JY Farms

06/06/2026

*Summer reminder: please pre-book your appointments!*

Summer is here, rodeo and show season is in full swing, and everyone wants their horses done.

We strongly recommend booking your appointments for the entire season. Clients who consistently maintain a schedule and rebook during our visit will always receive scheduling priority. This allows us to plan our routes efficiently and ensures your horses stay on track.

Please keep in mind that Joe and Gideon both run very full schedules. We do not hold openings waiting for last-minute requests, and once the schedule is full, it is full. Thousands of horses get trimmed and shod every year because their owners plan ahead- not because they send a message when the horse is already overdue.

If your horse becomes overdue and no future appointment was booked at our last visit, we may not be able to fit you in right away. Again: horses that are already on a regular schedule will always take priority.

The only short-notice appointments we regularly accommodate are veterinarian referrals for corrective trimming and corrective shoeing cases, since they require timely interventions. Thank you to our local veterinarians for the trust they place in us and for continuing to refer these horses our way.

We appreciate all of our clients who help us stay organized by booking ahead! Our books are already filling up into August.

If you haven't already booked your next appointment, now is a great time to do so!

05/17/2026

*Grey Highlands Ram Rodeo Treatmemts- May 24th*

We’re looking forward to being back at our hometown rodeo to catch up with rodeo friends and offer Emmett Therapy treatments for horses!

Last season kept us busy working on rodeo horses, and we loved seeing the results carry straight into the arena.

One of the things that makes Emmett Therapy unique is that it can be done anywhere, anytime, and horses often show immediate changes. We commonly see horses come out softer through their body, reaching farther underneath themselves, moving freer through their shoulders, and mentally settling before a run.

For performance horses that run barrels and poles, treatments may help with:

- calming and focusing the mind before a run
- improving stride and reach
- softening tight or tense muscles
- helping horses stay freer through turns
- relaxation and post-run recovery
- overall comfort and body awareness

Treatments can be done before your run to help with movement, stride, and focus, or after your run to support recovery and relaxation.

$45 per session (25% off regular treatment cost!)

We will only be at the rodeo Sunday around show time, so spots will be limited. A few slack appointments may still be available.

If you’re running Saturday, everyone is also welcome to stop by our place (30min from Feversham) for a treatment at the same price!

Send us a message to book your spot, we look forward to seeing everyone!

05/02/2026

*Just herd things*

Our horses live outside together 24/7, so they’ve established a clear pecking order within the herd. Living in a herd and outdoors are some of the most natural and healthy things for a horse. It gives them structure, makes them feel safe, and keeps things settled.

The pecking order matters day-to-day, especially at feeding time. We feed individual grain out in the field without using halters, and each horse knows where they’re supposed to be. Paying attention to their rank helps keep things calm and avoids unnecessary movement or conflict.

In this video, the herd just so happened to cross the creek in their pecking order: Dollar waits to pass Curdy even though he could easily outrun him, Stardust stays middle of the pack out of everyone's way, Rain orients herself on Blue, and Wyatt catches up but stays at the back of the group.

Do you know the pecking order in your herd?

Thank you to Carly Mary and Walters Falls Milling LTD for providing us with Masterfeeds Horse Feeds and all other livestock needs!

04/19/2026

*Hoof Mechanics Matter: Breaking Down the Problem*

Most hoof cracks like don’t just “happen". They are created by poor balance that isn't addressed early enough and or a hoof left too long.

Last week, this hoof came to us with a full-thickness crack running from the bottom all the way up to the hairline. Every step the horse took caused movement right at the hairline, preventing it from growing down and healing properly. On top of that, bacteria had worked its way into the crack- so sealing it right away wasn’t an option.

First step: stop the damage from continuing.

Joe built and applied a bar shoe to stabilize the hoof and limit the flexion from the heel upward. This wasn’t something off the shelf: he hand-made the correction, welding the bar onto a regular shoe to get exactly the support this horse needed.

That support allows the foot to rest while we treat the infection properly (cutting it out for starters). Once the bacteria is cleared up, the crack can be sealed and supported. And from there, we can actually grow out a solid, healthy hoof from the top down.

Because this mare has a lot of reach from behind, Joe also modified the back of the bar shoe so she can’t catch it. Every detail matters when you're trying to set a horse up to heal, not just “get by.”

A reminder that small imbalances don’t stay small: they WILL show up somewhere.

The truth is, Joe likes taking on cases like this. They push him to think deeper, look closer, and come up with practical solutions that actually help the horse.

This one will take time, but she’s on the right track now.

Do hoof mechanics interest you? Let us know your questions!

04/10/2026

*The American Rodeo*

Gideon is in Lexington, Kentucky this weekend for the American Rodeo East Regionals!
He’s worked hard to get here, and now it’s time to go make some great rides and take a shot at Saturday night’s finals.

Good luck, Gideon- we’re cheering you on! Go get it!
The American Rodeo

03/15/2026

*Joe is now a Certified Emmett Practitioner!*

After two years of courses, Joe is now officially a certified Emmett Practitioner, currently the only practitioner we are aware of in Canada.

Joe has always believed that good hoof care starts long before the rasp touches the foot. It starts with understanding the whole horse.

