GREGORY S TEXTBOOK OF FARRIERY

Transcription

1 GREGORY S TEXTBOOK OF FARRIERY Order online at: NOTE: This FREE sample chapter is provided for personal use only. You MAY NOT distribute, republish, or place this file online without first obtaining permission from the author.

2 Gregory s Textbook Of Farriery By Chris Gregory CJF, FWCF

3 GREGORY S TEXTBOOK OF FARRIERY CHRIS GREGORY, 2011 All Rights Reserved: None of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including recording, photocopying, or any information storage or retrieval system of any design, without express written permission from the author for a specific instance of use. Permissions may be sought directly from Chris Gregory in Missouri at: Heartland Horseshoeing School 327 SW 1st Lane Lamar, MO USA heartlandhorseshoeing.com anvil@earthlink.net First Published in the United States of America in 2011 ISBN Library of Congress Control Number: Editor: Pat Tierney Layout Design: Christopher Nielsen Printed by: Walsworth Publishing Company, Inc., Marceline, Missouri, USA Published by: Heartland Horseshoeing School, Inc. Lamar, Missouri, USA Printed in the USA NOTICE: The art and practice of farriery, in all its forms, is an ancient craft that continues to evolve. What is presented in this text has worked for the Gregory family, and the horses they have worked on, for many years. However, every horse and every situation is not only dangerous, but also variable. The author accepts no liability in the application of any of the techniques described in this work. Unfortunately, in a litigious society such as ours, a disclaimer like this has to be added. Use your head and apply good horse sense.

4 DEDICATION: This work is dedicated to my soul mate, fellow farrier, educator, and outstanding wife and mother; Kelly Gregory, CF. Also: Cody Gregory, CJF, and Jacquelyn Gregory. My kids are my inspiration to get out of bed every morning.

5 Forward Years ago, there came a request for a response to a survey. The letter asked for information regarding the business or some other aspect of farriery, the exact topics I have long since forgotten, but included in the envelope was a packet of coffee and an invitation to have a cup on me while you re responding to the questions. My first reaction was, This guy doesn t do anything halfway. The college student who sent the survey was Chris Gregory. Today, more than two decades later, that first impression still proves to be accurate. It will become apparent to the readers of this book that Chris does not do anything halfway. Chris has shod horses and given clinics on at least four continents and has experienced many different shoeing disciplines while being involved with many different breeds and their hoof care needs. His extensive travels across North America and around the world have made him one of the most recognized names in the farrier industry. Chris has received many accolades from his peers; Outstanding Clinician and Educator of the Year are just a few of the many awards he has earned over the years. encompasses all aspects of the art and science of farriery, even some helpful information on starting a business or developing skills as a teacher of farriery. While the horse and its anatomy have changed very little over the centuries, our understanding of biomechanics and methods of treatment have progressed tremendously recently due to more scientific equine studies and the rapid exchange of ideas among the world s practitioners. Chris has had a major role in this new age of information through his many trade magazine articles, his onsite clinics, his school for horseshoeing, and now, this book. Beginning and advanced practitioner alike, as well as instructors of farriery, will find this book a great reference as will all students of the horse. Jim Keith, Tucumcari, N.M. Jim Keith, CJF, has over 51 years experience in the farriery and blacksmithing world. He is a member of the International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame in 1994 and was recognized as a Farrier Industry Legend in He is widely recognized as one of horseshoeing s top practitioners, educators and competitors. As a self-taught farrier, he recognizes the difficulties of going it alone and strongly supports all aspects of farrier education. He currently manufactures his own line of quality tools in Tucumcari, N.M. IV

