Dentistry Class Held At The BWFA Headquarters

Thank you, Buck McColl!

Thank you to BWFA Hall of Fame Member, Buck McColl.

Buck, we thank you for your years of dedication and service to the Bovine & Equine Industry with your knowledge, professionalism and personality.

You are an honored and valuable member of the BWFA and we  will continue your legacy in our teachings of the importance of nutrition.

Buck retired his family business as of December 31, 2015. 

A Horse Owner Weighs In On the Licensing Issue

"The Solution In Search Of A Problem And The Criminalization Of The American Farrier"


As a horse owner who regularly communicates with my farrier, I’ve recently been told that there could eventually be changes with who can legally shoe my horses. I was given a copy of letters by a seemingly nice fellow named Walt Taylor. The claim is that many horses are being abused and injured by immoral and unqualified farriers. The implication is that horse owners are not smart enough to know the difference between a reputable farrier and a counterfeit scammer. While I’m sure he means well, Mr. Taylor has insulted my intelligence and indicted his colleagues. My question to him is why?

I personally hold a state issued license in another trade and have even been an instructor, teaching my trade at a technical college so I have some insight on how things look from the perspective of professional with a government license to practice. During my time teaching, I had to pass students if they met a minimum requirement and were able to pass a standardized test administered by the state. What I can tell you from experience is that in no way was that the best criteria to be considered a professional with standards. Some of my former students have gone on to become very successful individuals who are thriving. Some of them were not so impressive. One student in particular comes to mind. I hope that this individual has never been in practice for fear that they’ve caused damage to others even though they were able to complete the program and pass the test. Although, if they did go on to work in my industry, I’m sure it wasn’t for very long. A person can only do a bad job for so long before they destroy their own reputation, no matter how much faith the government has in their abilities.

As a horse owner, I understand that it is MY responsibility to hire a qualified professional and because I understand this, my horses are in good hands and are doing well. My fellow horse owners may not be so discerning and while that’s unfortunate, it’s unavoidable. If it appears that there are so many horses experiencing pain and suffering from an unlicensed farrier’s work, imagine Mr. Taylor’s escalated concern for horse welfare when the average blue collar horse owner can’t afford the service of someone with knowledge and skill. When horse owners are faced with the decision to pay more or do it themselves, what will happen? If you had to pay a podiatrist to clip your toenails, wouldn’t you just do it at home? Probably. That analogy may not completely fit this situation but applying the logic of an uneducated horse owner, you can see how it might be similar. Without ANY advice or training from a trade school or a knowledgeable farrier to guide a struggling horse owner, I ask Mr. Taylor to consider this; how many more horses will be harmed inadvertently at the hands of their owners?

 
Where are the boundless horses injured by farriers being referenced in this movement toward licensing? Not in my barn. Not in my neighbors barn. Not at my Saddle Club either. The incidents that I’m familiar with where a horse was badly injured were the result of owner neglect, abuse or misinformation. Is a widespread lack of ethics and education in the farrier industry a legitimate problem or is the “Farriery Initiative” a solution in search of a problem? I suspect the latter. In any industry, there will be incidents of malpractice or bad judgement. Giving the government control won’t eliminate that. Animal cruelty is already against the law. There are already programs, associations and certifications in place that do a great job of turning out educated and capable farriers. There are online resources for horse owners to help them find these farriers and check their credentials. 

Increased government oversight can't educate horse owners about the importance of paying a professional for quality hoof care or help make doing so financially feasible. It can't instill business ethics into an individual who will gladly accept money for a service they’re not qualified to provide. These sorts of education and outreach efforts are best undertaken by trade associations, farrier schools and horse owner communities. And they would have a much more immediate effect than the years or decades it could take to accomplish similar feats via federal regulation. 

By the way, tax payers will foot the bill for a new government agency. Perhaps all of the previously working farriers could find a new career as government regulators when dozens of less affluent horse owners stop calling for their services.

