give a greater understanding to what farriers do everyday. You'll learn many tips on what it takes to master this craft and the historical importance of the most valuable tools and techniques that have been developed over the past fifty plus years.

In this episode, Certified Journeyman Farrier Rollie Gallego of Waialua, Hawaii shares his thoughts and observations on what it takes to balance your life and your farrier business. You'll learn a lot from Rollie on what it takes to achieve balance from his experiences he shared at a Farrier Focus conference several years ago.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Farrier Neil Miller of Brighton, Colorado. He has been shoeing horses since 1975 and specializes in shoeing reiners, and jumpers. Neil shares memorable stories from his career including how he got his start, lessons he has learned from training twenty apprentices, how to be more efficient with your shoeing rig and under the horse, how he got into competing and running a horseshoeing contest, as well as many practical and business tips that can help you run your business better.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Robert M. Miller, an equine behaviorist, veterinarian and cartoonist. He is recognized for his system of training newborn foals known as imprint training. Dr. Miller is well known among both veterinarians and cowboy poetry & humor enthusiasts. His cartoons, done under his initials RMM, have been published in veterinary and horse magazines around the world. He has been featured at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame's Cowboy Cartoonist Art Show. After graduation from Colorado State University, Dr. Miller settled in Thousand Oaks, California, where he founded the Conejo Valley Veterinary Clinic. In 1987, he retired as a renowned veterinarian and expert in ethology (the study of animal behavior). Dr. Miller has visited every continent giving lectures to colleges, conventions for animal groups, horse organizations, breed associations and other clients. He has received numerous professional awards for his involvement with equine associations, production of videotapes, and lecturing. He has authored several books, and his acute sense of humor and love of cartoons have provided several veterinary cartoon books. Dr. Miller discusses how he started his practice, lessons he learned about dealing with horses, humorous experiences from his many years as a practicing veterinarian, and how he became a cartoonist. You'll get a lot of insight about what it takes to succeed in business from Dr. Miller's stories and advice.

In this episode, we talk with Jed Pappas of Stockhoff's Farrier Supply (www.stockhoffsonline.com). Jed talks about how his wife Molly (and her family) purchased Stockhoff's from the Stockhoff family, which started the farrier supply business in 1863 and how they have grown it to four locations today (two stores in Kentucky, New Jersey and Arizona). Jed shares numerous business lessons he has learned from the farrier supply business and how farriers can better run their own businesses. He also shares valuable tips about how you select the best products for your business. You'll get a lot out of this interview on what it takes to run the supply part of your business as well as balancing your family and your business.

In this episode, we talk with farrier legend John Marino of Peaster, Texas. John shares his early experiences of how he became a farrier after getting out of the Air Force, his early studies at the University of Arizona's Farrier School (where he studied under Donald Canfield), how he opened Across the Anvil Farrier Supply (which he operated until he sold it in 1991). He also discusses his contributions to the anvil industry by introducing a line of farrier anvils with wider faces and turning cams and the impact those anvils have had throughout the industry. John also recounts numerous experiences with his Wednesday night forging classes at his shop and the farrier school he opened with Grant Moon in 1988 (Texas School of Farrier Science). John holds the Certified Master Farrier designation in the BWFA of which he is a charter member. He also holds the Certified Journeyman Farrier designation in the AFA and the TPFA (Texas Professional Farrier's Association). He served as Vice-President of the TPFA for 6 years. He is an active lifetime member of all three organizations. John shares his experiences of operating JHM Manufacturing and making 6 styles of anvils and anvil stands until April of 2005, when he sold the business to Anvil Brand Shoe Company. John has dedicated his life to improving and furthering the farrier industry through education and professionalism. His influence has been far reaching and you'll hear his most memorable stories and experiences in this memorable episode.

In this episode, we talk with farrier and veterinarian Emilio Ezcurra of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has been shoeing horses for more than twenty-five years. Emilio shares his story of how he got started as a veterinarian and his quest to become a farrier including his travels to the United States to study with Danny Ward, Dr. Doug Butler, and many others. Emilio shares insights about the farrier business in Argentina along with many of his most memorable experiences as a farrier. He also shares his thoughts about why farriers should visit Argentina and his perspective on what it takes to become a great farrier.

In this episode, we're privileged to talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier and AWCF John Schmidt of Shelbyville, Tennessee. He has been shoeing horses for more than 33 years. He talks about Tennessee walking horses, unique aspects of the breed, and some of the controversy that has arisen in recent years around them. He also shares lessons from his career and some of his most memorable experiences.

