Farrier Focus Podcast

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.

In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler discusses the seven stages of applied learning in horseshoeing and how you can use these to better assess and teach those who are students, apprentices, or horseshoeing clients. You'll get a lot of insight about teaching from this discussion that Dr. Butler led in a previous Farrier Focus conference.

In this episode, we talk with farrier legend Ken Mankel about his innovations with gas forges and anvils as well as experiences throughout his career. He shares valuable insights that will help farriers better master their craft.

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, farrier legend Lee Liles shares how he got his start shoeing horses and in particular his specialties of shoeing Tennessee Walking horses and therapeutic cases. He also shares how he started collecting items for the National Museum of Horse Shoeing Tools and Hall of Honor located in Sulphur, Oklahoma.

In this interview, farrier educator Jacob Butler, CJF, AWCF shares his insights about how farriers can learn and master anatomy and the sequential skill development required to get good at this craft. Jacob shares his journey of deciding to become a farrier, his educational experiences, what it was like being an apprentice to his father and how he developed his passion and mastery of anatomy. You'll gain valuable insights about how farriers learn and memorable stories from his 21 plus years of shoeing as well as what he has learned about assessing and educating new farrier students.

In this episode, we talk with farrier Steve Kraus, who is the head farrier at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Steve is an American Farriers Association Certified Journeyman Farrier and has shod many types and breeds of show and performance horses for more than 53 years. In addition, he has worked for Mustad Hoofcare since 1976 as their farrier consultant, representing the organization across the country at farrier and horse owner clinics and events, as well as testing and developing horse nails, horseshoes, farrier tools, and the hoof care products that Mustad produces and markets. Since 1968, Kraus has also been the farrier for all the equine programs in the Cornell University Athletic department, which includes the Cornell Polo Team, Equestrian Team, and Physical Education Riding Program.

You'll enjoy this insightful interview with Steve about how he got started as a farrier, some of his most memorable stories, and advice for farriers based on the experiences he has had throughout the years shoeing a wide variety of horses.

In this episode, Dr. Robert Eustace details his treatment methods for laminitis and other serious foot diseases from a talk that was given at a previous Farrier Focus Conference.

In this episode, we talk with farrier legend Jim Smith of New Hampshire who talks about his experiences as he has shod horses over the past 47 years all over the upper east coast. He shares valuable insights about what it takes to master the craft of farriery, how to prepare for certification, and lessons he has learned over a lifetime of shoeing. His stories, his insights, and his experiences will help you be a better farrier.

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.