In searching for a way to improve the welfare of horses, maybe everyone who works with or owns horses will eventually be required to have a license. For that matter, maybe we should all be licensed before we’re allowed to have a cat, a dog or even more importantly, a child. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? As a free American, I would never stand for anything close to that kind of government control. There’s a name for the type of government that imposes excessive restrictions on citizens, where the people must ask for the government’s permission to own, do or be what they want. You may have heard of it before. It’s called Communism. Why would farriers ever want to hand over their industry to an already oversized, ineffective, irresponsible bureaucracy?

If government can AND DOES effectively deny responsibility for damage and abuse of power, with zero accountable  while the rights of Americans are shredded, then how can it possibly solve any real (or perceived) problems in the farrier industry?

Forcing government regulations on farriers in America does nothing more than turn hard working men and women into criminals if they don’t comply while making horse ownership even more of an unaffordable luxury for middle class Americans.

Farrier licensing is bad for farriers, bad for the equine industry, bad for horse owners and in the end, bad for horses.

-M. Walker

What Are The Top 3 Issues Facing The Equine Industry?

If you've you been wondering how the Horse Industry is doing lately, you'll find the answers here in an article from The Florida Horse Magazine, submitted to BWFA Headquarters by our Virginia Chapter, The SEFHA.

 

 

It includes a  recent survey that highlights

What's really on the priority list for horse owners and equine professionals.

"Equine Industry Poised For Growth"

or Download the article in PDF format HERE

Remembering Jim Church

BWFA Farrier, Jim Church passed away on December 17, 2015. Jim was a resident of Plant City, Florida. He will be missed.

His friend and fellow BWFA Farrier, "Horseshoeing Charlie" notified our office.

Obituary from the Tampa Tribune

James D. "Jim" Church

74, of Plant City, died on Wednesday, December 16, 2015. He is survived by his wife, Maria and daughter, Michelle. He was born in St. Petersburg, the son of the late Chester and Verna Church and the foster son of Elzie Wooten of Dunnellon. He was the owner of J.D. Church and Associates Private Investigations, prior to that he owned and operated a farrier business. Additionally, he served on the Florida Highway Patrol as a traffic homicide investigator, as a deputy for Marion County Sheriff's Department and was a Military Police officer in the US Army. He was the President of the Florida State Farriers Association and the Florida Association of Licensed Investigators. The family will hold a memorial at a later date. In lieu of flowers send donations to Southeastern Guide Dogs.
 

Josh Phillips, Military Veteran, Farrier and BWFA Member since 2012 In the hospital.

Josh Phillips is a BWFA certified farrier and has certification in Equine Flexion Therapy. His wife, Becca also attends events and classes with Josh to support him and assist in his second career in the horse industry.

Josh suffered a light stroke last week. 

This was not the first stroke for Josh. He had a previous stroke while in the military and another after that. He rehabilitated himself and didn't let it stop him from going after his goal of becoming a professional farrier. He attended horseshoeing school in 2012 and his business, JT Farrier Services, has been successful. 

Becca asks for healing prayers in hopes that his eyesight will not be permanently affected. 

High Low Syndrome and EFT (Equine Flexion Therapy)

Ever since people began working on horses feet, they have been plagued with all kinds of problems. Whether you use old fashioned ideas or new technology, hoof problems can be helped by good farrier work, or made worse by bad work. For instance, the high-low foot condition affects more than the feet. In fact, it can affect the whole horse if it is not corrected. The high-low condition is mostly identified in the front feet where it seems to be exaggerated the most, but usually it is bilateral. When a horse has a high heel on the right front foot, and a low heel on the left front foot, more than likely the heel of the left hind will be high and the right hind will be low.


There are many ramifications from uneven feet. Problems can occur anywhere in the limb, but generally the greatest problems will be found at the origin of the limb or close to it. The origin of the limb is the end that is closest to the spine. The most problematic limb is usually the one with the high heel. The high heel makes the leg longer. However, if the problems with the affected limb are severe enough and the horse favors it greatly, the good limb will seem to be the most sore because it has to work twice as hard to compensate for the bad side. This soreness is usually in the muscles.

