"Clips, Not Cleats"

I sometimes get asked why I use those "cleats on them shoes."  I have to explain, "They are not cleats. They are called clips."  A clip is a modification to a horseshoe that protrudes upwards from the outer rim of the shoe.

Clips have many uses, and I use them for many different reasons. You can purchase pre-clipped shoes or forge the clips on the shoe yourself. I prefer to forge my own clips so that I can place them on the shoe where I feel they are needed and most beneficial.

Clips are used to:

• Stabilize the shoe, not allowing the shoe to rotate or twist during the shoeing cycle
• Stabilize the shoe when hoof is missing
• Stabilize the shoe on horses with a weak or thin hoof wall
• Take the sheering pressure off of the nails, allowing me to use fewer and often smaller nails
• Hold a foot together if there are flares on the foot
• Prevent further damage caused by coffin bone fractures with the use of continuous clips
• Support and help stabilize cracks in the hoof

Clips obviously have many uses.  Feel free to ask my why I decided to use them on your horse.

Reliable Source

The internet can be a great source of information, but it can also be a source of incorrect information. I browse several different equine forums.  I have forums and resources that I refer to frequently and know I can get sound information from professionals, but I also read on several other forums where the information is not so clear and sometimes incorrect.  I think people, especially horse owners should be careful of where they recieve their information.  Horse owners should seek information from professionals of the field versus what others might have heard or read.  

In your efforts to learn more about your equines, be sure to find a reliable source so that you can recieve correct information to your questions.  When reading up on a certain subject, consider who wrote the material.  What type of credentials does that person have?  How many years of experience does the author or speaker have in their field?  If the ideas or methods the person offers are new, what research, studies, or experiments have they done to prove their methods are sound?  What type of continued education has that person participated in to stay up to date and current in their field?

It may take time to find answers to all these questions and may lead to more questions or further reasearch, but you'll find that it is well worth it for your peace of mind and the well being of your animals.

Shoo Fly....

With fly season already returing in Central Texas.  I would like to know what fly spray that others use.  Personally I have used several and have only found two that effectively work for me.

*Repel X concentrate - I don't delute it much

*Pyranna - seemed OK.  Although I jokingly say that Pyranna is the "30 minute flyspray," because it seems to only work about 25 - 30 minutes before the flies return.

What fly spray do you use and which one have you had the most satisfactory results with??

Time... "Whose Time Is It?"

Time... that's what we all need more of, right?  I think we all find it hard to juggle time between working and spending time with family.

With my horseshoeing business, I find that it sometimes can be very difficult juggling the two. 

I subscribe to more than a few publications.  Anything from farrier related magazines to specific equine disciplines.  So with magazines coming in the mail on a regular basis, their is always something to read and learn.  I try to attend as many horseshoeing clinics and conventions as possible.  I also spend countless late evening hours thinking of ways to make my business better.  Better things I can offer my clients.  Maybe by advancing my education in other areas or maybe even better business strategies that would benefit the client.

But what about family?  Family is the most important thing of all, other than God.  I mean, without family . . it's hard to find happiness or to have someone to share happiness with.  I would like to think that my life is pretty balanced between work and family, but sometimes it can be difficult.  If I feel that I need to spend more time with my wife, I stop what I am working on and we spend some time together.  I also enjoy living in Texas, but unfortunately most of my family is back east in AL, GA, and NC.  I don't get "back home" as often as I would like and it hurts to go home and see that everyone looks just a little bit older.  Time is passing by and not waiting on anyone.

So, as all of you stay busy in your lives I hope that you will find balance in your life and find ways to spend time with the things that really matter in life.

What's In There??

I have two of these horse hoof models. Allie Hayes at http://www.horsescience.com/ makes these, and I think they are really neat to have for my clients to look at. I really enjoy when clients have questions and I can pull out these handy hoof models and explain what happens in their horses lower limb.

This particular hoof model is the "educator hoof."  One side is long and the other side is trimmed.  This is great for explaining to horse owners that do not have their horses trimmed on a regular cycle the effects that long cycles can have on the hoof, bones, limb, and other extremities, as well as the performance and soundness of your horse.

 So if you get a chance be sure to check out the hoof models from Allie Hayes at http://www.horsescience.com/

Next Texas Professional Farrier Clinic, Where???

I really enjoy being a member of the Texas Professional Farriers Association.  Although I got the recent pre Hammer and Tongs newsletter saying the next clinic, that I really want to go to, is in Weslaco, TX.  I looked where that is and it is near Mexico! With gas prices soaring, wish they would have there clinics a little more centrally located. :)

Website is up and Running

Today we got the website up and running, http://www.certifiedtexasfarrier.com/.  I am ready for tomorrow, I have a full day of shoeing horses.  I love this job. :)