Lake Effect Farm & Forge, LLC

06/18/2024

Well, the secret is out! Jack, joined the Lake Effect Farm family just over a week ago and he is already sleeping on the job. We greatly appreciate everybody's patience and understanding as we start this new journey. Also, a big thank you for all the well wishes for our family. Jack's future is bright and we're excited for you all to watch him grow with us!

05/10/2024

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Did you know that horses shed their frogs several times a year? While it may look concerning, it is perfectly normal and indicative of a healthy, functional hoof!

Most often, you'll see your farrier trim away any excess frog tissue during a normal trim. This is the biggest reason shedding frogs typically go unnoticed. It's trimmed before it has a chance to shed. This process tends to be more noticeable during the wetter seasons. This is due to the frog being softer and easier to peel away. Also it may be more obvious on barefoot horses since they have more ground contact.

If you feel like this is happening to your horse, DON'T PANIC! Snap a picture and send it to your farrier or vet. They will determine what to do next. If it's real loose, then you'll probably be able to remove it yourself. But, to prevent any possible damage to healthy tissue, you farrier may want to come remove it.

04/19/2024

How many nails do you need?

This shoe comes punched with 6 nail holes PER SIDE. Does that mean I should use 12 nails in one shoe? The easy answer is no. I will use the least amount of nails possible to adequately attach the shoe to the hoof. In this case, I've only used 2 nails per side. This lesson horse has great hoof walls and is a little on the older side so there is not as much of a concern for him being extra rowdy outside.

In contrast, a horse that's going out to do 3'6" jumpers is probably going to get 3 nails per side. This horse would likely have traction devices which will add torque force to the shoe. Those couple extra nails along with side clips will help secure it in place for the duration of the shoeing cycle.

A couple other reasons why sometimes less is more. Everytime we drive a nail into the hoof, a small amount of hoof is displaced. Fewer nails means fewer possible issues. Also, pulled shoes are inevitable. Whether you use 4 nails or 12, if the horse wants to remove that shoe, they will. More nails tend to lead to greater hoof wall damage after a pulled shoe.

04/16/2024

Whackin' toes and going to shows!

Best of luck to all of our clients on a fun and successful horse show season! Things are really starting to ramp up and we love seeing you're success and accomplishments.

02/01/2024

This is what we strive for! Coming back to a horse after 6 weeks and the shoe still fits the hoof like the day it was put on. The hoof is not overgrown or splitting around the nail holes. The shoe is not shifted out of place at all. Good husbandry and a proper schedule are major factors to a successful and healthy horse!

12/01/2023

This morning, we casted some custom made wooden clogs to this little guy who is a chronic laminitic. They do make pre-made clogs but unfortunately not this small. To accomplish this I glued together a couple pieces of 1/2" plywood and then built in the mechanics needed based on anatomic landmarks marked on the hoof. Under the back portion of the clog, I used soft impression material and then magic cushion in the toe to help harden up the sole at its thinest point. A couple screws were used to hold the clogs in place while casting tape was used to secure them to the hoof. This was all guided using radiographs so a big thanks to Dr. Pell from GVEC. Once the casts were set, this guy had some fairly instant improvement and wanted to get moving. Short video in the comments. Thanks to his owner for not giving up on him!

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving everyone🦃! We'd like to take this opportunity to say how thankful we are for all of you. We've had another amazing year of growth and it is thanks to all of our loyal clients. It's been amazing seeing you all be so successful. I'm especially grateful for this cute scraggly little pony that stands like a statue in her stall with no halter or handler while she gets trimmed.

11/17/2023

RIP to a piece of my soul... First set of the season.

10/15/2023

To all our vet tech friends out there, thank you for all that you do!

09/08/2023

07/07/2023

Wishing everybody a happy Friday!

04/23/2023

HELP WANTED!

In order to stay ahead of the curve this summer, we are looking for a full time farriers apprentice. If you or anyone you know is interested, we are looking for the following:

- ability to commit to 4-5 days a week
- must be punctual (early is on time, on time is late)
- must be 18 or older
- horse experience is required
- basic horseshoeing experience required
- must be able to present oneself in a professional manner
- must show respect for the animals and their owners at all times
- must be able to lift 50+ lbs.
- must be willing to learn and take criticism

This is a labor intensive job. We work in nice, covered barns but it's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Lunch/snacks will be provided when there is time to stop. For anyone looking to pursue a farrier career, this is a great opportunity to gain overflow business. Pay will be based on experience/ability. Feel free to share!

04/17/2023

When your day seems to be going backwards, just roll with it...

03/31/2023

REMINDER!!! Come join me tomorrow, April 1st for this great webinar all about the coffin bone. This is no joke! If you're interested in educating yourself, this is for you.