The high low condition can cause muscle knots and UMC's (unreleased muscle contractions) which can eventually put pressure on the spine. The shortened muscle is attached through a tendon, and can pull the spine out of alignment. If uncorrected, due to compensation in the way the horse travels, pain will conduct its way through the whole body causing lameness. The lameness may not even show up where the origin of the problem is, but will continue to get worse and spread. Spinal misalignment and tight muscles caused from muscle knots and UMC's can cause anything from limb lameness to short striding to all over muscle tightness that affects all aspects of the range of motion throughout the whole horse.


Some of these problems are also hard for the veterinarian to diagnose. Muscle spasms, muscle knots and UMC's will not show up on an x-ray, and can be overlooked. For some of these undiagnosed problems rest or turn out for a month or many months is usually prescribed. Rest will not necessarily fix the muscle knots, or UMC's. Horses sometimes fix their own muscle knots and UMC's when they are turned out in a pasture by rolling, rubbing on a tree or other object, or from another horse massaging on them.

It is alway helpful for a farrier to be educated in these things for it can help to understand lameness. Equine Flexion Therapy (EFT) is a system that can help educate farriers in these areas, so they can help the horse rebound to its natural self. EFT can help with other lameness problems, and help the farrier that is educated in it to be one step above other farriers. The High Low condition is only one aspect among many.

Dan Marcum is BWFA Hall of Fame member, serves on the Board of Directors and provides quarterly EFT courses at the Farriers' National Research Center. He operates All Around Training Center in Kirbyville, Texas and has patented his unique Equine Flexion Therapy technique. 

Join us on November 7 at our Annual Event to meet Dan and learn more about EFT. Classes are available November 8, 9 & 10, 2015. Call 706-397-8047 to register.



2015 Hall of Fame Event Update!

We are pleased to announce that Mr. Buck McColl of Mobile Milling will be in attendance! Buck has been inducted into the BWFA Hall of Fame along with the following other achievements:

1996          BWFA S.H.O.E. Chapter National Supporter of the Year
2001          Recognition Award 24TH Annual Eastern Farriers Conference at Danny Ward School
2004         Speaker at the International Hoof Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio
2005         Speaker at the International Hoof Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio
2006         Speaker at the International Hoof Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio
2007         BWFA Equine Education in Equine Nutrition Award
2008         Speaker at the International Hoof Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio  
2008         BWFA S.H.O.E. Chapter Educator of the Year Award
2008         Lifetime Achievement Award
2011           BWFA S.H.O.E. Chapter Patriot Award
2012          BWFA Hall of Fame Inductee

Do you know what’s missing from your horse’s feed or from your customer’s horse feed? Bring in feed tags for an analysis and advice on how to improve the nutrition of your horses and those of your customers!

2015 Hall of Fame Event Schedule

Tues, Wed, Thursday 
Advanced Forge Course & Certification practice

Friday
Certification and Upgrading at all levels
Blacksmithing with Daniel Riffe, Making Farrier Tools and Knives
EFT Refresher Course free for past EFT graduates provided by Dan Marcum

Saturday 9am-6pm
RSVP Luncheon  12pm-1:30pm (for BWFA members, their friends & family)

  • BWFA Farrier hall of Fame awards and Auction
  • Rick Wheat, 2015 Inductee

Meet and greet “Learning from the Masters”

  • Max Williams, the “Forge Master” handmade shoes & a lifetime of advice as a farrier & educator
  • Dan Marcum, Equine Massage Therapy, Infrared Thermal Imaging, shoeing for a living
  • Chris Glover, new Equine Light Therapy; Infrared and red light therapy, & operating a paperless farrier business, from student to professional farrier for over 20 years
  • Link Casey, BWFA President with current & incoming Board Members 
  • Ronney DeBoard, BWFA Farrier Certification Chairman
  • Keith Seeley, Lameness, The BWFA and FNRC past 26 year history