Running a small business is a lot like riding horses. Simple, but not easy. Ok so actually the major concept of each of those is simple but when you look at the details neither is simple or easy. One part of running a small business that eludes many, including farriers, is budgeting. Talking to other …
There are many different aspects of this trade that we have to work on as farriers. Business skills including accounting, marketing, communication, customer service, inventory management, etc. Anatomy and pathology, forging skills, trimming techniques, nailing, finishing, and horsemanship. Each farrier has a different set of skills and level of skill in each of these …
This blog was started one year ago with a post about the International Hoof-Care Summit that is held in Cincinnati, Ohio each year. Once again I just returned from that conference. It was another year of good lectures, conversations, and time spent in the trade show. This year there were lectures on various research …
2017 was a big year for Dixie’s Farrier Service. In January, work began on a new shop and Kia Apple joined the company as the social media and marketing manager. In August, I changed my schedule so that more time could be devoted to Dixie’s. We went from being open one full day a week …
As the weather gets cooler and we start thinking about getting our barns and homes ready for winter, we generally have our list of things to do for winterizing. For me, winterizing around the barn has meant getting out heated buckets, installing trough heaters, making sure blankets are ready if needed, draining hoses, and various …
One of the core values of Dixie’s Farrier Service is education, both that of ourselves and our clients. At the beginning of November, Cody attended the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International Conference in San Antonio, Texas to give a lecture on hoof care for working horses at a PATH barn. The lecture covered …
When considering whether or not to shoe a horse there are several factors to take into consideration. Three reasons that we should consider the use of shoes are – if wear exceeds growth if a change is needed to enhance the foot in regard to the horse’s job, such as changing traction if the foot …
Last month Dixie’s was celebrating our 9th anniversary, we have been both looking back over the years and towards the future of the company. Looking back, we are certainly not where we planned on being when first starting 9 years ago. Much like the rest of life, the company has had many twists and turns …
As a farrier I am constantly putting my safety in someone else’s hands. Whoever is holding the lead rope of the horse I am working on can significantly affect how a horse stands for me. Unfortunately, horses do not come with owner’s manuals and far too often it is assumed that everyone knows exactly how …
The last two weeks of July I saw more lost shoes than I have ever seen in my entire career in the same amount of time, outside of working an eventing horse trials. I put back on four shoes for my own clients and seven for other farriers in the span of only one week. …
For the past several years I have had the pleasure of being the onsite farrier for the Indiana Eventing Association’s Horse Trials, Classic Training & Novice 3-Day Event and once again had the privilege this year. Thursday and Friday tend to be slow days of sitting around and reading interspersed with occasionally building a spare …
“No hoof, no horse.” This familiar phrase is very true. In order for our horses to do well they must have healthy feet. No matter what your horse’s work is, from walking between food and water to competing at Rolex, they should have the best hoof care possible. What schedule should my horse be on? …
As I sit and look through my notes and pictures taken at the International Hoof-Care Summit (IHCS), it strikes me that there was not a day, and most likely an hour, that went by during the four day conference that didn’t have some great element to it. From getting to connect with old friends to …