Today, we're privileged to talk with Dr. Rachael Shuster, an equine veterinarian who practices and is licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Having ridden since a young age, Dr. Rachael Shuster knew that she wanted to work with horses and therefore pursued equine studies. She graduated from Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 1995. Dr. Shuster worked in various multiple-doctor equine ambulatory practices; interests were lameness, wound management, and a passion for podiatry, before starting her own practice, Shuster Equine, LLC in 2006. Realizing that western medicine is limited in certain protocols, and wanting to increase her diagnostic skills and therapeutic options for patients, Dr. Shuster decided to further her education and became certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) in 2002, and the Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) in 2006 in animal chiropractic and acupuncture, respectively. Shuster Equine, LLC encompasses chiropractic, acupuncture and dentistry while keeping in mind the importance of podiatry and western medicine diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities. Dr. Shuster strives to keep an open, one-on-one dialogue with others working with your horse, including veterinarians, farriers, trimmers, massage therapists or trainers. She continues to expand her knowledge, furthering her skills in servicing horses to be the best that they can be. Through her ongoing commitment to continued education, Dr. Shuster attends multiple professional meetings and one-on-one sessions with colleagues throughout the year. Dr. Shuster is a member of: American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners (NJAEP) American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture (AAVA) International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) American Farrier's Association (AFA) Garden State Horseshoer's Association (GSHA) Dr. Shuster has a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed as a farrier and veterinarian and includes valuable insights, stories, and suggestions on how to enhance the farrier-veterinarian relationship.

In this episode, we talk with Cristiano Biacca who is a certified farrier and veterinarian from Parma, Italy. He was trained as a farrier at Butler Professional Farrier School. He shares how he got his start as a large animal veterinarian and what made him decide to become a farrier as well. He also shares insights into the farrier profession in Italy, some memorable cases he has worked on, and lessons he has learned over the years learning and teaching about farriery to others.

In this episode, we talk with farrier Travis Burns. He is a Certified Journeyman Farrier (CJF), holds the Therapeutic (TE) AND Educator Endorsements (EE) from the AFA, and is a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (FWCF). He was recently elected as the president of the American Farriers Association. He is currently the Chief of Farrier Services at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia and has been shoeing horses professionally for more than 16 years. In this wide ranging interview, we talk about how Travis got his start, lessons he learned from his early mentors, differences between the American and British certification exams, his vision for the next two years as AFA president, and several of his memorable experiences. You'll get a lot of insight from his experiences and his thoughts on how farriers can be more unified as a profession.

In this episode, we talk with Guy Karsh who lives about 25 minutes outside of Jerusalem in Israel. He has been shoeing horses for 25 years. He shares experiences from becoming a farrier, learning from his father and other mentors, the importance of continuing education for farriers, and memorable experiences he has had while shoeing horses in Israel. This is a fascinating discussion about how the farrier business works in another country that you can learn a lot from and apply in your farrier business.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Andrew DeVisser from Ayr, Ontario, Canada. He has been shoeing horses for 9 years. He attended Butler Professional Horseshoeing School in 2009. Andrew shares his insights about the value of horseshoeing school, the benefits of the AFA cultural exchange program that he was a part of, how he prepared for his certification exams, and the benefits of competition. He also shares his thoughts on how farriers can build and maintain successful farrier businesses.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Tracy Turner, an equine veterinarian who was trained as a farrier. He was raised on a small ranch in southwestern Colorado. As a youth he was active in the local 4-H Horse Program. As a young adult he apprenticed with a farrier in 1972 and used those skills to help finance his education. From that time on he has dedicated his life to horses. He received his DVM degree from Colorado State University in 1978, after which he was able to pursue his interest in equine medicine and surgery. He is board certified in Veterinary Surgery (Dipl.ACVS) and Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (Dipl.ACVSMR). He served on the faculty of the University of Illinois, University of Florida and the University of Minnesota. He joined Anoka Equine Clinic in 2004 and started his own practice in 2016 dedicated strictly to Sports Medicine, Lameness, and Surgery. Dr. Turner consults for the USDA Horse Protection, Federation Equestriene Internationale (FEI) and United States Equestrian Federation. Dr. Turner has had the privilege of working at 3 Pan America Games, 1 Olympic Games and at 1 World Equestrian Games. He recently was selected to work at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Dr. Turner is a member of the Am Vet Med Assoc (AVMA), the Am Assoc of Equine Practioners (AAEP), the Minnesota Assoc of Equine Practitioners (MAEP), the Am Farrier's Assoc (AFA), the American Association of Professional Farriers and the Minnesota Farrier's Assoc (MnFA). Dr. Turner has served as chairman of the AAEP's Farrier Liaison Committee and is serving on the AAEP Foundation and Educational committees. He is a past president of the MAEP. Dr. Turner has been active in the horse community. He served 2 terms on the Board of Directors of the Central States Dressage and Combined Training Association. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Horse Council since 2002 and is presently serving his fifth term as President. Dr. Turner is married to veterinarian, Dr. Julie Wilson. They have 2 adult sons, Tarren and Tristan. They are surrounded by other family members, 4 dogs, 6 horses, 2 birds and 2 cats. In their spare time Drs. Turner and Wilson love to ride and travel. You'll get a lot out of this episode from a farrier veterinarian who talks about how to improve communication between these two professionals, memorable experiences from his career, his thoughts on navicular disease, and what he thinks farriers and veterinarians will deal with in the future.

