Farrier Books by Doug Butler Enterprises, Inc.

When a horse develops a foot problem, the difference between a quick recovery and months of guesswork usually comes down to one thing: whether someone in the barn truly understands the hoof. That is the gap Farrier Books by Doug Butler Enterprises, Inc. was built to close. For more than fifty years, Dr. Doug Butler has distilled a lifetime of practical farriery into books written to be understood, not just admired on a shelf.

The mission is refreshingly direct. These books exist to help end horse foot-care problems by putting clear, trustworthy knowledge into the hands of the people who do the work: professional farriers, veterinarians, and the horse owners who care about their animals every day.

Why is The Principles of Horseshoeing the standard farrier text?

At the heart of the line sits The Principles of Horseshoeing (P3), described by farriers worldwide as the ultimate textbook of farrier science and craftsmanship for the 21st century. It is the most widely used resource on horse foot care available today, and for good reason. P3 walks the reader from the terminology and basic anatomy of the foot and leg, through geometric balance, shoe and pad selection, and into advanced therapeutic work, functional balance, handmade shoemaking and forge welding.

Rather than asking a farrier to memorize a recipe, the book explains the why behind every decision. As one graduate of the Butler program put it, the goal is to leave you knowing the reasons you are doing things, not guessing at how much hoof to take off. That depth is what makes P3 a career-long reference instead of a one-time read.

Which book is right for you?

The catalog is organized around who you are and what you need to solve. Essential Principles of Horseshoeing is the working farrier's recipe for success, built to help you find the right information for the situation in front of you, with detailed graphs, charts and QR codes that link straight to video demonstrations. Shoeing In Your Right Mind sharpens focus, conformation assessment, balance and shoe fit, while Six-Figure Shoeing turns hard-won skill into a profitable, rewarding farrier business.

For horse owners, Horse Foot Care: A Horse Owners Guide to Humane Foot Care strips away the jargon and explains proper care in plain language for anyone who simply wants to do right by their horse. And Laminitis & Founder, co-authored with Dr. Gravlee, tackles prevention and treatment of two of the most feared conditions in the hoof. Together the line covers the full journey from first curiosity to advanced therapeutic farriery.

Who is Dr. Doug Butler?

The authority behind these books is rare. Dr. Doug Butler holds a Ph.D. in veterinary anatomy and equine nutrition, is a Certified Journeyman Farrier (CJF), and is a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (Fwcf) and the first American citizen to earn that distinction. He is the only person to hold all three credentials at once. With over fifty years at the anvil, he has won state and national shoeing competitions including the North American Challenge Cup, served three times on the North American Horseshoeing Team, and lectured at veterinary congresses around the world.

That credibility carries into every page. As one student summed it up, people who know the trade say Doug Butler stands for what he says he does. When you read his books, you are learning from a man who has both proven it in competition and taught it to a new generation of farriers.