Good tips about your Farrier.

Hoof Care Professionals and You

Delve into the causes of and cures for hoof abscesses and puncture wounds.

By Marius Cloete, Master Farrier AFA South Africa

As barefoot horses become more popular, which is awesome for the horses! More and more barefoot trimmers are getting into the business. Most have had lots of training and experience and are very good at what the do. Some are not as well trained or experienced and not so good at what they do. It's a horse owner's responsibility to pick up their horse's hooves and examine them frequently and ask questions if what they see doesn't appear to be right. Just as there are good and poor farriers/horseshoers, we are all hoof care professionals and some don't have the knack for it that others do.

Some don't recognize hoof issues like founder and abscesses and hoof ailments are often misdiagnosed so it's the owners responsibility to determine when a veterinarian should be called in to check their horses.

Hoof care professionals, in some cases may know more than your vet about hoof related illnesses, but we are NOT veterinarians and it's not even legal in the state of Washington for hoofcare professional to diagnose problems like laminitis/founder. If we suspect serious hoof issues, we need to recommend a vet be called in.

I have to write this because I'm seeing so much of the opposite going on and walking into cases with horses who have been under a farrier or trimmers care for months even years and finding issues that are usually associated with serious neglect.

Ultimately the horse's hoof care is the owner's responsibility. If you don't like what you're seeing call for a second opinion. If that bothers your hoof care professional, replace him/her. Second opinions are typical in other fields and we shouldn't feel guilty about making sure our horses are getting the best care possible and that our money isn't being wasted on anything less. If your trimmer/shoer objects, get's angry and quits, or assures you that they already know it all, then they don't know what they don't know and they are the most dangerous ones to have working on your horses!

Time come when you put your work to a reality??? Ever had that kind of a feeling?

30/05/11...How the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of the horses works for a human been.

When I started as a Farrier, my life was a mess, deurmekaar en not fore surely in line with things. Today was one of that days that I had a feeling of to be free.....freeeeee... not just free in the world but also free if life and spirit. Once you go close to any horse and of that moment when you touch....something happens...what?????? its one of 2 things.......Spiritually........You as person changes.... Aether scary way or approach it with love caring and in peace. But the thing is just that touch you will be changed and changed for good.
My first touch was a great experience, never been with horses in my life and just one day it crosses my road. A road that I was walking on trough life. I med this friend of mine Oliver Geel in Pretoria...
I met his uncle ( Unknowing that He was a Evangelist.)

One day I got the opportunity to go to visit Him in randburg where they staid.
The question pop '' Wat doen oom vir `n lewe?" He Reply to me" Marius I am a farrier????????A what I asked???????" A Farrier he Se`d yes he started to explained to me what it is. He Se`d to me that it is a person who take care of horses hoofs. Very interesting  I Se`d."When can I come and see what it is all about???He replied to me" I am actually on my way to Russia on a missionary but when I come back, you can join me and see for your self what it is all about.

The day came when I went with him. Came at the stables, and my first reaction was wow actually my first time touching a horse....(" You know how privilege it is for those working and caring for them." When I walk up to the nice horse standing in front of me, He looked me in the eye and as I reach out to touch him it was like a bond that happened that day...It was like one spirit combining to one. All of this is only to give GOD our FATHER the glory. He and only He knew that this was something I am granted to do in life.

All my work I do, I do it for HIM The FATHER, He brought Nico Van Deventer on my road to experience the power of GOD. In times you know that you go away far a bit and that everything don`t work out what it supposed to be. It only takes that 1 but 1 thing to bring me back to reality.
The Spirit Of A Horse.
I made my promise to all my clients that I have to support them, Help them, and advice them as far as I can. Its all my dedication to them and for the horses in this world. To me a Horse is  not just a horse...Its a spirit full animal that GOD created for us to enjoy and to love.

My dedication is to see that all the horses I got gets the best treatment and monthly trims or shoes they deserve.

For those horse lovers out there, Look after them, care for them, and be 1 with it. Its a GODS Creation creature Not just fiscally but spiritual as well.

Snakes on the road

Today 27/04/2011
On the road to one of my clients by accident I ran over a snake lying in the road most probably looking for heat in the sun. I din`t see it but yes some people will find it grows to even look at a snake. But the realistic fact is that snakes are also part of GODS creations. For a moment, I thought wow look at this nice snake and then I realized that in a flash I took its life. But with Our GOD is a mercy full GOD, It wasn`t my intension to kill it but you never know, the snake would most probably kill a human walking past. On that dirt road there is a lot of humans walking past from one farm to another. Kids also uses the road to go to school or visiting a friend. Well that was my action for the day.

Why you should choose the right Farrier???

Sole Man
some Tips for Starting off on the Right Foot


Your horse should see a farrier every four to eight weeks,
ideally. You count on him or her to help if your horse needs
corrective shoeing, needs to be specially shod for an event or
when you need advice on hoof care.