6 INTRODUCTION It is hard for me to believe that this book has finally happened. This has been a long and wonderful process, and it is with joy and sorrow that I type the last of it. I have a multitude to thank, as do any farriers who have taken this trade as far as they can. First and foremost is my wife, business partner, fellow farrier, and educator, Kelly Gregory, CF. She had the patience to allow me to forge, read, travel, write, practice, associate, and spend time with other farriers. A lot of family time was lost to the farrier trade, and I thank her for her vision of the potential. I have to thank my folks, Mike and Diana Gregory for providing my first opportunities as a farrier. There is also my son, Cody, an AFA Journeyman by the age of 15, who pushes me constantly in this craft, and also my daughter, Jacquelyn, an exceptional horsewoman, who gave feedback as I experimented with her horses. For my skills, the foremost men that impacted my career are, (in chronological order), Frank Turley, CJF, Jim Poor, CJF, Ray Helmbold, CJF, Grant Moon, AWCF, Danny Ward, CJF, Kevin Hatridge, CJF, Jim Kieth, CJF, Dave Showen, CJF, Bob Marshall, RSS, Ivon Bell, FWCF, Sandy Beveridge, FWCF, and Derek Gardener, AWCF. I have sat at the feet of masters, and from them I took what I was able. They make up a phenomenal group of farrier elite. I didn t take any photos of my first 10 years of shoeing. A bad mistake because there was so much missed that would have helped some beginner avoid the mistakes that I made as a beginner. Since 1997, I have been taking pictures of any interesting foot I came across, to the tune of about 30,000 pictures. Thank you so much Melissa Sunny Malandrinos for categorizing them so that this book could actually happen. Sunny was a student that had to take a break from school, and asked for a project to pass the time. A request she often regretted as every surface of her home became a collage of horses feet in photos. There are pictures in this work that have been taken by many different individuals. Some were taken by the student or customer who just happened to be standing by. Many were taken by Cody Gregory, CJF, and a few were snapped by me. The drawings in this book are either by Cody or myself, and you can easily distinguish which, as his are better than mine. However, they should all get the message across, which is the main purpose behind drawing them in the first place I have been influenced by a lot of writings and books on farriery. Mainly authors like James Rooney, Colonel John Hickman and Martin Humphrey, A. W. Dollar and Albert Wheatley, Professor William Russell, Anton Lungwitz, Simon Curtis, OR Adams, Susan Harris, Jean-Marie Denoix, Hilary Clayton, Doug Butler, Klaus-Dieter Budras, W.O. Sack, Sabine Rock, and others. I did not intentionally have any direct quotes from these fine authors, and where I did, they get full credit. A good farrier friend of mine, Jeff Houston from Massachusetts, asked me about who was proof reading. My answer was no one. He thought that was a bad idea, so I enlisted the help of one of the smartest men I know. Dr. Mike Miller, MD, MBA, CJF, FWCF. Even though he spent hours agonizing over what I had written, ultimately the mistakes herein are mine and mine alone. You may learn more by what I did wrong than by what I did right. Humans remember mistakes easily, as every farrier knows, and those that you find in here you will remember. This means you will still learn from this book, even though it is through the back door. If you would send corrections to me, I hope to have the need of a second printing, and a chance to catch those mistakes that got by in the first printing. And yes, there will be several that got by, of that I have no doubt. (I did send Jeff a couple of chapters, and he asked that I not do that anymore.) Marie Leginus, CJF, from British Columbia did a lot of reading and mistake correcting. It was amazing the mistakes she found in what I thought was a final draft. She is a very smart farrier. Pat Tearney, managing editor from Lessiter Publications, did the final editing. Pat Tearney (editor extraordinaire), Alice Musser, and Frank Lessiter were instrumental in getting this thing from computer to paper. Christopher Nielsen did the outstanding layout. Although not a farrier, his creative ability is superb. Many years ago, Frank Lessiter, of Lessiter Publications, started to publish some of my articles, as well as gave me a position as an Editorial V

7 Advisor. His trust in me was key to the fact that I ever wrote anything on the subject, so I owe Frank a great debt of gratitude. Mustad Corporation, in particular Marguerite Paige and Carlos Lara, sponsored me as one of their farrier clinicians, and that trust is also one that I treasure. Through them, I have had opportunities that many farriers would not, which has allowed me a lot of learning. The Worshipful Company of Farriers and the American Farriers Association have allowed me to rub elbows with some of the greatest farriers in the world, so I thank them as well. My fellow farriers from around the world have been free with knowledge, advice, and kinship. I thank the group of rugged, independent, clever, strong, and individual as they come, people who make up this trade. And of course, there is the horse. Without this noble beast, there would be no need of farriers. I have marveled at and been intrigued with this great animal for as long as I can remember, and it has been a true gift to make my living with the horse at the center of it. Dear Reader, you have my humble thanks for buying this book. If a couple of farriers and their horses benefit from this work, it has been worth it. May you be blessed and prosper in this amazing craft, and continue to add and improve upon this effort, which is only the tip of the iceberg. Chris Gregory, CJF, FWCF VI

