Eastern Upper PeninsulA:
Farrier Claims AFA Certified STATUS

Well, I have good news to share!  Many of you are aware of the testing process that has obsessed me for the past several months and for those who are not, I’d like to include you.  As most of you know, I am an active member of the American Farriers Association.  This association has a testing procedure which has been widely accepted as a standard for horseshoeing. 

AFA Certification is available at two levels, the AFA Certified Farrier and the AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier. The testing is administered by AFA Certified Journeyman farriers who are AFA Approved Examiners.  AFA certification is available to all farriers.   The AFA Certified level exam includes a standardized multiple choice, true / false written exam, a practical exam, and a shoe display with various modifications made by the farrier. 

I took my practical portion of the exam in Howell, MI back in October of 2000.  I was required to shoe two feet to specific specifications under a time limit.  The shoeing is examined under three parts including hoof preparation, shoe preparation and fit, and nailing, clinching, and finishing.  I took my written portion of the exam in Kansas City, MO on March 2, 2001.  My studies for the written exam included ligaments, tendons, bones, leg problems, horseshoes, circulation, hoof structures, gait problems, and conformation. 

And then I completed my test with my shoe display on March 17, 2001 in St. Cloud, MN.  I was required to make modifications to shoes including a square toe, a rolled toe, a rocker toe, a trailer, extended heels, a nail hole, two styles of traction devices, side clips, a toe clip a bar shoe, a pad applied to a shoe, and a raised elevation.  I then had to explain the shoe uses and then reproduce a combination of those modifications on site. 

Now that I have completed and passed all three portions of my exam, I am officially an American Farriers Association Certified Farrier.  I would like to thank all of you for you help, support and loyalty. 

I will take a breather from the testing process, and will plan to start my Journeyman level exams in early summer.  The Journeyman level will be a greater challenge for me and yet an even greater reward for myself, you, and your horses!

SPECIAL THANKS
Special thanks go to my children, Brian and Jonathan, for their patience during the past 5 months of my testing.  They’ve eaten lots of Mac ‘n’ Cheese while I’ve been in the shop.

Also, my dear friend, Patti Erlichman who helped me study through endless nights with stacks of flash cards and practice tests preparing for my written exam.  Huge credit goes to my farrier friends, Jeff Miller of Bellaire and Joe Nichols of Macomb, for their hands on attention to me and my shoes during the shoe display of my exam.
 
Thank-you!

RECOGNITION
   All of my clients get recognized for being terrific–
                                  but here are a few categories just for fun!

SPECIAL GUEST VISITOR
SteveN RUBIN
APRIL 19th & 20th, 2001

I have invited Steven Rubin M/Eq D. from Farmington Hills to visit some of our equine friends in the U.P.

Steven Rubin is a well know equine dentist. He is the only Certified Equine Dentist in Michigan and continues his education through his Association, the World Wide Association of Equine Dentistry.

I will be asking Dr. Larry Wales to be our Veterinary on hand for assistance. Steven Rubin has worked with Dr. Wales in the past. He has also worked with and helped Max Delosh along his career path.

Steven is a very experienced, advanced, knowledgeable, and creditable. He is willing to work on approximately 20 horses during his visit.

PREVENTING "Grass fonder"
(Pasture-Associated Laminitis)

Laminitis, or founder, is a painful and potentially devastating foot condition that can affect any member of the horse family. There are many different conditions or situations that can cause laminitis or increase the potential for it to occur. Probably the single most important in grazing horses is unrestricted access to lush pasture. In a recent nation-wide survey, access to lush pasture was felt to be responsible for almost 50% of all cases of laminitis. In most parts of the country, the risk for pasture-associated laminitis, or "grass founder," is highest in the spring and early summer, when plant growth is greatest.

The reason lush pasture is such a laminitis risk is because it is high in soluble carbohydrates—simple sugars and starches that are readily broken down by the bacteria in the horse's large intestine. One of the consequences of rapid breakdown of these carbohydrates is production of a substance that, when absorbed into the bloodstream, can damage an important structure in the hoof: the basement membrane. This structure essentially forms the "glue" that attaches the hoof wall to the pedal bone, or coffin bone (the bone at the base of the limb that is encased by the hoof). Breakdown of the bond between the hoof wall and the pedal bone is the basic process that triggers the destructive chain of events associated with laminitis.

Of the soluble carbohydrates found in grass, one of the most important is fructan. Studies have shown that fructan levels in the pasture are highest in the spring and summer months. On sunny days, fructan levels gradually rise during the morning, peaking around noon. They then gradually decline and are lowest just before dawn. So, the riskiest time for a laminitis-prone horse to be on pasture is between late morning and late afternoon, in the spring or early summer.

It is worth mentioning that spring/early summer is not the only time when grass founder occurs. Although far less common, it can happen during a mild, wet autumn or after a drought; in other words, any time rainfall, sunlight, and daytime temperatures are sufficient to stimulate rapid plant growth.

The good news is that preventing grass founder is simple: limit the horse's access to lush pasture. In overweight or cresty-necked horses and ponies, and in those that have had grass founder before, it may be best to keep the horse off lush pasture entirely until the grass is more mature. The horse can then be gradually re-introduced onto pasture. In the meantime, keep the horse in a dry lot and feed good quality grass hay.

Other options for limiting pasture intake include restricting the horse's pasture time to only a few hours per day (if possible, avoiding those high-risk hours between late morning and late afternoon), using a grazing muzzle, and fencing off part of the pasture to make a small paddock. 

HOOF COATING TYPES

• Moisturizers are designed to increase the flexibility of the horn.
• Artificial coloring agents, such as stove black, shoe polish, spray paint, etc., are used to give feet a smooth gloss, satin or flat black finish regardless of the original color.
• Drying agents, such as iodine, formaldehyde, acetone, etc., are used in many products designed to reduce the flexibility of the horn.
• Sealants are designed to prevent water loss or uptake through the horn surface.  These aid in maintaining the present water content of horn by sealing the outer tubules.

LOTS OF OPTIONS FOR TREATMENT
Hoof coatings have been around for a long time, ranging form used motor oil to pine tar to bacon grease.  There are many different types of modern coatings, with many formulations and objectives.  The base ingredient of a product will be the first ingredient listed on a label.

Products with a petroleum base ( like turpentine) can trap hoof-digesting bacteria under the wall, which can lead to further deterioration of wall quality. Some products are flammable and contain carcinogens.

Horse show rules and style may dictate the excessive sanding and painting of the hoof walls with all sorts of solvent cased products.  One example would be alcohol-based blacks.