ARCHIVE - ARTICLES 2009

August 09 - Making a caulk and wedge with Richard Ellis

August 09 - Distortion - the hidden menace in laminitis. Part 1

August 09 - What should be in a contract of employment?

August 09 - Future development of the farriery apprenticeship

 

Archive - Forge Magazine - August 2009
Making a caulk and wedge with Richard Ellis

Richard Ellis

This exercise is to demonstrate how I make a caulk and wedge on a concave bar. This process needs a lot of practice to understand what happens to the material and to make the shape and size of caulk and wedge you want.
To start with use thicker sections of concave, ie, 5⁄8 x 7⁄16, 3⁄4 x 7⁄16, 3⁄4 x 1⁄2 and 7⁄8 x 1⁄2 because there is more material to play with. Then, when you feel more confident try some of the flatter sections, ie, 3⁄4 x 3⁄8 or 7⁄8 x 7⁄16.

Figs 1-3

For this exercise I used 13" of 3⁄4 x 7⁄16 concave. Make sure the ends of the bar are cut square, otherwise your first hit will bend the end of the bar. (Fig 1)

Make sure your fire is good and hot, then push the fire back from the front so the hot spot is close to the front. Put the end of the concave into his hot spot so you can get a very short hot heat about 3⁄4" long (Figs 2 and 3)

Figs4-8

Bump the end of the bar with short rapid blows like a jackhammer to prevent the bar buckling when you strike it. Try and keep the concave section straight so the end thickens not buckles (Figs 4 and 5)

When you think you have got enough material, bring your hand towards you while you strike to put the angle of the wedge on the end (Figs 6, 7 and 8)

Figs 9-10

Take another hot heat and knock back and up the ends either side of the concave groove to get some height to the wedge
(Figs 9 and 10)

Figs 11-17

Forge and shape the heel and back of the wedge and draw the sides up to narrow and get some height to the wedge, being careful not to narrow the foot surface of the shoe (Figs 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17) Fig 13 shows the bar in the fire

Figs 18-21

Set down the bar over the edge of the anvil. Holding the bar at about 45° for this type of wedge. Thin the section to the desired thickness and taper the branch still maintaining the foot surface width (Figs 18, 19, 20 and 21)

Figs 22

Rasp to finish to the shape you want (Fig 22)

 

Figs 22

For the caulkin, take a good heat about 11⁄2" long and bend 90° over a rounded edge of the anvil to prevent any cuts or sharp corners marking the base of the caulkin
(Figs 23, 24 and 25)

Figs 26-29

Forge the caulkin so the concave groove closes and the section becomes smaller and more solid so you can start to bump the section down (Figs 26 and 27)

Start to make the section into the shape you want for your caulkin, but smaller, it will always get bigger every time you hit the top!
(Figs 28 and 29)

Figs 30-32

Forge the caulkin on all faces equally making sure you maintain the shape you want bringing it down to the height and position on the end of the bar (Figs 30, 31 and 32)

Figs 33-36

Set the section down over the edge of the anvil to thin the section in front of the caulkin to make the heel check and expose more of the caulkin face for grip (Figs 33 and 34)

Rasp the caulkin to the desired shape
(Figs 35 and 36)

Fig 37

Measure the finished bar so you get to know how much material you use in the caulk and wedge to allow for when you make your shoe (Fig 37)

 

Archive - Forge Magazine - August 2009
Distortion - the hidden menace in laminitis (part 1) - By Tom Ryan, FWCF

Figs 1-3
Fig 1 - Stripped hoof showing forward movement of the hoof capsule.
Fig 2 - Narrow hoof
Fig 3 - Round hoof

