Wes Champagne's Blacksmith Buddy: A Life-like, Positionable Horse Leg Simulates Shoeing / Trimming for Training, Demonstration and Practice

   Sponsored Post from Wes Champagne   

Learn about Wes Champagne's Blacksmith Buddy in this introductory video.

When I heard that California horseshoer Wes Champagne had a new invention, I sat back and said, "Hmmmm...." My mind lit up with imagined new lightweight shoes, or space-age adhesives, or something that you could put on a racehorse so it could break the sound barrier, or maybe jump the moon.

After all, Wes has quite a "track record" already, as a pioneer of adhesive shoes for racehorses and quarter crack repair. He pioneered the "direct glue" method and shod the first winner of a Breeders Cup race with glue-ons, Lit de Justice in the 1996 Sprint. 

I was in for a surprise this time, though...

Paynter Recovery from Colitis and Laminitis Voted 2012 Moment of the Year; Owner Designates Veterinarian to Accept Award

Stakes winner Paynter was taken ill in August while training at Saratoga in New York. A month of life-and-death struggles with colitis and acute laminitis followed. Many horses don't survive this type of medical insult but Paynter clung to life and is now back in training at Santa Anita in California. His story was publicly broadcast via the Twitter social media network by his owners, Zayat Racing. Racing fans adopted the horse's struggle and cheered "Power Up, Paynter" at every turn.

A racehorse's recovery from colitis and laminitis was chronicled on the Hoof Blog in September 2012 and was voted today the "Moment of the Year" in American horseracing. Paynter's battle gripped everyone's attention--and amazed everyone who thought he'd never survive.

Paynter battled laminitis and colitis with the help of a corps of skilled and dedicated veterinarians and farriers; the horse was transferred to a small vet hospital near Saratoga, New York following his victory in the 2012 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. His struggle has been voted the 2012 National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Moment of the Year.

Sue Dyson: How Poor Performance and Pain Are Linked in Equestrian Sports

Dr. Sue Dyson brings to her job not just her exemplary career as an imaging and diagnostics expert, but also her expertise as an advanced-level rider and trainer. (AHT photo)

At the 2012 International Society for Equitation Science Conference in Scotland in July, Sue Dyson MA, VetMB, PhD, DEO, FRCVS, presented some data collected in her work as director of orthopedics at the famous Animal Health Trust (AHT) referral clinic in Newmarket, England. The large number of cases seen at the clinic and the thoroughness of Dr. Dyson's exams and imaging provide a broad database for analyzing trends in lameness diagnosis in sport horses.

“Conformation plays a significant role in determining the likelihood of an individual horse suffering an injury during its competition career” advised Dr Dyson. Conformation issues of concern to her include straight hocks, a high croup relative to the withers and overly-extended hind fetlocks.

Would You Take a Moment to Vote for the Hoof Blog?

Surprise, surprise--and what a nice one!

The Hoof Blog has been honored by being named a finalist in the "Best Blog" category of the Equestrian Social Media Awards. How wonderful is that?

If you are agree, you can vote for The Hoof Blog (listed under "Fran Jurga") in Group 17 on the ballot web site: http://www.equestriansocialmediaawards.com/finalists.

Science Meets Art: Details of Horses on a Treadmill Fill Screens of Chaja Hertog's "Four Riders" Video Installation

Nothing much happens but there's plenty to look at. Hoof Blog readers may be mesmerized or bored or inspired or exasperated by this two-minute excerpt from a video artist's interpretations of disembodied but parallel equine details. Best experienced in full screen mode; click the embiggen icon between "HD" and "vimeo".

The Hoof Blog talks a lot about science. The anatomy and physiology of the horse's hoof are combining with locomotion and biomechanics; slowly, but surely, a field of science is emerging.

But is it art? Creative video artist Chaja Hertog thinks so...

CIA Director Nominee John O. Brennan Has Ties to Farrier World

One of the remaining forges in Kilkenny, Ireland. This one is in Kilfane. It has
three bays; the center one has a horseshoe-arch doorway. It was built from local limestone
around 1875 and, according to records, it is empty and in disrepair.

The pubs are buzzing in Ireland tonight. And the forge fires are flaring just a little higher, knowing that half a world away, a son of one of their own may soon take on one of the most important jobs in the world.