Your Custom Text Here
Many of our members are frequent Facebook users while others prefer our website's "Members Only" section.
In an effort to reach both audiences, we've created a Facebook Members Only Group to correspond with our private webpage.
If you would like to be added to the private Facebook group, visit www.facebook.com/theBWFA and send us a message. We'll verify your membership status and add you.
Important issues are being discussed and your input and action are important!
From BWFA Headquarters,
A great big thank you to all who came out on November 7, 2015 to attend our Annual Fall Event. We had a great time. We'll see you all next year!
Ronney DeBoard of Georgia (left) with Daniel Riffe of Texas (right)
BWFA will have a silent auction on November 7th with the following items:
But what if they're successful at it and spend a lifetime doing amazing things? In that case, let'em be Cowboys and give'em awards.
BWFA proudly inducts award winning Cowboy, Rick Wheat into the Brotherhood of Working Farriers Hall of Fame. Join us on Saturday, November 7, 2015 and meet Rick in person at the Farriers' National Research Center. Visit our 2015 Event Page for details!
A young Rick Wheat with his first horse.
Photo courtesy of http://rickwheatnoavelheadstall.com
What helps with all these issues in a horse?
Infrared/Red Light Therapy!
Join BWFA Hall of Famer Chris Glover at the Farriers' National Research Center on November 7, 2015 to learn more about this dynamic device!
November 1 is approaching fast! If you have not yet placed your vote for the BWFA Board of Directors Election, now is the time to visit bwfa.net's "Members Only" section to request a password, then click on 2015 Elections to vote!
If the horse you're working on is unable to extend it's leg and bring it higher, the result is that you, the farrier, end up bending down in an uncomfortable position. Shoeing this way for days, weeks or years is a sure fire way to give yourself a chronic back problem.
The solution? Equine Flexion Therapy (EFT) provided by the farrier prior to shoeing. Spending a few minutes on EFT can make a world of difference in the horse's flexibility and comfort, making your job more comfortable and saving your back.
Becoming EFT certified and learning this patented technique is a great investment in your own health as well as the horse's.
Register today for the next available EFT Class, November 8, 9 & 10 at the FNRC by calling us at 706-397-8047!
This valuable technique can help you increase your revenue while decreasing your risk of injury from a horse that is in pain. Spending just 15 minutes on each horse before shoeing can make your job faster, easier and more efficient while making a better horse all around. What is it? Find out here:
http://www.allaroundtrainingcenter.com/about-equine-flexion-therapy.html
Congratulations on making the cover of Horse & Ranch Magazine, Rick!
See the full issue here at :
http://www.horsenranchmag.com/current-issue/
BWFA invites everyone to check out Against The Grain Gazette. A newspaper that only features good news and values a spirit of independence.
http://www.againstthegraingazette.com/
BWFA Hall of Fame Member, Dan Marcum seen here with BWFA President, Link Casey
Ever since people began working on horses feet, they have been plagued with all kinds of problems. Whether you use old fashioned ideas or new technology, hoof problems can be helped by good farrier work, or made worse by bad work. For instance, the high-low foot condition affects more than the feet. In fact, it can affect the whole horse if it is not corrected. The high-low condition is mostly identified in the front feet where it seems to be exaggerated the most, but usually it is bilateral. When a horse has a high heel on the right front foot, and a low heel on the left front foot, more than likely the heel of the left hind will be high and the right hind will be low.
There are many ramifications from uneven feet. Problems can occur anywhere in the limb, but generally the greatest problems will be found at the origin of the limb or close to it. The origin of the limb is the end that is closest to the spine. The most problematic limb is usually the one with the high heel. The high heel makes the leg longer. However, if the problems with the affected limb are severe enough and the horse favors it greatly, the good limb will seem to be the most sore because it has to work twice as hard to compensate for the bad side. This soreness is usually in the muscles.
The high low condition can cause muscle knots and UMC's (unreleased muscle contractions) which can eventually put pressure on the spine. The shortened muscle is attached through a tendon, and can pull the spine out of alignment. If uncorrected, due to compensation in the way the horse travels, pain will conduct its way through the whole body causing lameness. The lameness may not even show up where the origin of the problem is, but will continue to get worse and spread. Spinal misalignment and tight muscles caused from muscle knots and UMC's can cause anything from limb lameness to short striding to all over muscle tightness that affects all aspects of the range of motion throughout the whole horse.
Some of these problems are also hard for the veterinarian to diagnose. Muscle spasms, muscle knots and UMC's will not show up on an x-ray, and can be overlooked. For some of these undiagnosed problems rest or turn out for a month or many months is usually prescribed. Rest will not necessarily fix the muscle knots, or UMC's. Horses sometimes fix their own muscle knots and UMC's when they are turned out in a pasture by rolling, rubbing on a tree or other object, or from another horse massaging on them.
It is alway helpful for a farrier to be educated in these things for it can help to understand lameness. Equine Flexion Therapy (EFT) is a system that can help educate farriers in these areas, so they can help the horse rebound to its natural self. EFT can help with other lameness problems, and help the farrier that is educated in it to be one step above other farriers. The High Low condition is only one aspect among many.
Dan Marcum is BWFA Hall of Fame member, serves on the Board of Directors and provides quarterly EFT courses at the Farriers' National Research Center. He operates All Around Training Center in Kirbyville, Texas and has patented his unique Equine Flexion Therapy technique.
Visit the Members Only section to submit your vote on the 2015 Elections page!
1. Get details about our 2015 BWFA Hall of Fame Event-"Meet & Learn from the Masters"
Featuring Rick Wheat, inventor of the Noavel Headstall, along with many other Hall of Fame inductees.
2. Get Exclusive Access!
Our Members Only section has content just for you. It's password protected and designed to give BWFA members a virtual private place of their own.
3. Get involved in our Board of Directors election!
Nominate, vote or meet the nominees in our "2015 Election" section inside the Members Only area.
Ready to see what's going on?