Interview with Farrier Walter Varcoe of EquineSkeletons.com
Release Date: 08/25/2022
Seven Strategies to Prosper in Your Farrier Business - Dr. Doug Butler
Farrier Focus Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler shares seven strategies to help you prosper in your farrier business. He uses the acronym of PROSPER to go through seven specific areas of your business that you must consider and pay attention to in order to grow a more successful and prosperous business. This was given at a talk at a previous Farrier Focus conference several years ago.
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Learning to See and Assess Conformation in Horses - Dr. Doug Butler
Farrier Focus Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler shares insights to a group of farriers and veterinarians how to look and see conformation deformities and what can be done to help horses that have these different conditions. Dr. Butler shares numerous experiences and techniques on observation that will help you better assess the horses you work with on a daily basis.
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Etymology of Horseshoeing Terms
Farrier Focus Podcast
In this episode, we talk about the etymology (study of the origin of words) of common horseshoeing terms. By learning the root words, prefixes and suffixes, learning horseshoeing theory and anatomy become easier. We discuss the common Latin, Greek and German words that make up our common horseshoeing terminology. We review the basic hoof structures and discuss how they get their names. If you have a question that you would like answered on a future Farrier Focus Podcast, email us at . Thanks for listening!
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Advanced Anatomy Applied to Therapeutic Shoeing - A Seven Point System for Discussing Cases and Working with Veterinarians
Farrier Focus Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler discusses a seven point system you can use to discuss cases and work with veterinarians. This discussion of applying advanced anatomy to therapeutic shoeing will give you valuable insights through sound principles and stories about how to take on specific foot diseases as a farrier. You'll get a lot out of this discussion from a previous Farrier Focus conference.
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Dr. Doug Butler on Functional Balance
Farrier Focus Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler continues his discussion on balance by discussing functional balance and how it relates to geometric balance which was discussed in a previous Farrier Focus podcast episode. This discussion from a previous seminar can be used in conjunction with studying Chapter 38 of The Principles of Horseshoeing III.
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Dr. Doug Butler - Horsemanship for Farriers
Farrier Focus Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler shares his observations about the early history of horse training. Many of the misconceptions that exist in the minds of horse owners about horse training have arisen in recent years. Dr. Butler talks about how to effectively train and work with horses and key horsemanship skills that all farriers must develop. You'll get a lot out of this discussion on the nature of horses and principles and steps you can take to stay safe when working with horses.
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Dr. Doug Butler on Geometric Balance
Farrier Focus Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Doug Butler talks about the basic fundamental skill of farriery of geometric balance. You'll get a lot out of this discussion that Dr. Butler conducted as part of a teleseminar with his son Jacob Butler. You may want to use Chapter 9 of The Principles of Horseshoeing III as a further resource for better understanding and applying this topic in your daily work.
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Lessons Learned from Horses - Interview with Dr. Doug Butler
Farrier Focus Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Butler shares lessons he has learned over a lifetime of working with horses and tips that can help you be a better farrier.
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8 Diseases of the Horse's Foot and Their Treatment - Dr. Doug Butler
Farrier Focus Podcast
In this episode, you'll hear a discussion that Dr. Doug Butler had with a group of farriers and veterinarians on eight specific foot diseases including abscesses, white line disease, keratoma, canker (and the rare coronitis), quittor, pedal osteitis, osteomyelitis, and low ringbone. These correspond to pictures and additional information that can be found in Chapter 39 of The Principles of Horseshoeing 3 on Diseases of the Horse's Foot. He discussed the DACCT method of studying and describing foot diseases: D - stands for definition of the condition A - stands for anatomy of the structures...
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Dr. Frank Gravlee and Dr. Doug Butler Discuss Founder
Farrier Focus Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Frank Gravlee of Life Data Labs and Dr. Doug Butler discuss the treatment of founder. You'll get a lot of great insights from this informative discussion from a previous Farrier Focus conference.
info_outlineIn this episode, we talk with Walter Varcoe about his work as a farrier and his interest in equine skeletons.
Walter was a professional rider and equine manager for the New York State Department of Corrections as well as their only farrier until his retirement in July 2006. In addition to his normal duties Walter also served as their equine instructor, teaching inmates the proper care of horses as well as teaching many of the inmates the art of farrier work. This not only allowed the animals to receive better care, but taught a valuable skill that those men could use throughout their lives.
During his tenure, Walter also ran the commercial composting operation at the Otisville Correctional Facility where the first horse to become a skeleton was processed. A patrol horse on duty had been kicked by another horse and had it’s leg broken. Unfortunately the injury was so devastating that the patrol horse had to be euthanized. It was from this incident that the first skeleton came to be. With the help of his crew the carcass was placed in a static aerated compost pile and allowed to compost for several months and over the following winter the first skeleton mount was built. That first mount still proudly stands today at the Otisville C.F. Horse Barn office, teaching others the value of equine skeletal anatomy. Later, another mount was crafted by Walter for the New York City Police Mounted Unit and it stands at their Remount Training Facility in the Bronx, NY.
After his retirement from the Corrections Department Walter began a full-time career as a farrier. At the prompting of many of his NYPD friends Walter began doing small educational seminars using his skeletal displays. Those seminars were well received and Walter began to get more requests for speaking engagements and for the purchase of his unique articulated mounts.
The demand for his expertise and his skeletal mounts has grown rapidly and has taken Walter all over the country as he lectures about equine anatomy. By using his unique mounts Walter can let participants lay their hands what others can only diagram in books or on posters. From schools to barns these mounts are being used to help people care for their horses better than ever. Walter continues to put what he has learned from these skeletons into daily use as he maintains his farrier business for select clients. You'll get a lot of insight from this episode about horse anatomy and from Walter's experiences as a farrier that can help you in your daily work.