Mark and Karen Plumlee

Mark Plumlee is a Certified Journeyman Farrier through the American Farriers Association, a Registered Journeyman Farrier through the Guild of Professional Farriers, and a Certified Barefoot Trimmer, Certified Farrier Practitioner and Certified Lameness Specialist through the Equine Lameness Prevention Organization. These diverse certifications speak to Mark’s commitment to the horse. Mark has published 6 educational DVDs and has been a pioneer in the advancement of farrier education for over 30 years. Mark, with his wife Karen own and operate Mission Farrier School and an Equine layup facility in Snohomish, Washington. They have graduated students from across the United States and 10 foreign countries. For more information visit http://www.missionfarrierschool.com and “Like” them on https://www.facebook.com/MissionFarrierSchool

Best Supportive Hoof Boot for Hoof Issues?

October 28, 2017October 5, 2017 by Mark and Karen Plumlee

Q: My question is involving one of the horses the owners at the place I have my gelding is boarded at currently. The horse in question, is a 3 year old mare, who was fed some ‘hot’ alfalfa hay. Because both of the mares are ‘pasture ponies’, the 3 year …

Barefoot, Shod or Boots?

August 5, 2020May 1, 2016 by Mark and Karen Plumlee

Choosing the Best Protection for Your Horse by Mark and Karen Plumlee Perhaps no issue related to horse husbandry creates more dissension among friends than the subject of barefoot versus shod and the appropriate use of boots. At Mission Farrier School we focus on sound shoeing principles, sound barefoot …

February 2016 Cover Story: Falling in Love on Facebook

December 16, 2021February 1, 2016 by Mark and Karen Plumlee

A Worthy Stallion is More than a Pretty Face by Karen Plumlee Have you ever noticed that Facebook is full of things you didn’t know you needed? I was scrolling through our news feed last September and said, “Mark, come take a look at this horse.” What initially caught …

Principles for Evaluating Hoof Health: Part 5

August 5, 2020December 1, 2012 by Mark and Karen Plumlee

Pt. 5: Ensuring Optimum Load Sharing by Mark and Karen Plumlee, Mission Farrier School Using the principles in this 5-part series will give you the basics for evaluating your horse’s hoof health. It includes: Understanding Foot Falls, Identifying Distortion, Understanding the Sole Plane, What is Breakover?, and Load Sharing …

Principles for Evaluating Hoof Health – Part 4

August 5, 2020November 1, 2012 by Mark and Karen Plumlee

Part. 4: What is Breakover? by Mark and Karen Plumlee, Mission Farrier School Using the principles in this 5-part series will give you the basics for evaluating your horse’s hoof health. It includes: Understanding Foot Falls, Identifying Distortion, Understanding the Sole Plane, What is Breakover?, and Load Sharing. Breakover …

Principles for Evaluating Hoof Health – Part 3

August 5, 2020October 1, 2012 by Mark and Karen Plumlee

Part 3: Understanding the Sole Plane by Mark and Karen Plumlee, Mission Farrier School Using the principles in this 5-part series will give you the basics for evaluating your horse’s hoof health. It includes: Understanding Foot Falls, Identifying Distortion, Understanding the Sole Plane, What is Breakover?, and Load Sharing. …

Principles for Evaluating Hoof Health: Part 2

August 5, 2020September 1, 2012 by Mark and Karen Plumlee

Identifying Distortion by Mark and Karen Plumlee, Mission Farrier School Using the principles in this 5-part series will give you the basics for evaluating your horse’s hoof health. It includes: Understanding Foot Falls, Identifying Distortion, Understanding the Sole Plane, What is Breakover?, and Load Sharing. In August we talked about …

Principles for Evaluating Hoof Health: Part 1

August 5, 2020August 1, 2012 by Mark and Karen Plumlee

Part 1: Understanding Foot Falls by Mark and Karen Plumlee, Mission Farrier School This 5-part series, Principles for Evaluating Hoof Health, will give you the basics for evaluating your horse’s hoof health and include, Understanding Foot Falls; Identifying Distortion; Understanding the Sole Plane; What is Breakover; and Load Sharing. …