Esco Buff, PhD, APF-I, CF is the owner of Esco Buff's Professional Farrier Service, LLC, located in Clearwater, Florida. He is an American Farriers Association (AFA) Certified Farrier (CF), an International Association of Professional Farriers (IAPF) Accredited Professional Farrier with a Foundation Credential (APF-I), a NYS Gaming Commission Licensed Farrier, a member of the International Horsesh
oeing Hall of Fame, a Society Only Member of the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR), and the Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging Society (LADIS). Esco started in the farrier industry trimming and shoeing horses in 1974. Esco was introduced to blacksmithing and farrier work through his membership and association with the Boy Scouts of American while a staff member of Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. Esco is a graduate of New Mexico State Farrier School under Mogan I. "Razz" Rasmussen (1974) and the Illinois State Horseshoeing School. Esco is an Eagle Scout with palms, an Ordained Minister; and holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and a Doctorate in Business Administration. Esco is dedicated to excellence in horse foot care. He has a strong interest in working with laminitic/foundered horse and limb length disparity horses. Through applying the principles of hoof balance, biomechanics and holistic body balance, Esco creates sound horses with healthy functioning feet. In Recognition of Distinguished Accomplishments, Achievements and Contributions in Advancing the Farrier Industry, Esco Buff was inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame in February 2011. Esco is routinely consulted for horse's that are foundered or with therapeutic shoeing needs. He typically shoes between 90 to 140 new foundered horse cases per year. Esco Buff has the only book published on how to correctly place positive pressure heart bar shoes on a laminitic and foundered horse. Esco approaches balancing the horse by incorporating the principles of Holism. In farrier work this means that isolated symptoms are considered secondary to the total physical state. Therefore, balance is performed by looking at the whole body of the horse. Esco accomplishes this through a more traditional approach or by using long established ways of trimming and shoeing while incorporating Holism to achieve balance. Limb Length Disparity (LLD) is an observable body imbalance and physical deviation that manifests itself in a structurally and/or functionally different limb length, and more than likely has been created due to congenital, hereditary, injuries, environmental, muscular and/or spinal problems. Identifying LLD includes a thorough evaluation of the conformation, muscles, skeletal structures, movement and attitude of the horse. There are two types of LLD, structural or anatomic limb length disparity and functional or apparent limb length disparity. In horses, we are mainly dealing with functional LLD. The disorder of unequal limbs or lack of similarity goes by several names such as: High-Low Syndrome, Limb Length Inequality, Bilateral Asymmetry, Club Foot (not to be confused with Club Feet). This topic has been the subject of controversy, particularly in the areas of causation, identification, treatment and clinical significance. Esco was the second person to author a book on this subject. Due to his extensive experience in shoeing foundered horse and limb length disparity horses, Esco has designed and published: the radiograph documentation forms -The Founder Data Collection and Analysis Form, The Founder Radiographic Collection Form, and The Equine Digit Radiograph Form, the books - Founder Data Collection and Analysis - How to take, read and interpret radiographs for the prognosis and treatment of the foundered horse, and Limb Length Disparity-Equine Anisomelia. Several of his articles can be found in the American Farriers Journal, European Farriers Journal and the Professional Farriers Journal. Esco shares his knowledge with an enthusiasm and dedication that reflects his love for the horse and his trade. He is an international speaker whose knowledge of the farrier craft make him a natural for consultations, group teaching experiences and as a presenter at workshops, seminars and clinics. Esco Buff lectures on such topics as: Laminitis and Foundered Horseshoeing, How to Correctly Place a Rigid Steel Heart Bar Shoe, How to Take, Read, and Interpret Radiographs for the Prognosis and Treatment of the Foundered Horse, Limb Length Disparity Shoeing, Principles of Body and Limb Balance, Holistic-Traditional Farrier Science, How to Set-Up and Run a Successful Farrier Business, Farrier Business Skills and Lameness Problem Solving. As an International Speaker, Esco has lectured at: Luwex Hoof Symposium in Germany; Norsk Hestesenter in Starum, Norway; DS Handvaerk and Industries, Odense, Denmark; International Hoof Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio; Equine Affaire in California,Massachusetts and Ohio; Can-Am in London, Canada; Life Data Labs Research Farm in Cherokee, Alabama; Southern Veterinary Conference (SVA) in
Birmingham, Alabama; Eastern Farrier Conference at Danny Ward's in Martinsville, Virginia; to name a few. Esco was one of the farriers for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, KY and for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, NC. Esco also served as one of the Farrier Team Members for the Dressage Test Event at the 2010 Kentucky Cup. Esco was has been awarded with an Outstanding Presentation Award for a lectures given at the 2009 and 2011 International Hoof Care Summit. In Recognition of Distinguished Accomplishments, Achievements and Contributions in Advancing the Farrier Industry, Esco was inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame in February 2011. From 2014 to Currently, Esco has been recognized for being the Top Ten Most Continuing Education Credits as awarded by the America Association of Professional Farriers (AAPF). Esco Buff, also owns a wireless DR x-ray machine that is legally registered in several states, which allows him to be able to take x-rays for the purpose of farriery for such things as providing correct trimming, apply horseshoes and for correctly applying positive pressure rigid heart bars shoes to certain radiographic measurements on laminitic horses.
2021 - 2016 NYS Gaming Commission Licensed Thoroughbred Farrier.
2020 - 2015 International Association of Professional Farriers (IAPF) Top Ten Continuing Education Credits Clinicians.
2022 - Successful completion of Knowledge Test for IAPF Nutrition Credential.
2021 - Successful completion of Knowledge and Practical Verification Test for IAPF Dressage Credential.
2021 - Successful completion of the Practical Verification Test for IAPF Hunter Jumper Credential.
2019 - Completion of Knowledge Test for IAPF Hunter Jumper Credential.
2018 - FEI World Equestrian Games Farrier, Tryon, NC.
2017 - Obtained AAPF/IAPF Farrier Foundation Credential (APF-I).
2014 - American Association of Professional Farriers (IAPF) Top Ten Most Continuing Education Credits.
2011 & 2009 - International Hoofcare Summit (IHCS) Outstanding Presentation Award.
2011 - Inducted into The International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame.
2010 - World Equestrian Games (WEG) Farrier, Lexington, KY.
2007 - Authored: Limb Length Disparity (Equine Anisomelia).
2005 - Authored: Founder Data Collection and Analysis – How to Best Take, Read and Interpret radiographs for the Prognosis and Treatment of the Foundered Horse.
1990 - Authored the copyrighted: Founder Data Collection and Analysis Documentation Form.
