Martin Kenny CJF
Martin Kenny was born in Tulsa Oklahoma. His first introduction to horses came at age 10 when an American Indian boy saddled him up on a young horse only to discover it was an unbroke bronco. Having survived the boys will be boys prank, it was to become the start of a lifelong passion and relationship with horses and a quest to look, learn and assist these magnificent creatures. At age 11, Martin, a stocky young lad, would hot walk Running Quarter Horses and do some catch riding on the side. At 14, his family moved to northeastern Ohio where he worked at numerous stables. In 1973, Martin moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania (PA) where he began his shoeing career. Martin Kenny married Diane, in 2004 after not having heard from her for 33 years, since they were together back in high school. In Martin’s words “It has truly been a blessing in my life to have her and my family by my side. Living near us is my daughter, Jackie and her husband, Jeremy, as well as Diane’s daughter, Laurie and her 3 boys.” They presently own a 24 acre farm with a large pond close to the front porch. Residing with them are 5 cats, 2 dogs, 2 horses, 1 mule, 1 Holstein cow, 1 goat, and 1 Miniature Zebu cow. Martin Kenny was very fortunate to work and mentor with key individuals that encouraged and shaped his understanding of the horse in many areas. Some of these individuals included Dr. Edward Mersky, of Lancaster County, PA; Dr. Bill Moyer, (headed up the Sports Medicine Department at New Bolton, Dean at Texas A&M and currently President Elect of the AAEP). He worked with and shod for Dr. Barb Forney of Brood Mare Associates in SE Pennsylvania, as well as Dr. Midge Leach and Dr. Jim Orsini at New Bolton Center, among others on staff there. Martin considers these opportunities a blessing in his life as well as the opportunity to have had strong working relationships with most of the area’s private practice veterinarians. Martin also mentored with farriers such as the late Bob Skradzio Sr., of Ambler PA. as well as Bruce Daniels of New Jersey, among many others. He was president of the Pennsylvania Guild of Professional Horse shoers for many years, until his move to North Carolina. Being in that position, allowed him to glean from many of the top farriers from around the world, while he would host them at his home during their travels. One of Martin Kenny’s best working relationships was with Rob Sigafoos, while at New Bolton Center; they often swapped ideas as well as clients-working on each others’ difficult horse cases. Martin forged handmade horse-shoes until 1984, when he discovered shoes that were being imported from Holland that became part of his inventory. From that experience, he was able to compete and win numerous awards at many of the farrier contests held on the east coast. In 1990, he stopped competing, feeling that the forging competitions were keeping him from focusing on what was truly important. Martin Kenny ran a farrier school from 1982 through 1986, which specialized in assisting practicing farriers to better themselves. These professionals traveled from as far away as Australia to move their career to the next level. Martin has shod horses for members of the Olympic lists in many disciplines for as far back as 1976. In 1994, he moved to Central North Carolina, to escape the winter weather of Pennsylvania, and to be in a place where he could access a major airport easily, as his work takes him to numerous states. Martin Kenny holds a Journeyman Level Farrier Certification (CJF) from both the American Farriers Association (AFA), as well as the North American Guild of Professional Farriers. He is proud of the fact that he passed the AFA certification program with a 98% score at a time when the exam was in essay format (not multiple choice). Martin holds one of the oldest membership numbers in the AFA #178. Among his accomplishments; he sat on the Board of Directors of the AFA, served as committee member to develop today’s present-day educator’s division, and was instrumental in developing the live clinic formats that support AFA members today with one-on-one expert assistance. Throughout his career, Martin has attended hundreds of clinics and conventions and has lectured at numerous venues, including the International Hoof Care Summit in 2006 and 2008. He currently assists farriers on a one-on-one basis to help them better understand the mechanics of the hoof capsule under impact, load, and finally recoil. The farriers he has assisted, locally and internationally, have found profound improvements in the feet of the horses under their care. New Developments Martin has recently developed a relationship with M.W. "Tookie" Myers, D.V.M. and farrier in Virginia, USA He states: “Dr. Myers has been a tremendous boost to my work and mental state. I am very active in studying the mechanics of the hoof capsule, and he has been a tremendous encouragement to that work. I am certain that his keen interest in the equine hoof study will be a fabulous asset to my endeavors in this venue as we move forward. My case studies and findings to date have provided insight into such things as: The effects of nail location in regard to the deformation of the hoof capsule available on my website: www.thehoofcenter.com as well as numerous other articles I have written for your perusal. My Latest project uses special video equipment which I have developed to video the bottom of the live (in vivo) horse’s foot as it loads. In-Vivo versus Cadaver studies:This latest endeavor promises to provide information that will help us to better understand the way the hoof moves under actual loading conditions. Heretofore, this work has been done using cadaver specimens, and my preliminary work shows that much of what we consider as the way the hoof capsule moves (from cadaver work) may be challenged. I am excited to collect data as we move forward; but even more excited that Dr. Tookie Myers desires to be involved in this project. His involvement will undoubtedly be a huge asset to this study.” Martin’s practice covers 3-day eventing, dressage, and hunter/jumper disciplines. More recently he has expanded into a broader area of sport disciplines, applying his experience and data gleaned from his studies and his personally developed trimming and shoeing protocol. Martin Kenny's protocol has enabled him to assist all breeds and disciplines with great success. His protocol is showing good recovery in returning concavity to the foot. He services primarily Central North Carolina and Central Virginia, and flies in to Wellington, Florida monthly. He is available to travel upon request to provide farrier services, or consulting in an advisory capacity with your existing farrier. His motto is ““Hoof Care through Intellectual Protocol…Not Antiquated Design.”
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