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Chattanooga Times Free Press Article -July 2010
Shoes shine
Farriers have anything but a lost art
By: Pam Sohn
VILLANOW, Ga. — When horses and wagons were a primary mode of transportation, a blacksmith/farrier was the mechanic of the day — fixing wheels and axles and shoeing horses.
Times changed, but the need for farriers didn’t.
With hobby farms and horse riding more popular than ever, there’s a continuing demand for what many might think is a dying art.
These days, Ralph and Link Casey, of Villanow, near LaFayette, Ga., have taken horseshoeing down a new trail with their Farriers’ National Research Center and the Casey & Son Horseshoeing School.
Since 1989, Ralph Casey has trained hundreds of blacksmithing farriers not only in the art of shoeing a horse but also in the study of their gaits and corrective shoeing.
“Everything about a horse is affected by its feet. Even the rider’s safety,” Mr. Casey said.
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Staff Photo by Allison Kwesell/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Jason Montgomery, left, files Casper's hoof while Nick Jones, right, helps at the Farrier's National Research Center in LaFayette, Ga. The two are learning to trim a horses hoof before it is shod. The center is the only farrier's research center in Georgia and offers two-week, four-week and six-week classes.
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At the school and research center, the Caseys test new horseshoe techniques and materials, such as an aluminum shoe that is glued on rather than nailed.
Last week, with youngsters from a nearby KOA riding center and summer day camp watching, the father and son put a horse wearing the aluminum shoes through its paces on a horse treadmill. Wife and mom Ginger Casey recorded the horse’s gait with a video camera for later study in slow motion.
During some test runs, the Caseys also use infrared thermal imaging to watch for hot spots on the horse’s feet.
About two decades ago, Ralph and Ginger Casey started using video photography to diagnose horse gait problems for fitting corrective shoes. Mr. Casey used a washing machine motor to power a board-mounted camera that moved along a cable behind a moving horse.
“We’re a bit more technical now,” he laughed. “The public sees a farrier as a strong back and weak mind, but a farrier must understand the people he deals with, the horse, what the horse is used for and what a given kind of shoe does on a horse’s foot. There are more 2,000 kinds of horse shoes. There are 72 kinds of corrective shoes.”
Job security
But why would someone go into the horseshoeing business today?
More demand that ever, Mr. Casey said.
“There are more horses today than there were when the automobile first came out,” he said. “There were 9.2 million horses in the U.S. last year. And that’s just registered horses. That doesn’t count the backyard family pet horses.”
Not only is the business alive and well, the pay is good, too: A certified farrier can earn $50,000 to $100,000 a year, according to the Caseys’ website.
Aaron Walkover, owner of the Calhoun KOA, took a two-day “trim course” from the Caseys about a year and half ago so he could do routine foot care for the eight horses he rents for rides to KOA visitors and uses with day-camp youngsters.
“It was good. I learned a lot,” he said. “But then I hurt my back, and right now it’s just easier for me to bring the horses here and let other students work on them.”
A few feet away, Mr. Casey showed a new horseshoeing student how to lift a horse’s hind foot and work on it safely.
“Keep your head close here (to the side of the horse’s rump). He can’t kick you there,” Mr. Casey said.
Teaching horsemanship also is part of the package, he said.
Three years ago, Mr. Casey and his son, Link, began producing “Horseshoe’n Time,” the first television show seen nationally that is all about horseshoeing. The show airs on Dish Network.
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Western Horseman Magazine-November 1990
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VISION
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The "CaseyCam" in action. As it follows the horse, it is recording every step taken in order to evaluate the specific problem needing correction.
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By Renee Lineberger
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Combining modern technology with old-fashioned techniques is a trademark of Casey's. Here he displays a video camera he uses in his teachings.
WRCB in Chattanooga, Tenn., recently highlighted the talents of Ralph Casey and his horseshoeing techniques.
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technician, inventor, or foot doctor-what do we call this man who wants to revolutionize the horseshoeing industry? Ralph Casey says, "You can nail a board on a building off-center or unlevel, and maybe it doesn't hurt that much, but to put a horseshoe on off-centered or lower the hoof wall more on one side than the other, then you create problems."
