Hoof Care
5 Ways to Encourage Bare Hooves on Horses
Horseshoe-free hoof proponents can be very enthusiastic and are often devoutly committed to the theory of “natural is best.” Often, natural is best. However, shaming…
Author:
Nancy Rich-Gutierrez
Hoof Care
Why Trim Horse Hooves?
A big part of running a farrier business is educating horse owners. Everyone is at a different level of knowledge and comes to us with…
1 year ago
Memoir
Tales from the Road: Horseshoeing, Safari-Style
Every now and then in the farrier business, we find ourselves in appointments that get strange in a hurry. While we always try to serve…
1 year ago
Hoof Care
The Nitty-Gritty Behind Hoof Abscesses
The diagnosis of a hoof abscess is something most equestrians are going to have to deal with sooner or later. It is icky, painful, annoying,…
1 year ago
Horse Health
Don’t Be a Piranha
Recently, my gelding injured his leg. He had some puffiness and low-grade lameness, so I treated it with ice wraps and stall rest with hand…
1 year ago
Horse Health
Alfalfa Is Not the Worst and Other Astonishing Revelations
I always thought alfalfa was basically the worst thing you could feed your horse. Maybe not arsenic bad. But I had it hammered into my head…
1 year ago
Behavior
Treat Yo’ Self
If there is one simple change to your horsey routine that doesn’t get mentioned much but would really make your farrier’s (actually, everyone’s) life easier,…
1 year ago
Behavior
How to Recognize “ADR” in Your Horse
When I first moved to Texas, my dog, Jackson, was behaving strangely a few hours after going to a dog park, so I took him…
2 years ago
Safety
Even the Leadline Horse Can Dump You in the Dirt
A few months ago, I fell off our three-year old son’s leadline horse. Chiquita is the sweetest, chillest, laziest mare you can imagine. Nothing bothers…
2 years ago
Hoof Care
5 Reasons to Always Pick Your Horse’s Hooves
From your first riding lesson, you were told to pick your horse’s hooves out every single day (or you should have been). If you did…
2 years ago
Amateur Hour
5 Tips for Coaching Adult Amateurs Riders
I may own a farrier business with my husband, but I’m still an amateur rider and competitor. It’s a tough world out there. All the…
2 years ago
Breeds
A Cautionary Tail
As horse owners, we all have enough to worry about. Horses are constantly determined to do themselves harm. You can literally put them in a…
2 years ago
Hoof Care
4 Reasons Why Your Miniature Horse Does Not Get a Discounted Trim
The call usually starts innocently enough. “How much do you charge to trim a miniature horse?” (or foal, mini donkey, goat, any other little hooved…
2 years ago
Memoir
Some Guys Have All the Luck
A couple weeks ago, we had to say goodbye to my horse Robbie. He was the star of “5 Ways to Help Your Fidgety Horse…
2 years ago
Hoof Care
5 Ways to Help Your Fidgety Horse Relax for the Farrier
Does your horse turn into the Tasmanian Devil every time he sees the farrier’s truck arrive? Do you dread any activity that isn’t active with your…
2 years ago
Hoof Care
Keep Your Shoes On
One of the biggest annoyances for horse people is when a horse throws a shoe. They always do it at the most inconvenient times—the morning…
2 years ago
Horse Health
You Are Not A Bad Horse Owner
As anyone who has been around an equestrian knows, put ten horse lovers in a room and you’ll get 11 different opinions. We’re a passionate bunch with…
2 years ago
Laugh
5 Reasons You May Need a New Farrier
Farriers are an enigma, but as horse owners, we can’t live without them. When my husband and I were dating, he wanted to go to…
2 years ago
Horse Health
How to Add Drama on the Vet’s Day Off
As I mentioned in The Mare Agreement, my Arabian mare, Haley, is a bit of a drama queen. She does not tolerate discomfort of any kind…
2 years ago
Horse Play
Sh*t Farrier Clients Say
It has been said that there is no such thing as a stupid question, and for the most part, that’s true. However, sometimes people don’t…