8 Table of Contents Section 1: General Introduction and Non-Shoeing Considerations... 1 Chapter 1: Welcome to the Craft...2 Chapter 2: Safety And Longevity...7 Chapter 3: Unwritten Rules and Ethics...9 Section 2: Tools and Equipment Chapter 4: Farrier Tools...12 Chapter 5: Your Farrier Shop...24 Chapter 6: Your Mobile Shop...34 Section 3: Anatomy Chapter 7: Anatomy Introduction...44 Chapter 8: The Foot...50 Chapter 9: Bones and Joints...65 Chapter 10: Ligaments and Tendons...98 Chapter 11: Vascular, Nerve, and Lymphatic System Basics of the Equine Leg Chapter 12: Biomechanics Chapter 13: Dissection Section 4: Conformation Chapter 14: Conformation Chapter 15: Corrective Shoeing Theory Section 5: Gaits Chapter 16: Gaits Chapter 17: Gait Faults Section 6: Horsemanship Chapter 18: Horsemanship Chapter 19: Equine Psychology Section 7: General Principles of Farriery Chapter 20: Good Shoeing Chapter 21: Trimming Considerations Chapter 22: Trimming a Hoof Chapter 23: Mediolateral Balance Chapter 24: Normal Shoeing on Normal Feet Chapter 25: Measuring Feet for Handmades.236 Chapter 26: Shoe Selection Chapter 27: Shoe Modifications Chapter 28: Clip Fitting Chapter 29: Hot Fitting Chapter 30: Nailing Chapter 31: Cliniching Section 8: Other Shoeing Chapter 32: Modern Farriery Chapter 33: Bad Shoeing Chapter 34: Common Sense In The Shoeing vs. Barefoot Debate Chapter 35: Myths of Farriery Section 9: In the Fire Chapter 36: Intro to Forging Chapter 37: Forging Basics Chapter 38: Exercises in the Forge Chapter 39: Tong Making Chapter 40: The Basic Hind Chapter 41: The Basic Front Chapter 42: Using Concave to Make Shoes Section 10: Lameness and Pathology Chapter 43: Lameness Chapter 44: Causes of Lameness Chapter 45: Pathologies of the Horse s Foot -1 Abscess Canker Club Foot VII

9 -4 Coffin Bone Fractures Corns Cracks Dropped Sole Founder and Laminitis Hoof Avulsion Keratoma Navicular Pedal Osteitis Quarter Cracks Quittor Sheared Heels Sidebone Soft Heel Cracks Sole Bruises Thrush White Line Disease Chapter 46: Pathologies of the Horse s Limb -1 Bowed Tendons Broken Bones Bucked Shins Capped Hocks and Elbows Carpitis Curb Osselets Radial Nerve Paralysis Ringbone Severed Tendons Spavin Splints Sprained Suspensory Ligament Stifled and Stifle Lameness Stringhalt Thorough-Pin Windpuffs Section 11: Shoe Arsenal Chapter 47: Farrier s Arsenal Chapter 48: Straight Bar Shoe Chapter 49: Egg Bar Shoe Chapter 50: Heart Bar, W-shoe and G-bar Chapter 51: Patten Bar Chapter 52: Z-bar Chapter 53: Aluminum Fundamentals For Farriers Chapter 54: Hospital Plate Chapter 55: Extensions Section 12: Practical Application of Sound Basics Chapter 56: Treating Lame and Abnormal Feet -1 Patten Bar Cases Z-bar Cases Straight Bars Drastic Changes Heart Bar and W-Shoe Section 13: Business Chapter 57: General Thoughts On Farriery and Standards Chapter 58: Starting Your Business Chapter 59: Farrier Economics Chapter 60: Business Plan Section 14: Educators Manual Chapter 61: Tips on Teaching Chapter 62: Practical Testing Strategies Chapter 63: Test Questions Chapter 64: Judging References Index VIII