Andy Ware has been my farrier for about seven years. He started his journey toward being a farrier by apprenticing at age 19. His formal training followed at Tuscon School of Horseshoeing in 1995. After moving back to the east coast, Andy continued his education with the Garden State Farriers Association. Then he began shoeing full time for the United States Driving Team farrier. From Maine to Florida, Andy shod some of the highest level driving horses in the world. In 2000 Andy and his wife Rachel moved to Vermont. He now covers Southern Vermont, New Hampshire and Mass. If you are in need of a great farrier for your performance horse you can call Andy at (802) 463-2018
All you need to know about the Baskir Curly breed. Even if you aren't curious about the breed, the web site is full of great pictures and interesting information about horses and farm life in Vermont.
A friendly web site that has classifieds for horses and all the essentials that go with them.
I have always felt that people treat hoof care simular to our political views, either very right wing, "we've been doing the shoe thing for hundreds of years with no problem, let it be",
Or, very left wing, "horses run naked, let them be" . I have always felt I found myself in the middle and now I found my commom ground. The easy care company not only gives my horse a great traction alternative, but is also not nessesarily permantent, but is worth all the rigorous tests.
Only 200 CLeveland Bay purebreds are in the US. Amazingly, two breeders are almost within a stones throw of each other and my farm. Donald Lyons in South Londonderry Vermont at Still Valley Farm and John Hammond in Cornish, New Hampshire.
Local"ish" Link to news and education regarding driving in the not to far distance.
When a horse is sent out for training, sometimes only the techniques of riding or driving is thought of. There is a much broader picture involved than just that. For starters, horses need to learn self- confidence and how to adjust to new surroundings. As Jack and Jill have come to my farm to learn this, I have sent my 5 year old Cleveland Bay-TB cross out to a friend's farm to learn the same things.
For starters, J & J needed to learn how to leave the paddock through a rattling metal gate with out darting. On top of that, they had to believe me that only one horse was allowed to leave at a time. A panic stricken horse was always being left behind, whinnying and running around. Jack and Jill had serious separation anxiety, not uncommon for many horses. Now, catching these horses and quietly leaving the paddock to go to work doesn't even cross my mind as an issue.
Our next dilemma was them trusting me that I wasn't out to attack them at my every move. These horses flinched at brushes let, alone harness or saddle. Most horses seem to get over issues like these in a session or two of desensitising. For Jack, he was sure I was out to kill him for a good three weeks. I needed to make sure he could stand through sudden movements or clumsy equipment being dropped at his feet before he was ever to get to the hands of someone less experienced than I. Technically, these horses were a fast learner. As for confidence building, it was a much longer hill to climb. The day I threw the harness on Jack with his hind foot relaxed I couldn't have felt better. Trust between them and me was way more important than having them further along in their "training".