Figs 4-5

Fig 4 - Asymmetric hoof
Fig 5 - No laminae

Just over 11 years ago I was struck by an idea which still excites me today, it was a simple idea that transformed my understanding of laminitis. What was this idea? Simply, that hoof capsule distortion starts before pain is observed in the first episode of acute laminitis. The consequences of this simple idea are profound and have helped most of the 300 or so laminitic horses and ponies that I have dealt with in the past 11 years.
After having this eureka moment, I took the idea to a prominent equine vet in my area and asked him if I was missing something really stupidly obvious that would undermine the concept of early hoof distortion in equine laminitis. After explaining all that I knew, he agreed that there was merit in the idea, and I was not missing an obvious flaw that would make my idea unworkable. Experience with this concept has proved to be productive and as I have learned more, each new piece of information supports the concept more strongly.
Getting other vets and farriers to understand why this is such a good idea has been more difficult, with the exception of a notable few. Perhaps I was too conservative in presenting the concept, particularly in the early days when I did not explain some of the background principles very well? I am determined not to let things rest, and would like to review the concept of ‘Dorsal wall lifting theory’, and how it holds the key to understanding laminitis.
First of all, it is no longer a ‘theory’ to me, it is a fact! But proving it to other people has been difficult as laminitis presents itself in so many inconsistent ways, and goes on to have such differing outcomes. There have been so many laminitis theories that have come and gone, so many people have become cynical to any new idea.
Effect of nutrition on hoof growth
The thrust of scientific research into laminitis has been towards nutrition, its effect on the gut and other metabolic changes observed in laminitic equines. This research is peer reviewed and of a very high standard, these observations cannot be denied. I would like to propose that these observed changes act in a different way on the equine foot, instead of attacking the laminal bond directly, these metabolic changes alter the normal pattern of hoof growth to a pattern with the heels growing faster and then the subsequent changes in hoof capsule shape destroy the laminal bond.
In the normal equine hoof, the toe grows slightly faster than the heels, giving the hoof a slight claw effect. Differential growth between two areas induces the hoof to grow with a slight curve. This principle is utilised throughout nature as it gives structural strength to horn. Human fingernails are given strength by the same principle, the central section grows faster than each side of the nail. If your nail grew equally it would produce a flat fingernail and would be uselessly flexible. So there is an inbuilt need for hoof to grow at differential rates. It is when this process goes wrong that the condition we call laminitis is seen. Instead of the normal pattern of growth, the heels now grow faster than the toe, which causes a reversal in the direction in the way the horn curves, each heel will gradually curve towards the toe and gradually a convex dorsal wall becomes evident.
Hoof distortion
The most important thing to remember is that the hoof capsule is not the benign structure we once thought it was, because hoof distortion was always considered to be a consequence of laminitis, it was never considered what could happen to the internal sensitive structures when a normal hoof started to distort.
This change in the way the hoof grows is devastating to the foot, because each heel will be curving forward towards the toe and the dorsal wall will be lifted from the underlying laminae as each heel pushes forward (Fig 1).
The wall has to lift as horn will not easily compress. This lifting process will commence at the lowest border of the hoof wall, as the condition progresses the area affected will move in an upward direction, peeling the hoof wall from the surface of the distal phalanx. Peeling requires less force to separate this strong bond because it works on a relatively small area at any one time, so it can take only a fraction of the force to separate two structures by peeling, compared to directly pulling them apart. How a strong structure like the laminae could be destroyed so easily has perplexed us all for centuries, but peeling provides a simple and viable explanation. Remember peeling has always been used when dissecting the hoof wall from the distal phalanx during postmortem examination of the hoof.
As the sole is firmly attached to the lifting dorsal wall it will be pulled closer to the solar surface of the distal phalanx, compressing the solar corium and the blood vessels it contains. The observed loss of blood circulation may be a result of physical compression of the circumflex artery and vein.
Which areas of the laminae are destroyed depends on the shape of the hoof capsule. Straight-sided hooves will mostly distort at the toe (Fig 2), as the distortion process is focused into this area of the hoof, so the dorsal laminae are destroyed and the distal phalanx may subsequently rotate. If the hoof shape is round, the distortion and peeling will be more generally distributed around the hoof with laminae also being destroyed towards the heels (Fig 3), with a larger area of laminae affected the distal phalanx will sink. Examination of less severe cases will demonstrate these principals as the orientation of the distended laminae indicates the direction in which the hoof wall has been peeled away from the distal phalanx. This pattern of narrow hooves leading to rotation and round hooves leading to sinking of the distal phalanx becomes quite obvious when one compares hoof capsule shape and the subsequent movement of the distal phalanx, this piece of information is an absolute gem when assessing radiographs and expected progression of a case.
Interestingly, a hoof which has one straight and one round side will also illustrate this principle by the orientation of the distended laminae, which will be biased towards the rounder side (Fig 4), this also explains why sometimes only one side of the distal phalanx will sink; asymmetric hooves distort asymmetrically!
In the severest cases the hoof wall can distort so quickly that the hoof wall moves away from the distal phalanx so rapidly there is insufficient time for the laminae to produce a lamina wedge and a cavity is formed (Fig 5), the unsupported distal phalanx can sink or rotate almost immediately in these cases.
One of the greatest opportunities offered by this concept is that the hoof wall is an external structure, so, if the hoof wall is responsible for destroying the underlying laminae, it is easily accessible for us to intervene to try to minimise the destructive nature of hoof capsule distortion. In the next edition of Forge, I will describe how intervening in the distortion process has helped to reduce pain levels, in some cases within hours.

