Farrier Focus Podcast

In today's episode, we talk to Jim Masterson of world-renowned Masterson Method®. Jim, an equine massage therapist for USEF Endurance Teams from 2006 to 2014, teaches a unique method of equine bodywork to therapists and horse owners.

When he first became interested in equine massage in 1997, Jim recognized that the horse exhibits certain neurological responses to touch as it releases tension in the body. Using those responses to guide his work, he developed a system in which the horse participates in the process by showing the practitioner where tension has accumulated, precisely how much pressure is needed to release it, and when it has been released.

Together with a cadre of instructors worldwide, he offers courses in North America, Europe, the UK, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

His goal? For every horse to experience the Bladder Meridian Technique at least once.

You can learn more about the Masterson Method on YouTube and at Jim's website: mastersonmethod.com

Also, check out the trailer for a documentary recently made about Jim's work, A Mind Like Still Water.

In this episode, we interview Certified Journeyman Farrier Blane Chapman of Lubbock, Texas. Blane shares experiences from his more than thirty plus years as a farrier. You'll get a lot of insight into what it takes to be a great farrier by listening to Blane's background and his advice and experiences.

In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler shares horseshoeing teaching techniques he has learned over a lifetime of teaching and helping farriers progress from one skill level to another. Don't miss the essential techniques that will help you better teach apprentices and your clients from a previous Farrier Focus conference.

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 Dr. Doug Butler about how he got into horseshoeing, stories from his career, and thoughts about the profession of farriery.

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, we talk with farrier legend Doyle Blagg about his horseshoeing career over a 57 year span in Texas. Doyle worked as a farrier to many top Quarter Horse breeders and specialized in cutting horses. He continued on a great tradition of farriers in his family following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps. You'll enjoy this episode in which Doyle reminisces on lessons he learned throughout his career.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Tom Parris of Woodbine, Maryland how to set up and run a multi-farrier practice.

Tom has been shoeing horses for more than 53 years and shares a wealth of experience of what it takes to monitor expenses, how to set and raise prices, keys to being more profitable, and numerous experiences from his career that will help you be a better and more successful farrier.

If you've been considering starting a multi-farrier practice, you'll get a lot of tips about what common mistakes to avoid and ways to succeed from a master who has been running one of the most successful multi-farrier practices in the United States for the past forty plus years.

In this episode, we interview Dr. Courtney Diehl, an equine veterinarian who published her book Horse Vet, Chronicles of a Mobile Veterinarian in 2014. She has been an equine veterinarian since 2000. She completed a 12 month internship at a private referral practice in Saratoga Springs, NY working primarily with Thoroughbreds.

She then owned and operated a solo equine mobile practice in Eagle, CO until 2007, where she partnered with George Platt, DVM. Dr. Platt and Burney Chapman, CJF, were well know for groundbreaking treatment of laminitis using the heart bar shoe.

Dr. Diehl went on to complete a Fellowship in Internal Medicine and Critical Care at Hagyard, Davidson, McGee in Lexington, KY in 2007, before returning to Colorado. Dr. Diehl worked closely with Dr. Platt from 2001 until his death in 2011. Diehl and Platt were co-speakers at the AFA annual conference in Portland, OR in 2009.

In 2012, Diehl and Cricket McLaren, CF Successfully treated 'the worst laminitis case of their careers,' not only saving the horse, but returning him to full performance. The case report was published in the July/August 2013 American Farriers Journal.

Dr. Diehl has been a speaker at several private clinics on laminitis, and spoke at a No Laminitis! conference in OR. She serves on the board of directors of the Colorado Horse Council.

Dr. Diehl enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, riding her horses and skiing the Steamboat powder when she's not out on calls. You'll get a lot out of this interview from this accomplished veterinarian.

Today we are honored to have as our guest, Mark Deesing. Mr. Deesing is a custom-design consultant for Grandin Livestock Handling Systems, Inc. in Fort Collins, Colorado. He has designed handling facilities for all types of livestock and poultry, as well as many wildlife species. Mr. Deesing has also worked with Dr. Temple Grandin on many writing projects (including books), research and facility designs.

He has a valuable insight into horse behavior and has written extensively on the topic. He knows the importance of horsemanship for farriers, because he trimmed and shod horses for several years before getting into livestock handling systems and research.

To check out chapter 7 in Genetics and Behavior of Domestic Animals, by Dr. Temple Grandin and Mark Deesing, you can click here. Mr. Deesing references this chapter several times in the interview.