2006 Conference Notes 2006 Farrier Focus® Conference a Success With Time-Tested Principles The 7th annual Farrier Focus® Business Conference was held in November 2006 at Centaur Forge in Burlington, Wisconsin. Thank you to our hosts, Bill and Nancy O’Neill, who did a great job in setting up the conference! Enthusiastic attendees learned valuable information that will help them Raise the Standard in the farrier industry, grow their businesses, provide better care for their horses through improved skills and valuable nutrition, as well as how to be better communicators. They also enjoyed some great networking, entertainment and food. Doug Butler opened the conference by explaining that Farrier Focus® Business Conference has three purposes. These have remained unchanged since we began in 2000.
A recent national survey done by the University of Tennessee indicates that the public perceives that 50 percent of those representing themselves as farriers are incompetent. There is much misunderstanding of what is involved for one to become a competent farrier. Competency is made up of both skill and character. The mission of Farrier Focus® is to raise the standard. Jacob Butler, director of Butler Professional Farrier School in Crawford, Nebraska, led off this year’s conference with a presentation on mastering the language of the ABC’s of horseshoeing: Anatomy, Balance and Conformation. He discussed three factors under each of these topics that must be understood by farriers so they can better educate their clients. The American Farriers Journal November 2006 business practices survey indicated that Client Education was the No. 1 headache for farriers. Those who attended Farrier Focus® were able to see it as their biggest opportunity. Bill O’Neill, an experienced farrier from Marengo, Illinois, discussed the ten factors that beginning farriers neglect when building a business. He cited many examples and lessons from his own experience of working with and pleasing clients that has led him to the place he is today. His use of shoeing time and efficiency of operation was most impressive. Jacob then followed with a review of ways to improve client communication. His presentation reinforced what Bill had shared and discussed why clients fire farriers and when farriers should fire clients. Doug and Pete Butler discussed how to read horses and stressed horsemanship. They related stories of horses they have known that illustrate the nature of the horse’s psychological makeup. They told of the origin of modern “horse whispering” and its positive and negative effects on today’s clients. They stressed that although horses are unpredictable, they have a predicable nature that we can learn to read. Safety and longevity in the business are directly affected by how well one can learn to read horses. Jacob reviewed forelimb anatomy, stressing position and biomechanical features with his specimen that he made using bones, wire, and leather. He demonstrated the stay apparatus and movement. The next day he related anatomy to the position and severity of common limb unsoundnesses. Last year he did the same thing with the hind limb. It takes many hours of study and assembly work to make these models. Learning the terms and position of structures is much like learning a foreign language. Jake is fluent in the German language as well as in the language of anatomy. Doug discussed how to choose and use the anvil. Centaur Forge provided examples of the various types of anvils available. Doug discussed the features of each and demonstrated the most efficient way to use them in conjunction with the hammer and tongs. The presentation on the use of the horn for shaping hot shoes was especially valuable. Doug publishes The Cowboy Code, a book about the importance of displaying good character at our work and in our homes. He expressed the hope that everyone will see the value of applying these principles in their own family and business. Living by a Code establishes trust in clients and family members. The final event of the day was a performance by one of America’s greatest cowboy singing groups, KG and the Ranger. Karen and Rick have been performing cowboy music for many years in an effort to keep the music of their cowboy heroes alive. Along with great harmony, they teach good character as exemplified by the early-day singing cowboy heroes. They have won the western music national championship competition three times. They put on a great show! The next day Doug discussed how to calculate the cost of doing business. He applied that information to building a sustainable and vibrant business. He showed how to select and appreciate customers that make a business grow and be a pleasure to work in. Later he discussed how to apply biomechanical solutions to the front limb unsoundnesses Jacob had identified earlier. Brian Jones of Life Data Labs in Cherokee, Alabama, gave a presentation on Hoof Nutrition. As a part of his presentation, he detailed the research of Dr. Frank Gravlee by showing how the feed supplement Farrier’s Formula® was developed. It was most impressive as it became obvious that Dr. Gravlee has done more in-depth nutritional research on the horse’s foot than anyone. Indeed, most of the two dozen hoof supplements on the market are either copies of his product or built by guesswork and calculation, not by solid blood sampling research. Dr. Butler and Dr. Gravlee discussed how farriers and vets can better work together to solve a horse’s problems, especially those that cause laminitis and founder. Each must be respected and work in his or her strong specialty area to have the greatest positive effect. The objective is a solution that is satisfactory to the client, the farrier, the veterinarian, and the horse. Recognizing you can’t work with everyone, you must choose who you can work with that will make it a pleasant and rewarding experience for all. Laminitis & Founder: Prevention and Treatment for the Greatest Chance of Success, a new book written by these two foot experts, focuses on the prevention and treatment of laminitis and founder and will be released by the end of the year. They gave a preview of its contents. The differences between and the severity of the two diseases was discussed. The reason why all hoof care professionals do not agree on the causes and treatment can be traced back to faulty theories and teachings. These have caused much unnecessary pain and suffering. Dr. Gravlee went into great detail, yet made it easy for all to understand how laminitis progresses to founder. He illustrated why many prescribed medical treatments are wrong and lead to the premature death of horses. For example, he showed how “sole support” becomes sole pressure and causes tissue necrosis or death. Use of an anti-inflammatory coupled with an analgesic such as Bute work against the healing process and may contribute to further laminar damage. He discussed the relationship of diet to founder and internal hoof repair after an animal is foundered. Dr. Butler then showed why the use of the heart bar shoe is the preferred mechanical treatment until the horse grows a new healthy hoof. The limited attendance at Farrier Focus® allows for each person to have their questions answered and personal time with each of the presenters. There were people there such as Art Miner, from Mt. Carroll, Illinois, who has built a very successful business using Farrier Focus® principles. Those who are new to the craft were able “pick their brains” to learn how to succeed faster. The 2007 Farrier Focus® Business Conference will be held on September 21-22, at our new farrier school facility in Crawford, Nebraska. Mark your calendars now as you won’t want to miss this great learning opportunity. Watch www.farrierfocus.com for more details as they become available. |
