Smith Farriers

02/02/2021

07/16/2019

06/13/2019

Hooves grow forward as much or more than they grow downward. And, as they grow forward, the base of support moves forward—out from under the bony column of the limb. Farriers typically refer to it as “backing the foot up,” and it’s a key element to good maintenance.

05/04/2019

05/02/2019

04/23/2019

Horses and ponies that gain weight are more than twice as likely to develop laminitis than if they lose or maintain their weight, a recently published study revealed.

04/15/2019

North Carolina Horseshoers Association hosting their annual American Farrier Association certification

April 2019 Certification

03/30/2019

Great clinic today in Greensboro N.C. Sponsored by NC Tool Co and the AAPF. Thanks to the clinician, Dave Farley CF, APF-1, for presenting an informative presentation and demonstration.

03/20/2019

03/08/2019

03/06/2019

Regardless if your horse wears shoes or goes barefoot, hoof care is an important part of keeping your horse sound and comfortable. A major part of this maintenance includes trimming, resetting the shoes, and regular hoof care provided by the service of a farrier. But how often should your farrier vi...

02/28/2019

The calm before the storm...
It’s Draft Horse Day here at the Classic!

02/22/2019

01/19/2019

The Benifits of sitting an exam .

Everybody gets something different from doing further education .

One motive might be to be more competent at shoeing horses .

Another might be to advertise that you have passed different levels of certification.

Or maybe it’s good to have a focus within your trade .
No matter what your reason for sitting an exam when you pass a level it is very satisfying and makes you grow as a Farrier.

01/08/2019

DID YOU KNOW ??
It is fairly common for horses to have uneven pairs of front feet.

72 % of the horses have two different fore feet, the larger foot grows faster at the toe, whereas the smaller foot grows faster at the heel. ( Perreaux )

01/06/2019

Forge ahead in 2019!

03/15/2017

Fractured coffin bone

03/15/2017

Timeline Photos

10/05/2015

World Championship Blacksmiths

Safe travels to everyone going home. It was great to see everyone. Here are the results from Class 3 and the Overall results:

10/05/2015

World Championship Blacksmiths

We are just about wrapped up here in Virginia. Thank you so much to everyone who helped us pack up, you all are just such an incredible group. Huge congratulations to Cody Gregory for a nice overall win! Lamar Weaver did an amazing job in the Liberty Live Shoeing today and won the day! Robert Jukes was the Category 3 overall winner, Adam Fahr was the Category 2 winner and Melissa Saunders was the category 1 winner. We are going to go grab a little dinner then we post the scores before we go to bed tonight. Cheers everyone, job well done!

05/28/2015

Smith Farriers's cover photo

08/03/2012

The Equine Sciences Academy

Now that you've seen live feet, and cross sections/bones - here is a great dissection that shows how all the parts of the hoof fit together (and come apart.) It is an amazing structure. THIS IS NOT A LIVE HORSE - this is a dissection of a cadaver foot.

06/24/2012

Had a great weekend. Headed up to Kentucky for certification. Completed and passed remaining parts I needed and I am now an AFA Certified Farrier.

03/16/2012

American Farrier's Association

American Farrier's Association

Please note that the following changes to the Certified Farrier Horseshoe Display Guidelines will take effect on May 1, 2012:

■All displays must incorporate both front and hind patterned shoes and all front or hind shoes must be made for the same front or hind foot.
■From the widest point forward, allow +/- 1/16th from the edge of the template and from the widest point back allow no more than 3/16th from the bearing surface, noting that the minimum acceptable is a perimeter fit. (The minimum fit, which covers the entire bearing surface of the foot.)
■All displays must be complete when submitted; partial displays will not be scored.
■While no specific patterns are designated or specified, candidates are required to submit front and hind pattern plates. Candidates may use patterns of their own design or purchase a set of pattern plates from the AFA.
■Patterns must be submitted with the display and be metal with a clearly defined frog, bearing surface, white line and accommodation for clip fit.
■The candidate is responsible for modifying plates for clip fit.

01/30/2012

2012 International Hoof-Care Summit

Headed to Cincinnati, Ohio for the 9th annual International Hoof-Care Summit this week, Jan 31st thru Feb 3rd. Had a great time last year, and looking forward to this year's summit. I can't wait to have my brain overloaded with the wealth of knowledge that will be there.
http://www.americanfarriers.com/pages/International-Hoof-Care-Summit-Homepage.php

Attend the 2012 International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati on Feb. 1-4, 2012.

11/03/2011

Heading to the NCHA annual contest and Eastern Farrier Conference this weekend. I'm entered into the shoe board modifications class. Contest starts on Friday and afterwards heading up to Danny Ward's Horseshoeing School in Martinsville Va for the conference. Its gonna be an awesome and exciting weekend.

10/05/2011

Clinic this weekend October 8th in Fuquay Varina at Pepperwood Farms. Dan Bradley of GE Forge & Tool will be the clinician. There will be a shoeing demonstration with aluminum shoes and a how to on welding aluminum shoes. Its starts at 9:00 am.

09/02/2011

08/23/2011

05/13/2011

Heading to Leatherwood Farms in the mountains Saturday for a hands on farrier clinic hosted by the North Carolina Horseshoers Association. The American Farrier Team will be there to help and answer any questions. Sure to be a great time.