Ralph started his horseshoeing school in 1989 in the community of Villanow, nestled in the northwest Georgia mountains, under a small shed with two students. He is a country boy with a vision of having not only a horseshoeing school but a top horseshoeing school that uses the latest technology to improve the overall training of the student.
A man's eye can only tell him so much. Casey is being sought after by colleges and by horse owners to advise them in his simple and specially developed technique to correct, speed up, or slow down horses. "I cannot depend on my eye," say Ralph, "the eye tends to lie, or may get you close. We have the technology and it's time we used it. Close is not good enough."
Watching Ralph work is like watching a technician and an inventor rolled into one. He has designed what has been named the "CaseyCam," a high-speed camera mounted on cables
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stretched tightly over a span of 75 to 100 yards. Traveling at a slow or high speed directly behind the horse, he can later point out to his students in slow motion what correct and incorrect shoeing can do to a horse during travel.
By timing the speed of a horse at a quarter of a mile, Ralph can actually speed up or slow down the horse. "This is the difference between winning and losing," he says. "The days of just tacking on a horseshoe in 20 to 30 minutes could become extinct."
He says, "I believe that a farrier will be called a foot doctor who specializes in horses' feet. Casey explains, "If I have a heart problem, I'll go to a heart specialist; if I have a foot problem, Ill go to a foot specialist. I am not putting down the veterinarian or anyone else; I am simply saying that if a man works on horses feet alone, then common sense tells you that he will become very educated with horses hoof problems.
I have made numerous trips to watch Ralph work on different types of hoof problems. He seems to know the anatomy and function of the hoof like the back of his hand. I am amazed to see what an educated farrier can do with modern technology and simple tools.
You can contact Casey and Son Horseshoeing School at Route 3, Box 932, LaFayette, GA 30728.
NOVEMBER 1990
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CNN Interviews 1992
Featured on CNN's "FutureWatch"
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Horse South-Fall 2005
Ralph Casey-The Man,
The Growing Legend
written by Tess Vanattia-Horse South Magazine
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| There is no doubt that Ralph Casey is a character! He is a no holds barred, what you see is what you get, take it or leave it, if you don't like it don't let the door hit you on the way out, comical, engaging, practical, charismatic, larger than life, endearing, aggravating, lovable cowboy. He is truly all these things, if you don't believe it just ask his wonderful wife Ginger.
You seldom meet men as driven as Casey. You'd be hard pressed to find a more passionate fellow. Talented, articulate, provoking, Casey is an oxymoron...simple and complex rolled together in an addictive, captivating kaleidoscope.
Ralph Casey is the founder of Casey and Son Horseshoeing School and has remained firmly either at or beside the helm of the Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association.
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Together with other farriers and the BWFA, he saw the dream of the Farrier's National Research Center become a reality.In a centuries old profession, it is hard to believe that more centers like the FNRC don't exist...but they don't. The center was a milestone, one for the history books, a place where all farriers (regardless of organizational affiliations) can come for continuing education. A place where new products, new techniques and baffling conditions can be studied, tested and proved, finally a place where horseshoeing is elevated off the anvil and is recognized as the science that it is.
Many people have heard of Ralph Casey, he has stepped on some toes here and there.......
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Horse Talk Interview
Ralph has traveled the U.S. several times promoting his school and the Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association with magazines and television appearances.
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The Winning Horse
by Ralph Casey
In 1988 I began an all out study, on not just sound shoeing, but maintaining the sound horse to allow him to perform at his peak. A lot of horse owners and farriers sort of laughed and sneered when I would lecture on some of my findings. It behooved me that no one had ever researched keeping horses sound, they were too busy studying and shoeing horses already in trouble, lame, foundered or navicular. Horse owners began bringing me their horses to evaluate. Many who at one time had the chance to be champions whether it be in cutting, running barrels, hunter jumper events, racing, and on and on. In my evaluations, I would discover that the most important part of the horse had been overlooked and neglected. These horses had received too many $15.00 trims! And further evaluations showed that neither the farrier nor the owner knew what they were actually trying to achieve with each trim or shoeing their particular horse. When I would ask them both, ”Show me your technique in keeping the leg lengths the same and what is the goal you are trying to achieve?“ They had no earthly idea what I was referring too. When I talked about the importance of keeping the foot symmetrical or like it was the day it was born, they were still lost. My findings were basically simple; most of these horses had already incurred irreversible damage because there was no goal to reach and absolutely the number one problem was no routine schedule of maintenance was adhered to. Remember folks; a horse can win by just a nose, as seen nationally on racetracks and every day, every month and every year counts when it comes to maintaining the hooves.
