Monday, 30 June 2014

Super Bowl in July? Watch a New Budweiser Clydesdale Commercial for FIFA World Cup Round of 16






This article has nothing to do with hooves, except for the fact that the Budweiser Clydesdales have big, heavy, famous ones.

By tonight, everyone will have seen this commercial, but here's a preview of what will surely make a delightful culture clash during ESPN's broadcast later today of the USA-Belgium match as the next level of FIFA World Cup competition begins for Team USA in Brazil.


Tuesday, 17 June 2014

Silent Anvil: Elvis's Horseshoer Has Left the Building, But Not Our Lives



Mississippi/Tennessee horseshoer Lim Couch died this week. He was Elvis's horseshoer and a longtime officer of the American Farrier's Association. "Give me an Elvis look," I remember saying when I took this photo. And he obliged.


Lots of horseshoers have famous clients. Some like to brag about them. Some keep quiet about them. And some keep them very close to their hearts and, if you ask,

Wednesday, 11 June 2014

Triple Crown Hindsight: California Chrome's Hoof Bulb Injury in Pictures





The dream is over, and that's horse racing. The champion is just a horse, after all. But a special one.
We don't know what California Chrome's excuse was for losing Saturday's Belmont Stakes--and with it, the much-anticipated Triple Crown. There's a list, but the one that probably interests you is the injury that probably occurred in the split second when the starting gate opened.

Up to that

Saturday, 7 June 2014

California Chrome: Horseshoer Judd Fisher with a Horse on the Doorstep of History





Best of luck to California horseshoer Judd Fisher as he waits to find out if the horse with his shoes on will make history today by becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Cross your fingers, rub a horseshoe, raise your glass--whatever happens, Judd has done a great job to get California Chrome to this point.  (Judd Fisher photo)

Read more about Judd Fisher and the

Who Shod the Last Triple Crown Winner?




Sometimes a great event gives me a chance to dig into the archives and find some lost facts that deserve to have another chance to shine.


As the Belmont Stakes looms, so does the chance we'll be able to celebrate the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The photo below shows the mighty Affirmed striding around the shedrow at Belmont the week before the race.







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Triple Crown: Remembering Affirmed, the Horseshoer's Son, and the Horseshoer Himself



Whenever a big race is coming up, you'll see The Hoof Blog joyfully tweeting good wishes to jockey Rosie Napravnik. She is, after all, the horseshoer's daughter who made it to the big time. Her father, New Jersey shoer Charles Napravnik, often shows up in the winner's circle.

In fact, in the photo below of the Kentucky Oaks winner's circle when Rosie won on Untapable, you can clearly see