Farrier Focus Podcast

Today, we’re privileged to talk with farrier legend and Certified Journeyman Farrier Myron McLane of Somerset, Massachusetts. He has been shoeing horses for more than 55 years.

Myron talks about how he got started as a farrier, his experiences as a harness shoer, his experiences on the rules committee for the AFA, his thoughts on improving farrier / veterinarian relationships, and his goals today for Pink Apron Charity. You'll get a lot of insight on the commitment it takes to be a great farrier by listening to this informative interview with Myron.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Henry Heymering of Frederick, Maryland. He is the founder of the American Farrier's Journal and has been shoeing horses for more than forty-five years.

Henry shares how he got started as a farrier, how he began the American Farrier's Journal and the Guild of Professional Farriers. He shares numerous experiences from his career and advice that can help you be a better farrier.

In this episode, we’re privileged to talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Jim Poor of Tuscola, Texas. He has been shoeing horses for more than forty-three years. Jim shares lessons he learned from his father as a farrier, how he got started manufacturing tools, mistakes he made as a farrier, toolmaker, and competitor.

Jim shares lessons about several of his competitive wins and why being a true believer is one of the most important aspects of becoming certified and succeeding as a competitor. He also shares numerous stories from his career with many valuable lessons that other farriers can learn from as they go about their daily work and what farriers should be paying more attention to in their businesses. 

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.

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.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier and past president of the American Farriers Association, Margie Lee-Gustafson. She and her husband Don are based in Palo Alto, California.

We talk about her beginnings as a farrier, lessons and mistakes she made when starting, the value of a multi-farrier practice, her experience as president of the AFA, and numerous experiences from her career. Margie is a fantastic example of service and she shares her perspective about the importance of giving to the industry and impacting the lives of the horses she works with on a daily basis.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier and AWCF, Gerard Laverty. He is the instructor of the Farrier Program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia. He has been shoeing horses for more than 40 years in several different countries.

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.

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.