Farrier Focus Podcast

In this episode, we talk with living legend Rusty Brown who been shoeing horses for more than 50 years. He served as president of the Western States Farrier Association from 1983 to 1987. Rusty is known throughout the farrier industry for crafting beautiful jewelry. You'll love this interview and the sage advice Rusty shares about what it takes to succeed as a farrier today.  

In this episode, we talk with farrier legend Ken Mankel about his innovations with gas forges and anvils as well as experiences throughout his career. He shares valuable insights that will help farriers better master their craft.

In this episode, we talk with farrier legend Bob Marshall about how he developed his skills as a farrier and became a world champion in competition. Bob shares some of his favorite memories about being a farrier, some funny things that have happened to him over the years, and lessons that farriers can learn from to use in their businesses. You'll love Bob's ability to tell a great story and the si...

In this episode, we interview farrier legend Randy Luikart, who has been shoeing horses for more than fifty years. He is a past president of the American Farrier's Association and has been inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame. You'll gain a lot of insight and ideas from Randy on horseshoeing, ways farriers can work together, and how to master the craft of farriery.

In this episode, we discuss Bill Miller's career of horseshoeing for more than 65 years and lessons you can learn from his experiences. Bill also taught at Olympia Technical College in Washington for many years. You'll love this informative interview packed with stories and life lessons you can apply to your business.

In this episode, we interview Del Slaugh, of Milliken, Colorado who has been shoeing horses for more than 47 years. He shares experiences about how he got started as a farrier, lessons that he learned over his years of shoeing, interactions he has had with celebrities and his advice for farriers. You'll get a lot of insight from Del about the advantages of continuing education and valuable lessons...

In this episode, we interview farrier Terry Stever from Sulphur, Oklahoma. He has been shoeing horses for almost 50 years. You'll get a lot of insight about how farriery has changed over the years and the tried and true principles that will help you be more successful in your farrier business.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Eric Nygaard. He is a past president of the AFA and has been shoeing horses for more than 35 years. He shares lessons he learned from his mentors, some of the highlights of his tenure as AFA president, and memorable experiences you can learn from and apply to your shoeing career.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Doug Butler on how farriers deal with fads and specific criteria you can use to evaluate the numerous fads and doodads that enter the marketplace each year. We also discuss an article Dr. Butler wrote 21 years ago entitled "In Defense of Tradition and Common Sense." He shares stories, experiences, and insights that will help you deal with the fads you encounter in...

In this episode, we're privileged to talk with Loet van der Linden, the founder of Delta Horseshoe Company. He is a manufacturer and supplier of a wide variety of farrier tools and has been involved in the farrier industry for more than 34 years. In our discussion, he covers a wide variety of topics including how shoes and nails are made, the history of the manufacturing of horseshoes and many tip...

In today's episode, we talk to Jim Masterson of world-renowned Masterson Method®. Jim, an equine massage therapist for USEF Endurance Teams from 2006 to 2014, teaches a unique method of equine bodywork to therapists and horse owners. When he first became interested in equine massage in 1997, Jim recognized that the horse exhibits certain neurological responses to touch as it releases tension in th...

In this episode, we interview Certified Journeyman Farrier Blane Chapman of Lubbock, Texas. Blane shares experiences from his more than thirty plus years as a farrier. You'll get a lot of insight into what it takes to be a great farrier by listening to Blane's background and his advice and experiences.

In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler shares horseshoeing teaching techniques he has learned over a lifetime of teaching and helping farriers progress from one skill level to another. Don't miss the essential techniques that will help you better teach apprentices and your clients from a previous Farrier Focus conference.

In this interview, farrier educator Jacob Butler, CJF, AWCF shares his insights about how farriers can learn and master anatomy and the sequential skill development required to get good at this craft. Jacob shares his journey of deciding to become a farrier, his educational experiences, what it was like being an apprentice to his father and how he developed his passion and mastery of anatomy. You'...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Doug Butler about how he got into horseshoeing, stories from his career, and thoughts about the profession of farriery.

In this episode, we talk with farrier legend Jim Smith of New Hampshire who talks about his experiences as he has shod horses over the past 47 years all over the upper east coast. He shares valuable insights about what it takes to master the craft of farriery, how to prepare for certification, and lessons he has learned over a lifetime of shoeing. His stories, his insights, and his experiences wil...

In this episode, we talk with farrier legend Doyle Blagg about his horseshoeing career over a 57 year span in Texas. Doyle worked as a farrier to many top Quarter Horse breeders and specialized in cutting horses. He continued on a great tradition of farriers in his family following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps. You'll enjoy this episode in which Doyle reminisces on lessons he learne...

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Tom Parris of Woodbine, Maryland how to set up and run a multi-farrier practice. Tom has been shoeing horses for more than 53 years and shares a wealth of experience of what it takes to monitor expenses, how to set and raise prices, keys to being more profitable, and numerous experiences from his career that will help you be a better and m...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Courtney Diehl, an equine veterinarian who published her book Horse Vet, Chronicles of a Mobile Veterinarian in 2014. She has been an equine veterinarian since 2000. She completed a 12 month internship at a private referral practice in Saratoga Springs, NY working primarily with Thoroughbreds. She then owned and operated a solo equine mobile practice in Eagle, CO...

Today we are honored to have as our guest, Mark Deesing. Mr. Deesing is a custom-design consultant for Grandin Livestock Handling Systems, Inc. in Fort Collins, Colorado. He has designed handling facilities for all types of livestock and poultry, as well as many wildlife species. Mr. Deesing has also worked with Dr. Temple Grandin on many writing projects (including books), research and facility d...

In today's episode, we talk to Dr. Steve Peters, co-author of Evidence Based Horsemanship. Dr. Peters is a Neuroscientist that specializes in brain functioning. He and famous horseman, Martin Black have done a lot of research into understanding the horse's mind. As a horse brain researcher, Dr. Peters has given numerous Equine Brain Science seminars/presentations throughout the U.S. and Canada and...

In this episode, Bob Smith of Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School talks about ways you can improve farrier and client communication by understanding how horse owners and horse professionals think. You'll get a lot of insight from this episode from a previous Farrier Focus Conference.

In this episode, Dr. Rachael Shuster, DVM discusses two cases of successful foot therapeutic teamwork. She uses these case studies to talk about how farriers and veterinarians can improve the way they communicate as they work with horses to improve their lives. You'll get a lot out of this episode on how farriers and veterinarians should work together from a previous Farrier Focus conference.

In this episode, Bob Smith of Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School details the pitfalls of accepting responsibility as a farrier over things which you have no control. This talk was given was given at a Farrier Focus conference in 2003.

In this episode, Dr. Robert Eustace shares a myriad of nutraceutical treatments that can be used on a horse's foot and the effects of each. You'll get a lot out of this episode on a technical level about the effect of nutraceuticals on the growth and stability of the hooves of horses.