The hoof carries the entire weight of the horse. So, it must be perfectly balanced, or as close as humanly possible, just like an athlete would require to achieve their maximum performance. Many horse owners become offended when I tell them that everything they do is important to the hoof and they discover they did not know quite as much about their horse as they thought they did. Whether training a champion or gentle trail horse for the kids, everything comes into play, from lunging correctly, proper saddle fit, feed and nutrition. There is more to the science of shoeing than flattening the foot, nailing the shoe on and making it look pretty. Improper trimming and shoeing will eventually cause the bony structure to become out of alignment. The horse will be sore due to the unbalanced toe, heel and leg lengths.
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| This right here is the most common and most serious problem occurring to horses today. As I have said before, the main reason for shoeing the horse is; ”to keep the bony column of the leg in alignment, wherein, when the foot strikes the ground, the entire bony column, including the spine, equally absorbs the concussion.“ This right here is the basis of our evaluations and studies here at the Farriers’ National Research Center and School. So how can you find out more, you ask?
To achieve this goal we must start from square one, by properly feeding the brood mare, then properly feeding the newborn then on to evaluating and properly trimming the youngster. The entire bony structure of this newborn is growing rapidly and to alter it’s body by improper trims or neglect trimming altogether will create big problems down the road. And there are thousands of youngsters who never see a farrier until the owner wants a set of shoes around two years old. This too is by far one of the most common problems seen in horses today.
Because a farrier has 10 or 20 years experience does not automatically make them a competent farrier. It is very important for horse owners to seek out the education about the farriers’ job and the maintenance plan needed to keep a horse sound and healthy. That is, from nutrition, training and the right question to ask to evaluate the farriers’ work, while that farrier is evaluating the horse!
Horse owners are now fortunate to have access to the only farrier research center in the U.S. dedicated to studying farrier science. Owned and operated by caring horse owners and farriers, free educational clinics are offered here for owners where they can learn what questions to ask their farriers and why. And, one of the first ongoing continuing education programs available for farriers.
Horseshoe’n Time is also an experience for owners AND farriers! Our own weekly television show is aired nationwide by DISH Network on channel 9411. It can also be seen online at HorseTV and Youtube.com. This helps owners and the public learn more about every hoof care and more shoeing topics than you could ever imagine! And all of this information is still provided free for you in part by the members of the Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association, Inc. (BWFA)
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How to De-mystify the word Trimming…….
when it comes to all breeds and types of Horses
by Ralph Casey
What do all of the new names or techniques really mean?
What is best for your horse ?
Balanced, natural, natural balanced, mustang roll, rolled toe, natural angle, strausser trim, ramey trim, etc. With the word natural in almost every thing we do or eat these days, it is being portrayed as a cure all for human and equine ailments. Of course natural foods with no preservatives or pesticides applied would be better to eat. But when it comes to trimming a horse, does it mean just one way, their way, my way or leave it barefoot and unattended all together. Let it run free and natural in a five acre lot. Many owners see natural as "leave him alone and he will be fine." Well, if people ran barefoot all the time, you bet their toenails would continue grow, calluses would develop, fungus would occur, sores, stone bruises, etc. Well….same with the horse. Those four hooves are not made of concrete! These small living and growing feet carry the entire weight of a 1,200 pound or more body. Think! Think! Think!
Every horse owner should realize this, and some often realize too late after a problem has arisen. Thus the reasons for hoof care, trimming and shoeing, yes shoeing, should be a high priority when purchasing and maintaining a horse. A horseshoer known these days as farriers, preferably certified, is just the person to seek out the right information and services. Yes, a Certified Professional Farrier who has worked extensively with all types of horses is more knowledgeable than someone who just trims. Your neighbor can just trim, your dad or granddad maybe just trimmed - but it is 2009 when horses are more confined and petted more than in the 1920's. Most of the trimmers are biased and offer only one way, their way. Someone who is a farrier by trade will be more knowledgeable than even the veterinarian. A working farrier handles more horses on a daily basis than any other equine professional in the equine world. Fact !