Jeff Rodriguez passed away after a long battle with lung cancer in November of 2016. A native of Tampa, Florida, he moved his practice to Golden, Colorado and built a profitable and successful farrier business. He spoke many times at Farrier Focus conferences and in this episode, we share a talk he gave about what it takes to build and maintain a successful farrier image and business. With his trademark wit and humor, Jeff shared personal experiences and stories to help farriers build more profitable businesses. We hope you enjoy these observations and comments from a remarkable farrier who was committed to helping farriers be more successful and that this talk will help you carefully evaluate the image you project and the type of business you want to build.

In this episode, Bob Smith of Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School shares insights into how to successfully market your farrier business. He shares the differences between products and services and that how and why you market your horseshoeing services will make all the difference between the perception that clients have of you and the price you can charge. You'll get a lot out of this talk from a previous Farrier Focus Conference.

In this episode, we talk with Kevin Oliver of Eddington, Maine who went to Cal Poly in winter and spring of 1973. He has been shoeing horses for more than 44 years and shares experiences and helpful hints from his years as a farrier that can benefit you and your business. Kevin shares his thoughts about the importance of continuing education, the value of attending a horseshoeing school, tips about treating laminitic horses, and his thoughts about the most valuable tools in the farrier business. You'll get a lot of insight from this master farrier who has spent a lifetime learning the tricks of the trade.

On this episode, we interview Bryan Quinsey, the Executive Director of the American Association of Professional Farriers (AAPF) and the International Association of Professional Farriers (IAPF). He has been involved with the farrier industry since 2003. Bryan talks about how he got his start, how the AAPF got started, and his thoughts about the future of the farrier business.

In this episode, we talk with Ian Bevington, CJF about his career, advice on running a multi-farrier practice, raising prices, how he got into owning a farrier supply business, and his thoughts on how farriers can be more successful in their careers. Ian grew up in Valley, Nebraska and completed his farrier training in 1998. He is a certified Journeyman Farrier and participates in clinics and horseshoeing competitions throughout the country. Ian works closely with area veterinarians to ensure the best possible care for horses and to allow for collaboration on treatment options. He is currently the owner of 3B Farrier Supply store in Valley, Nebraska.

In this episode, we talk with Walt Taylor, the founder of the AFA and WFA. He started shoeing horses in 1948 and has been involved with the farrier industry ever since. We discuss stories from his career, memorable experiences from the beginnings of the AFA and WFA, and his work with Working Together for Equines, Inc. (a whole horse equine charity). We also discuss his views on being a professional farrier, licensing, his feelings about the state of the farrier industry, and what farriers should be thinking about and preparing for in the future.

In this episode, Dr. Butler explains the levels of certification in the United States and United Kingdom and the benefits of certification for farriers in reaching a higher standard of their profession.

In this episode, farrier Chris Minick shares how he uses technology and computer skills to improve the way he provides and breaks down his invoices for his clientele. You'll get a lot of insight about how to better run your business with the advantages of technology to make end of the year tax preparation much simpler and easier to navigate. You'll also learn some time saving tips that will help you more efficiently run your farrier business.

In this episode, Farrier Focus Podcast host Jim Butler shares his perspective on The Dark Side of Horseshoeing and how farriers can overcome discouragement and adversity in their businesses. You'll hear several inspiring stories about what it takes to succeed in the farrier business and quotes and ideas that will help you be more of an optimist in your daily work. This was from a talk that was given at a previous Farrier Focus conference.

In this episode, learn how farrier Brian Fitzgerald got his start, lessons he has learned on the track, and how he is now transitioning into a new specialty in Georgia. Brian shares his expertise about staying motivated, learning new skills, and the best way to set prices and work with farriers in a new area.