Hoof Pros

06/11/2024

It was great having Michael Ellis from the American Farriers Journal ride along yesterday afternoon.

02/19/2023

Working a coke fire is a skill set that must be mastered for success, whether you’re competing or forging in your everyday work, Craig Trnka tells attendees of the World Championship Blacksmiths clinic at Well-Shod.com.

02/19/2023

Rob is a great Veterinarian! Thank you for your service to AAEP!

02/19/2023

A great leader for the AFA! Thank you Hank for your service!

When building a house, a solid foundation first must be established to ensure that the structure remains sound for continued long-term use. The same is true for farriery. Yet, humans are in a hurry. We often want to run before learning to walk. In farrier terms, some want to forge a three-quarter fu...

02/19/2023

We are fortunate to have so many great Equine Veterinarians in Our area!!

Dr. Lynn Criner’s devotion to the horse has taken many forms during her years in the equine industry, including horse doctor, competitive jumper and public servant as vice president of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. Dr. Criner owns Texas Equine and Pet, an ambulatory practice in Needville, Texas, southwest of Houston.

While not part of a horse family, Dr. Criner can’t remember a time when she wasn’t enthralled with horses. Her path to veterinary school was supported by her parents, Sandra Criner and Oscar H. Criner III, PhD. “When I said I was going to go to veterinary school, they just expected that I would do it,” remembered Dr. Criner. “My dad discovered that getting into veterinary school was a big deal when people he was working with while on sabbatical In Illinois wanted to know ‘how did she do that’!?”

The 1995 graduate of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine entered veterinary school at a time when women only made up 30 percent of the class. She also was the only African American student in her class.

“I’ve already seen changes in recent years in the attitudes within the equine veterinary industry about non-traditional equine veterinarians. Many have discovered that reaching out to those who are non-traditional practitioners brings a broader perspective into the world of horse medicine.”

Dr. Criner’s advice for her colleagues? “The way forward to increasing the participation of people of color in our profession is for the veterinary community to introduce children of color from elementary age up to horses and the work of equine veterinarians. That is when dreams are formed.”

The AAEP honors Dr. Criner and her dedication to horse health!

02/02/2023

: Being able to assess your equine friend's weight and body condition is a valuable skill, especially during the winter months when horses (particularly older horses) need to generate more heat to stay warm and may hide their weight loss under a fluffy coat.

The Henneke Body Condition Scoring Chart is an important tool that provides a standard scoring system by rating the horse's physical condition on visual appraisal and palpation (feel) of six key conformation points: the amount of flesh or fat covering along the neck; the withers; down the crease of the back; at the tailhead; ribs: and behind the shoulder at the girth.

A body condition score of somewhere between 4 and 6 is ideal for most horses. However, keep in mind that in some disciplines (like racing, polo and eventing) and some life stages (like pregnancy) a higher or lower body score might be more appropriate.

If you think your horse is too fat or too thin (or even if you can't quite decide), be sure to have a chat with your veterinarian to discuss the appropriate condition and feeding program for your equine friend!

01/31/2023

Acclaimed farrier Simon Curtis wants everyone to know that a club foot is not the same thing as an upright foot. Making the distinction is the first step toward resolving a club foot, he says.

01/23/2023

01/11/2023

Doug Russo, CJF, AWCF, presents "Static Versus Dynamic Balance" at the 51st annual American Farrier's Convention in Little Rock.

02/06/2022