American Farrier's Association appoints Martha Jones new executive director to replace Beth Daniels

On June 18th, the American Farrier's Association (AFA) Board of Directors announced the selection of a new executive director for the association.

Jones will be stepping into the position held by Beth Daniels for the past five years.

Research: 3D Printed Horseshoe and Hoof Scanning Trials Launched by Vet School Farriers at Utrecht University in The Netherlands

A team of vet school researchers and farriers at Utrecht University (NL) is hard at work fine-tuning how to scan the morphology of a hoof and use a 3D printer to create a shoe with specific size, shape and material characteristics to fit the particular and individual requirements of lame or conformationally-challenged horses.

First (presumed) North American cases of tick-related paralysis in horses documented at Purdue University

Figure 1 in the article shows embedded and engorged Dermacentor variabilis ticks concentrated at the base of the tail in a 3‐year‐old American Miniature horse (Horse 1).

News about ticks is seldom good news. But when the bad news is well-documented and published in a timely manner in an Open Access veterinary journal, the news could be worse.

Veterinarians at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in Indiana have published a detailed account in the peer-reviewed Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine describing the possible occurrence of two cases of tick-related paralysis in horses in North America. Until these cases, this particular type of tick-borne disease was believed to have only affected horses in Australia, and was associated with a different species of tick.

Heroes on the Hoof: Remembering military farriers who lost their lives

Every Memorial Day, I resolve to put together all my scraps of research and tally up some statistics on fallen farriers--the ones who were killed in action in US wars. I guess we all have to start somewhere, so today's fragmented salute may be the start of something much more worthwhile, one of these years.

In the meantime, this is a personal salute to some fascinating farriers who suffered tragic deaths. I met them in the small print of dusty old books and quirky Internet databases. Their names should be known and their stories should be told. Let's get started, and add to it. 

This article is by no means complete. Do you have more information? A snapshot of a gravestone? Please send any additional information you may have about farriers who died in wars, whether from disease or in action or as collateral damage.

Best of both worlds for 2019 Badminton "Farriers Prize" event horse

Farrier judge Will Hampson, DipWCF inspected the hooves of 56 horses at 8 a.m. this morning as part of an annual tradition at England's Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, Britain's 400-year old livery company charged with overseeing farriery in that country. (photo courtesy of Will Hampson; this is NOT the winning horse)

New Equine Soundness Professionals Organization Adds Key British and Australian Biomechanics and Veterinary Advisors, Plans Membership Programs

In its first 100 days, the new Equine Soundness Professionals vet-farrier group has built a solid base for future growth and membership benefits. Founder and farrier David Gilliam of Texas reports interest from around the world in the new organization, and enthusiasm from farriers and veterinarians who plan to participate in both the proposed testing program and the in-depth seminars planned for members and colleagues.

New advisors are being added, as well.