For further information on this topic, visit www.equinehoof.co.uk

 

Archive - Forge Magazine - August 2009
What should be in a contract of employment?

The basis of any good working relationship between the employer and employee is the terms and conditions of employment, or contract of employment. This sets out what the employer and employee can expect from the working relationship. Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, employees are entitled to a contract within the first 12 weeks of their employment.
When you complete your apprenticeship you will probably work for another farrier, the terms of the contract will be important to ensure both you and the employer are clear on the obligations to each other.
What should be in a contract of employment
A contract of employment should include:
• The names of the ATF [employer] and the apprentice [employee];
• The date on which your employment began;
• The date on which your period of continuous employment began, that is employment with an associated employer or where a take-over has happened;
• Job title;
• Details of your pay, how it is calculated and when and how payment is made (weekly/month, by cheque or bank transfer and so on);
• Details of your working hours, including details of shift work, fixed start and finish times;
• Details of what your holiday entitlement is, including whether public holidays count towards your holiday entitlement;
• Your place of work;
• What notice period is required from both parties;
• Disciplinary and grievance procedures (usually abridged versions).
These are the fundamental terms of your contract of employment.
What may be included
The following may be included at the discretion of the ATF to make a more comprehensive contract:
• Details of sick pay;
• Terms relating to pensions and pension schemes ;
• If relevant, confirmation of whether the employment is intended to be permanent and the period for which it is expected to continue, or if it is a fixed term contract, the date when it is to end;
• Whether a probation period is in force. This should state the length of time and what notice is required (usually one week) by both parties;
• Changes to terms of employment – where the employer reserves the right to make changes to the contract after an agreed period of notification.
Advice for apprentices
When given a contract, you should read through every section and check that you are happy with the terms. Make notes of any questions you may wish to raise with the ATF or employer before signing the contract. If you break the terms you could be disciplined. If the terms are broken by the ATF you could apply to an Employment Tribunal for breach of contract.
In addition to a written contract, there are implied terms of employment, and custom and practice issues to consider. Over a period of time, you can expect small changes, for example, in your working hours or rates of pay. These become ‘implied’ terms of your employment.
Implied terms may not be confirmed in writing, but are terms that are in existence and have been accepted by both parties, for example, you may receive a pay rise. This is the same for custom and practice. if your contract states a 9.00 am start time, but for the past year you have started and been paid from 8.30 am, this would be custom and practice. Certainly it is easier for clarification when terms and conditions are in writing. If your original contract is now out of date, ask your employer to provide an ‘addendum’ in the form of a letter detailing changes to your terms and conditions.
If your ATF attempts to make changes to your contract without consulting with you or agreeing changes without telling you, this is unlawful.
One final thing, an employer is entitled to make changes to the terms and conditions of the employment. They should follow a consultation procedure. Should your ATF wish to make changes to your contract, call the WARS on the number below.
If you need advice or guidance on any employment issues, contact the Welfare Advice Reconciliation Service on 01822 870270 between 8.30 am and 7.00 pm. You can also email[email protected] or write to The Welfare Advice Reconciliation Service, Glebe Cottage, Dunterton, Milton Abbot, Nr. Tavistock, Devon PL19 0QJ.

 

Archive - Forge Magazine - August 2009
Future development of the farriery apprenticeship

