Cornell Farrier Program

Should Horses go Barefoot or Shod? Hoof care is too important for horse health to apply misinformation

The history of the Cornell Farrier School continues with Marshall "Buster" Conklin, an International Farriers Hall of Famer, who was the Resident Farrier from 1976-1991. Buster expanded the course to 3 students and served as a great inspiration to many students and local farriers. He was a founding member of the Western NY Farriers Assn. Buster was one of the first testers for the American Farriers Association certification program and judged farrier competitions.

Continuing on with our history of Cornell Farrier Program instructors, here is Harold Mowers, who was the Resident Farrier from 1965-1976. Harold was recruited because of his extensive problem-solving abilities shoeing Standardbred racehorses; however, Harold was quite proficient shoeing everything from gaited show horses, draft horses, and any lameness problems.
Harold was a huge influence on myself and the many farriers who he taught. Harold's understanding of how conformation influences gaits and soundness is the foundation of excellent farriery practice.

CONGRATULATIONS to Charles Glantz, a 2022 graduate of the Cornell Farrier Program for receiving this year’s Rising Shoeing Star Award at the International Hoof Care Summit.

Here is another installment of former Cornell University Farriers. After Prof. Henry Asmus passed away in 1939, Eugene Layton took over as Resident Farrier. Mr. Layton had been working for the College of Agriculture at Cornell, taking care of the shoeing needs of the college's draft horses. "Gene" was an authority on shoeing draft horses and is credited with the proper forging and applying "Scotch Bottom" shoes. Gene served until he retired in 1965 and also provided educational materials for the Shelburne Museum in Vermont. Some of the photos are from the book Shelburne Museum of Blacksmith and Farrier Tools.

More about Professor Henry Asmus, the inaugural farrier of the Cornell Farrier Program. Asmus was trained in Germany under the famed Anton Lungwitz who published some of the earliest books on horseshoeing. Henry served at Cornell University from 1914 until his death in 1939. He also trained soldiers for the US Army and published many periodicals. Below are pictures of not only his hand forged therapeutic horseshoes, but is beautiful iron work as well,

As I am finishing up my tenure at the Cornell Farrier Program, I want to highlight the instructors that have been here before me because I am standing on their shoulders. This program is one of the oldest farrier teaching programs, tied to a veterinary college in America. Henry Asmus was the first Professor of Horseshoeing at Cornell University. The photos below will talk about him and his accomplishments. In future posts I will highlight his successors.

So my last official day as Head of Farrier Services was today, however I will still be consulting on hospital cases until a new instructor is hired. I’ve trained over 150 farrier students and veterinarians in the past 15 years. I have had the privilege of helping countless horses. Many thanks to everyone for your friendship and support. Look for me as the new Technical Editor for the American Farriers Journal. It’s been great!
Steve Kraus, CJF