Filled with practical instructions, interactive training materials and step-by-step color illustrations, "Essential Principles of Horseshoeing" simplifies complicated processes to accelerate learning and mastery of farriery. It increases understanding of horse ownership responsibilities, as well as how-to skills for farriers and veterinarians. Traditional farrier techniques have changed little in 2,000 years, yet their application has changed dramatically in the last 25 years. This book teaches modern application of sound principles for the betterment of horses everywhere.

"... an incomparable step-by-step handbook on the farrier's craft ..."--Cover.

This marvelous book, borne of a unique collaboration between Dr. Allen Schoen—a world-renowned veterinarian and author—and trainer and competitor of many years Susan Gordon, introduces the 25 Principles of Compassionate Equitation. These Principles, conceived by Dr. Schoen and Gordon, are a set of developmental guidelines, encouraging a level of personal awareness that may be enacted not only through the reader's engagement with horses, but can be extended to all humans and sentient beings he or she encounters. The 25 Principles share stories and outline current, peer-reviewed studies that identify and support methods of training, handling, and caring for horses that constitute a safe, healthy, non-stressful, and pain-free environment. Through their Compassionate Equestrian program, the authors encourage all involved in the horse industry to approach training and handling with compassion and a willingness to alleviate suffering. By developing deeper compassion for their own horses, and subsequently, all equines, equestrians transcend their differences in breed preferences, riding disciplines, and training methodologies. This leads to the ability to empathize and connect more closely with the “global collective” of horses and horse people. In doing so, a worldwide community of compassionate equine practitioners and horse owners will emerge, which will not only benefit the horses: People involved with horses are found in many influential segments of society and have the potential to affect wide circles of friends, acquaintances, and co-workers from every walk of life. These are simple changes any horse person can make that can have a vast impact on the horse industry and society as a whole.

New Book "Reclaiming the Farrier's Soul" Takes In-Depth Look at Ancient Art of Farriery Highlighting Changes Necessary to Improve Performance and Horse Welfare. Life-long rider and horse owner Alvin Blench seeks to bring craft of farriery in line with current horseshoeing needs essential for modern-day breeds of horses. "Reclaiming the Farrier's Soul" is aimed at horse lovers everywhere as well as those interested in horse welfare. It provides the equestrian community with key lessons to build their knowledge about shoeing, enabling them to communicate better and more productively with their farrier. The book provides valuable lessons with over 85 color photographs, and key principles which provide guidelines to raising horseshoeing standards. Farriery is one of the world's oldest crafts. It has acquired a special mystique down through the centuries, but this ancient history also increases resistance to change. Parts of the farriery process now need a modern perspective. This has become more evident especially since WWII, now that working horses for farm and transport have been replaced by pleasure/ riding/sport horses, which have totally different hooves and shoeing requirements. As a result, some farriery techniques are outdated, but there are also a number of key areas where shoeing improvements need to be made, not just for aesthetic reasons, but to improve a horse's performance capability and comfort. One example is hot shoeing which can have a profoundly negative effect on the horse's welfare, if shoes that are too hot are held on for too long on sensitive hooves. There are other potential problem areas, such as incorrect hoof angles, poor trimming and nailing which can lead to lameness and discomfort. While these issues are a fundamental part of the farrier's job, they also need to be better understood by horse owners so they can improve their dialogue with them, to get a better shoeing standard. This serves a dual purpose, of getting improved welfare and also superior performance from their horses. The book is a must for horse lovers