Farriers and particularly ATFs, will be broadly aware that a review of the farriery national occupational standards (NOS) is taking place. This project has reached the critical stage when the revised standards are ready for consultation with farriers. Chief Executive of the Farriery Training Agency, Peter Ablett, explains that the FTA seeks your views on the revised standards, as well as alerting you to impending changes to the farriery apprenticeships that are required by Government.
The FTA, he told Forge, needs to be skilful in its planning, coordination and consultation to ensure the changes can be implemented appropriately, to the benefit of future generations of farriers. He is grateful for the advice and guidance provided by the FTA Training Advisory Committee (TAC).
Given FRC Council’s statutory obligations with regard to its responsibilities for training, FRC Council Members and Registered Farriers wish to ensure that:
• The revised Farriery NOS reflect the current and future needs of the craft;
• The content of the ATF and college training syllabus will produce modern professional farriers;
• The training delivery by ATFs and the farriery colleges meets accepted standards and targets set by the FRC Visitation Panel and BHEST, the awarding body of the Farriery NVQ;
• The standard of assessment and the examination of farrier apprentices throughout the four-year and two-month programme maintain the highest standard of competent practice for those graduates seeking registration by the FRC.
Review of farriery national occupational standards
National occupational standards form the bedrock of the Farriery NVQ programme. Lantra, which is the Sector Skills Council for Farriery, is the custodian of the NOS. Government requires that the standards are reviewed every three years and since the Farriery NOS were first published, the review in 2009 is the fourth revision since they were originally written.
Under the auspices of Lantra, a working group (representing all interests of the apprenticeship programme and the craft) have reviewed the current Farriery NOS and recommended changes, which are reflected in the revised NOS. These can be accessed on the Lantra website http://www.lantra.co.uk/stakeholders/nos/farriery-revised-nos/
Summary of key changes
The overall structure of the NOS has been changed to reflect the stages of work undertaken by farriers. Additionally, the health and safety unit has been revised and personalised to include;
• More emphasis on equine welfare, with a new element being included concentrating on the safe and humane movement of equines.
• More emphasis on personal safety, including knowledge of lone working and occupational health.
• Increased knowledge of biosecurity and environmental issues and the farrier’s responsibility for this.
• The requirement for knowledge of equine conditions has been updated.
• It has been proposed that the current welding unit is dropped from the syllabus.
If you have any comments on the proposed revised NOS or would like a copy, please contact Nicky Butcher, FTA training programme manager, telephone 01733 319770 or email [email protected]. Please respond to Nicky by 28 August 2009 with your views – they are important to the FTA and the future of the craft.
Changing the content of the training programme
Once the revised NOS have been agreed and endorsed by the FTA Management Board, FRC Council and formally accepted by Lantra, we shall have to work with the farriery colleges (currently Myerscough, Warwick and Hereford) to review the content of the training syllabus to ensure that the revised NOS are embedded in the learning programme.
It is hoped that the revised NOS will be agreed by early September 2009, so that work with the colleges can begin. It is envisaged that a small working group will be established to take forward the work on the training syllabus including members of the FRC Visitation Panel who have much experience in this area. The working group need sto be created soon to start work on the new syllabus. If you would be interested in joining the working group, please let Nicky Butcher have your name and contact details.
It is likely that the FRC Council will want to agree and endorse the new syllabus. To align with other changes taking place to the apprenticeship programme, it is planned the new syllabus should be ready for delivery in September 2010.
The Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF)
The Government has ruled that all qualifications must be placed on the new Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) such that credit ratings can be awarded for a number of qualification criteria. It is absolutely essential that the Farriery NVQ is transferred onto the QCF otherwise it will no longer be recognised as a qualification. Similarly, the WCF Diploma, which is the technical certificate following completion of the NVQ, is also transferred onto the QCF.
Work on transferring the NVQ will commence this autumn such that we can achieve the submission deadline of October 2009.
The confusing thing at the moment is that the Farriery NVQ once with the QCF, will be called ‘a diploma’ and not an NVQ, which will inevitably not sit easily with the current WCF Diploma. There will be further confusion in that the Government has introduced a new ‘diploma’ in schools targeted at 18 year olds. Ultimately, there will be three ‘diplomas!’ Some how, some way, we will need to bring clarity to this situation.
Apprenticeship blueprint
At the end of August, the Government is due to confirm what is being called ‘The Apprenticeship Blueprint’, which will commence nationally in September 2010.
The FTA believes the most significant impact on the Farriery NVQ, is a change to the entry level qualifications, which will then be five GCSE’s at grades A to C, the introduction of six personal learning and thinking skills, and the transfer from key skills to functional skills in mathematics, English and possibly IT.
There may be other changes we are not yet alerted to, pending the publication of Government guidelines.
A new farriery apprenticeship from September 2010
Bearing in mind the changes explained here, it is likely that from September 2010, the FTA will deliver a different apprenticeship programme from what we do today. Inevitably we shall have to run two different programmes alongside each other, the old and the new, for a period of around three-and-a-half years, until the apprentices on the current programme have completed and achieved their diplomas.
Change can sometimes appear threatening, particularly when Government simply insists that different arrangements have to made, but I hope that we can all see this change as a genuine opportunity to build upon an already very successful apprenticeship programme and make it better for the farriers of tomorrow.