03/11/2023

Looking forward to this webinar. Both of these presenters have incredible knowledge of the equine anatomy and physiology. If your interested in an in-depth look at the bone your horse stands upon everyday, I'd suggest you consider checking this out.

02/03/2023

This weather is brutal. Thankfully, we were able to get out of the wind and get some work done.

01/28/2023

A big thank you goes out to Sand Meadow Farm for sponsoring my registration to this webinar about the best practices for shoeing Icelandic horses! This is definitely an area that will be brightened for me.

01/03/2023

I know there's someone out there that needs to see this. It's never an easy decision but is often the kindest act we can do for our animals.

12/26/2022

With the holiday coming to a close, we hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas. We hope you had the opportunity to relax and spend some time with those who are most important. We’re so grateful for everyone that continues to support us in this journey and adds to the experience. This year has been incredibly full of opportunity and adventure. There are always a few bumps in the road but nothing that couldn’t be overcome. This past year will be hard to beat, which is why I hope it is full of as much excitement and memories along with some new ones. Happy holidays everyone!

08/23/2022

05/26/2022

Sometimes you just need someone to hold your head up...

03/20/2022

To anyone looking for tips on how to train your horse for the farrier, please do not consult Wikipedia. Once finished with their training method, please call your emergency vet for radiographs and your local digger for a hole!

03/11/2022

To all our valued clients:

As most of you know, the current worldly events have been having a significant economic effect on all of us. In an effort to mitigate the rapidly rising cost of fuel and supplies, effective immediately, there will be a small price increase. This increase is not planned to be permanent and will be reassessed as the cost of goods returns to normal. We truly appreciate everyone's understanding. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

12/30/2021

As 2021 draws to a close, I find it hard to fathom how lucky we've been. While I know this year has still been difficult for many, I can't help but be thankful for all the joy it's brought as well. This career has taken me to places I never thought I'd go, and I've met people I never thought I'd have any reason to meet. It's been humbling, to say the least.

We are so incredibly grateful for our clients, whom I can easily call our friends. There are so many people who have supported us through the years, both personally and professionally. Without all of you, we wouldn't pull out of the driveway. It's truly been a pleasure to get to know all of you, your family, and your horses. You've all been there through our triumphs as well as our failures, and we are truly thankful for that.

We're looking forward now to 2022. I have no idea what it has in store for us. While things are still somewhat uncertain in the world, I'm very certain things will get better. A few things I've picked up this year that I can pass along? Don't feel bad doing something for yourself. Never apologize for trying your best. Take care of yourself AT ALL COSTS! Too many people are burned out with work or life in general. None of this is worth doing if you can't take a minute to enjoy it.

With all that said, here's to 2022! And here's to you!🍾🥂

12/25/2021

We'd like to wish all our friends and family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We look forward to sharing in the adventures and successes that 2022 will bring you all!

10/21/2021

Starting today, we will be fundraising for our friend's young nephew, Jack. Unfortunately, Jack has just been diagnosed with a rare cancer affecting both his kidneys. While Jack is getting the best care possible, his parents are handling life like they never expected.

We will be donating a portion of every service from now until November 25th. This won't require anything extra. You'll be donating just by having your regular appointment. If anyone feels so inclined, you can make an extra donation through the go fund me page below or add it directly to the total bill and it will be allocated to Jack. If you are not in a place to donate right now, share a message with the family and please share this post so others may have the chance to help.

The horses in our lives have brought so much joy and happiness to us. Hopefully they will bring some to Jack and his family as well.

Hello everyone. This fundraiser is for a good friend, Jamie and Cortlyn Waterman's son, Jack. … Michele Renee needs your support for Help Jack Fight Cancer

09/10/2021

Something a little different today... I seem to have forgotten which way the shoe is supposed to go. I'll figure it out one of these days!

08/12/2021

Happy almost Friday everyone! This week has definitely been a warm one. Big shout out to all my clients who busted out an extra fan or brought a cold drink for me. It's always appreciated and doesn't go unnoticed.

In talking with other vets and farriers, the local equine industry is facing a new and interesting challenge. There are a large volume of horses and not enough professionals to take care of them which has left us all overwhelmed. The compounding issue is the lack of new people entering these businesses. I urge everyone, please have patience with your people. If you have a problem, talk to them. Try to see both sides of it and make steps to resolve it before acting disrespectfully or speaking poorly of them. There is no guarantee you'll be able to find someone else and there is no way to guarantee that if you do, they will meet your standards. If you can't resolve it, there is no need to bash anyone. Word spreads quickly in the equine community. Just remember, especially in this heat, that everyone has bad days and everyone gets stressed.

If you're still reading, thank you! I love my clients and I love the horses. Even the stinkers... have a great weekend everybody!

07/03/2021

Never remove a foreign object without your veterinarian.