The Emmett Technique is a gentle bodywork method that works with muscles and fascia to help release tension and improve comfort and movement. It fits naturally with the way we’ve always approached our work: looking at the entire horse, not just the hoof.

Continuing education has always been important to us. The more we learn about the horse’s body, movement, and balance, the better we can support long-term soundness and wellbeing.

Emmett sessions can be booked together with your regular trim or as a separate treatment. Horses may benefit from Emmett work for:
• supporting conditioning and training
• aiding recovery
• helping with seasonal transitions into spring work
• general maintenance and comfort

💡We recognize that this technique is new to many people in our area. If you’re curious about how it works or whether it might benefit your horse, feel free to reach out with any questions.

Stay tuned for treatment availability at rodeos and local shows!

02/12/2026

*Joe Yoder Farrier Services turns 30 this year!*

This spring marks 30 years since Joe custom shod his first horse. Crazy!
But he’s actually been working on horses even longer than that: he started trimming and shoeing his family’s buggy and working horses when he was 12 years old.

From the very beginning, Joe has believed that being a farrier isn’t just about feet. It’s about the horse.
Understanding how they move. Respecting them. Holding the horses' legs where it's comfortable for them- not the farrier. Paying attention to the small details.

Every horse Joe works on, he’s thinking about how he can improve the result, how to make it work better and last longer for that individual horse.

Over the years, he’s developed a bit of a soft spot for the “problem” cases:

- Founder rehabs
- Weak hoof walls
- Navicular horses that the owners were told they couldn’t go in regular shoes again
- Barrel horses that kept pulling shoes until their balance was corrected.. and everything else that needs special attention in the hoof!

A lot of it comes back to careful assessment: sometimes x-rays, always watching movement, and then choosing the simplest option that truly works. Balance first.

Thirty years in business is something we’re really proud of. And we’re incredibly thankful for the horses and clients who have trusted Joe over the years. Being able to do this full time is a dream Joe worked on for a very long time!

We’d love to hear from you:

How many years has Joe been your farrier?
How many horses in your barn have been in his care?
Do you have a favourite story?

Share in the comments- your experiences help other horse owners find the right fit for their horses.

We do have limited availability for new clients, and word of mouth means everything in this business. Thank you all 🤍

02/08/2026

*Alternative shoes for slippery and icy conditions*

A couple of weeks ago, we posted a picture of an unusual shoe, and you wanted to know more about it, so here it is!

This winter, Joe tried something different for our own horses to support them on uneven, sometimes slippery ground, especially when field conditions and our driveway get slick.

To help with traction and safety, Joe put Drill-Tex shoes with snowball pads on them. He says he would not be afraid to ride on ice with these!!!

Here’s why this setup works so well:

- Drill-Tex vs. Borium
Unlike borium, which wears down flat over time, Drill-Tex actually becomes spikier and grippier the more it’s used. Think of it like permanent studs: ideal for horses living and moving on natural ground rather than hard surfaces.

- Snowball pads = winter essential
Snowball pads prevent snow from packing into the hoof, helping maintain balance, comfort, and confidence through changing winter conditions.

- Let the horses decide
We watch our horses move every single day. Their stride, their balance, their willingness to play and run, and their overall demeanour, speak volumes. Since switching to this setup, they’ve been moving more than in past winters, which supports better circulation, stronger bodies, and happier horses overall.

This is a great example of choosing the right shoe for the horse, the environment, and the season. Simple, practical solutions that support long-term soundness. Choose a farrier who keeps learning, who’s willing to try new things without throwing out proven systems, and who keeps thinking, adapting, and working for what’s best for the horse. Always.

01/20/2026

Oh look, it's our chickens!
Thank you Walters Falls Milling LTD for providing nutrition for ALL our animals!

Customer Spotlight for Transformation Tuesday 🐓

This customer gets all of their chicken feed from our mill, and their flock is doing great - laying reliably and thriving on our original lay mash formula, made right here in Walters Falls.

We love seeing our feed out there doing what it’s meant to do, and we appreciate Joe and Sophie for being loyal customers and supporting local feed production - thank you!

📷 Using feed from our mill? Send us a photo of your animals and a short note - we’d love to share your story!

01/03/2026

*Senior horses need extra support, especially in the colder months*

Carol has trusted JY Farms with her horses since the very beginning, and one of her greatest priorities is keeping her senior gelding comfortable.

This older gelding lives with arthritis, and as temperatures drop, stiffness and reduced circulation can become a real challenge. Through Emmett Therapy, we observe and feel where the body is holding tension and target those specific areas. One of the key benefits of Emmett Therapy is its ability to create blood flow to very precise areas of the body. We can work on targeted muscle groups and apply pressure points down the legs to encourage circulation. The lower legs, joints, and hooves are areas arthritic horses often struggle with, particularly in winter.

Carol schedules Emmett Therapy before every farrier visit for her entire crew of horses. Each horse has their own individual needs, and Emmett allows us to address those differences, whether it’s age-related stiffness, compensation patterns, or general tension. Both Carol and her farrier have noticed clear improvements, especially in how comfortably her horses lift and hold their feet after treatments.

Thank you for your continued trust, Carol!

Older horses deserve comfort year-round. Reach out to learn how regular Emmett sessions can support aging and arthritic horses.