"Your farrier should be clean, mannerly and presentable, and not
abusive toward the horse," says Jim House, an AFA Certified
Journeyman in Sheridan, Wyo. "Your farrier should also be
punctual. And he or she should be able to offer a complete
shoeing service, including trimming and corrective shoeing, and
they carry pads and wedges just in case your horse needs that."


The farrier's willingness to educate the owner is also
fundamental.

"You want someone who takes time to explain, for instance, why
your horse might need certain shoes. A good farrier doesn't mind
spending time with a client," House says. He also knows his
capabilities with regard to correcting a problem, and knows when
to seek veterinary advice.

In fact, your vet and farrier should be able to work together.

"The veterinarian uses his knowledge of the medial and anatomic
aspects of the equine foot to diagnose problems and design
appropriate treatments," explains Dr. Steve O'Grady, owner of
Northern Virginia Equine Practice in The Plains, Va. The farrier
uses his or her technical and mechanical skills to implement the
treatment.


A good farrier will put you on a schedule so your horse will be
shod on a regular basis.

The most important aspects of horseshoeing are trimming the foot
and fitting the shoe. When the horse is brought out to be shod,
the farrier should watch it walk, standing in front and behind.
This gives a quick indication of how the horse's foot contacts
the ground.

The farrier should evaluate the foot from all directions so
imbalance can be noted before trimming. Rather than relying on a
hoof angle -- a tool which measures the angle of the hoof --
which is rarely appropriate for the conformation of the
individual horse's limbs, O'Grady says it's often more beneficial
to trim the foot so the dorsal (front) surface of the hoof wall
and the pastern angle are parallel. Ideally, the angle of the
heel should match the angle of the toe.

"What you want to see is a balanced, symmetrical hoof," agrees
House. "A balanced hoof means your » horse will travel properly."

The sole should be trimmed only enough to cosmetically remove the
exfoliating (flaking-off) material. The full thickness of the
sole is needed to protect the internal structure of the foot. The
bars in the heel area are left intact, and the heels are trimmed
to the widest part of the frog. Excess toe and any flares are
rasped from the exterior of the foot.

The frog should be trimmed as little as good hygiene will allow
and ideally, should be about level with the ground surface of the
foot.

Look at training when selecting a farrier. The American Farriers
Association certifies farriers at three levels: intern, certified
and certified journeyman. The farrier who does hot shoeing,
including making handmade shoes, will usually be at the
journeyman level. This level of expertise also enables the
farrier to perform corrective shoeing.

One can learn the farrier trade through a formal apprenticeship,
usually three years, or by attending a recognized farrier school.
After finishing farrier school, the graduate should spend time
working with a reputable horseshoeing mentor.

It's important, no matter how he learned the trade, that your
farrier keep up with the latest trends in shoeing and continue
his education through clinics.

For a free brochure on how to choose a farrier and an
AFA-certified farrier directory, send a self-addressed, stamped
envelope to American Farrier Association, 4059 Iron Works Pike,
Lexington, KY 40511.

Marius Cloete, a well-known farrier in the horse trade.

Rebecca Colnar

My Apprentice in traing Hands on.



Matricilated last year, and a passion for horses.Dawie Cloete JNR my brother son.. Since he started his progress is great. Fast learner.

 

Together we are servicing Heidelberg Gauteng area but are open to new clients all over gauteng.

 

And so on will the trade go from me to my son etc. And to him aswell. We will keep M.Cloete Farrier services in the trade for long time.

 

Let me firts intreduce Nico and Marcell Van Deventer, A GOD man send to me, if it wasn`t for this man I would not had the farriers trade behind me. Trained for 5 years with him and know 5 years on my own. I Give GOD all the glory and Praise for that. THANK YOU JESUS. So this will stay my trade till the day he comes and claim me.

 

 

NICO AND MARCELL VAN DEVENTER

Nico van Deventer Master Farrier currently staying in Christ Church Australlia still shoeing horses full time and preaching the word of GOD.

Well here we are and Our services is to all the horse people in Heidelberg and all over Gauteng.

Feel free to call us on 074 230 1124 / /084 886 1568

Total Hoof care.

TRUST ME I AM A FARRIER

My name is Marius Cloete, Master farrier from Heidelberg Gauteng area. Currently service heidelberg area.I am willing to travel all around the gauteng area it all depents on he number of horses in the stable yard or in the area.

I always say to the client (the more work I get in from them,thebetter the price wiil be on ther horses.

Price list can be avalable from request via email. I am willing to work with the client and not just to make money and carry on. Horses is in my blood. I dont do shoeing just for money but for the love of it. My experiance is about 10 Years. Trained by master farrier well known as Nico Van Deventer, currenlty staying in Australia.

I master the trade, exam taken at randtjiesfontein and got the deploma.

NO HOOF, NO HORSE.