Maple Hill Horseshoeing & Blacksmithing

12/08/2024

I started to make up a halter rack for my own ponies today and made up some extra hooks!

Would anyone be interested in having one made for their own horses? Or Christmas gift?
~$85

10/21/2024

Had a little canoeing mishap this weekend and my phone & schedule are at the bottom of a lake. Lovely family time turned into a cold swim 😂. I will be working on getting a new phone and my schedule restored as quickly as possible, but I appreciate everyone’s patience!

07/08/2024

Andrew was in a motocross accident this past weekend. He is home now and on the road to recovery. I appreciate everyone’s patience and flexibility as I will be needing to do a lot of rescheduling around Dartmouth visits in the next couple weeks. It’s never a dull moment with these two hooligans!

06/28/2024

Working with an audience

06/27/2024

Remember to look for those lost shoes!

06/08/2024

🌟 We're excited to be starting a new series spotlighting our Examiners, the crucial role they play in our Certification process, and tips for anyone starting or already advancing through their own Certification Journey! First up is Region 5 Supervisor, Travis Burns, MSc, CJF, TE, EE, FWCF 🔥🙌

🔨 Travis is an Associate Professor of Practice in the department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. He has served the American Farrier’s Association (AFA) in the past as President, Regional Director, Chairman of the Education Committee, and Tester. He currently serves as an Examiner, Regional Supervisor, and Director of the Therapeutic Endorsement for the Association’s Certification program. He is also the Vice President of the AFA Foundation.

👍 Tip for Candidates: My best advice to candidates heading into certification would be two things. First, I would find someone to help get started; that could be someone who has already completed certification, a Certification Instructor, an examiner, a tester, etc. Having someone to give advice and to provide feedback on your work is tremendously helpful. Second, I would encourage everyone to go to a certification and observe or scribe for a tester. Seeing how the exam is conducted, how it is scored, and what passing attempts look like prior to attempting the exam is very beneficial.

To learn more about our Certification process, visit our website: https://americanfarriers.org/page/certification

06/01/2024

Happiest of Birthdays to Tanya today!

05/18/2024

Back feet are pointy because hind coffin bones are pointy

03/19/2024

🙌🙌🙌

Knowledge sharing post No.1.

Digital/Phalangeal Alignment in a wet environment.
Pollitt and Hampson did a study at University of Queensland a couple of years ago.
They concluded the hoof wall has a constant moisture content. The sole however is like a sponge, soaking up all available moisture .
When hydrated to capacity, it loses it's tensile strength and the ability to support the hoof capsule as intended.
The back third of the hoof, which is also the shock absorbing section, drops or prolapses as a result. Counter rotation of the coffin bone occurs.
This is now known as negative palmer/planter angle. That is the angle the bottom of P3 makes in relation to the ground.
As a farrier, the best results to help this are to engage the back third in a load sharing package. Traditionally a heartbar shoe or wide bar was used. More recently dental impression material or pour in material is added to load share with frogs and commisures.
Plastic frog support pads are available most recently, as skills to fit a heartbar correctly are highest level. Protecting the internal structure are paramount whilst load sharing.

Horse's hooves are not designed to be constantly wet. Best results are to remove the cause.
A dry bedding of pine sawdust draws moisture and helps kill bacterial invasion of the whiteline and/frog's.
Overloading of the over hydrated hoof is exacerbated by the weight of the horse. To many horse's are overweight for the tensile strength of the hoof capsule.
If your horse gets to the situation where it needs this specific shoeing package, it's your responsibility as an owner to change the management or husbandry process.
Horse's shod with a load sharing package should be in a confined environment where they can't gallop about with the possibility of overreaching causing premature shoe loss. They should not be in a herd environment where other horse's can stand on the shoe's at play causing premature shoe loss.
Your farrier sees your horse at a cyclic time to reshoe, trimming the hoof to keep in balance perimeters.
The management between visits falls squarely on the owner.
Unfortunately to often expectations of correct digital alignment are overshadowed by owner mismanagement. I'm older and get grumpy when "buck passing " ends up in my lap.
At the end of the day as a professional tradesperson, it's me who decides if I continue to be trying my best for your horse's welfare 🙏

03/16/2024

It’s always a great day when you get to spend it with incredible friends making handmades 

03/09/2024

✨JOURNEYMAN ✨
A milestone full of hard work, perseverance, trial & error, countless hours of studying, late nights forging, weekends driving hours to work and learn from some of the best mentors around. And dang is it humbling.
Trying, failing, learning, putting in the work, striving to be better. This weekend the hard work paid off and I am officially a Certified Journeyman Farrier. Couldn’t have been possible without the countless support from my husband & family, friends, and mentors.
I am so thankful to be part of a trade with incredibly supportive people & friends who celebrate your successes, and the pursuit of further education, skill, and opportunity to better yourself. CJF is just the beginning.