Trimming on a regular schedule is the first priority!!! and more exclamation points !!!!! It does not mean once a year either. Every 8-10 weeks for non active horses or 6-8 weeks for active horses would be ideal. The environment, moisture and dryness has a lot to do with your success rate. Saving money by not trimming (or shoeing) is not a luxury for many horses that need shoes when ridden. You can pay for routine maintenance now . . . or spend more money in an emergency when it is sore and in pain. Is that the natural thing to do?
We receive comments from owners and farriers, good and bad, negative and ugly as well as worthy, here at the school. We find that when an owner, who is frustrated over not finding the right farrier, attends a trim class or short shoeing course, suddenly the light is turned on! Oh that's why my horse acts like that, now I know how hard it is to handle a horse and work under it at the same time. Most comments are, now I know what corrective really means. These owners enjoy it so much they continue their studies to shoe for a living. In my opinion, a person either loves it or hates it. If so, there are plenty of other occupations. Injuries alone force many farriers out of work. It is not when, but how bad is it going to be.
Our goal here is to help educate in a very friendly, non biased manner. Beginning education about the anatomy of horse, the lower limb and hoof, using your tools and what tools are easier for you personally, and safety while handling the horse while you are under it is our main priority.
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The horses you are trimming are owned by our customers who, like you, want the right trim for their horse, not a fad. They depend on us to make that decision and we are pleased to say that we are successful at explaining and satisfying. A person can read all the books offered on the internet and watch other farriers all day long, but until you get under, and have hands-on experience, with lots of horses, then your trimming knowledge if very limited. Hey, the same goes for shoeing also.
There are lots of equine educational courses being offered in every state of the US and that is a good thing. This keeps the industry thriving. Owners depend on professionals to know their job and we all want horses to remain a mainstream recreation. No matter what training or knowledge you learn, it is worthy, just try to get it ALL before you advise others.
Our two, five or ten day trim course is just that. A short course for horse owners to help them maintain their own horses or trim between farrier visits. We feel that this valuable educational experience should be respected as highly as your riding lessons, your pink halter and natural ergonomic saddle and blanket and natural fitting bridle and bit, your natural treats. (I just had to throw that in)
Now when it comes to barefoot verses shoeing and the political views surrounding it, this is a very important time in history. It is important for farriers to understand that the legal actions that may take place will make or break their incomes. With the United States in a financial dilemma and more government dipping their hands into the "small business mans" business, it is on the table (or under the table) to license farriers. Will this include the Trimmers also, or are the Barefoot Advocators out to ban shoeing all together? We hear different stories and of course that is the way the farrier industry has operated since 1977, a small number trying to monopolize the minds of the working farrier. Like most Americans, we want to keep the money we make and there is no doubt that we work hard for it.
Our school is celebrating 20 years in business in 2009. I am proud that my son, Link Casey, is my right hand man and will take over our family business when I retire. I have a lot of friends in this business and have visited 48 states in the last 20 years to promote the message of the BWFA and the FNRC and now I can do it by television and the internet. There is no reason why a horse owner should not have the access to knowledge these days.
The doors of the Farriers' National Research Center & School opened in 2000 here in Georgia to offer continuing education for the working farrier and horse and hoof care knowledge for the horse owning public. With an overwhelming response, we have actually documented our cases for 15 years. Our case studies are of before and after effects of techniques, shoes styles, products, and opinions. With the modern use of the Treadmill and Infrared Thermal Imaging we have gained a better understanding of the barefoot trend. There will always be barefoot horses, and farriers love to just trim when needed, but we are finding out what happens on the inside of the hoof even better than before. To date, we are the only facility in the United States to have a real "Farrier Research Center" where owners and farriers work together. We strive to get the word out. We would welcome anyone with a theory to join us in our studies. We continue to be on the front line of modern technology to better this age old trade.
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