Farrier Focus Podcast

In this episode, we talk with German farrier Jürgen Gotthardt who lives between Frankfurt and Cologne, Germany. He has been a farrier since 1982. Jürgen shares his story of how he got started, his unique gait analysis system, and numerous lessons he has learned in the trenches working with horses and gaining certifications from mentors around the world.  

In this episode, we talk with Certified Farrier Jim LaClaire from Pensacola, Florida. He has been shoeing horses for 40 years since he started in 1979. Jim shares how he got started shoeing horses while serving for twenty years in the Navy and shares numerous lessons he learned from early mentors, experiences from shoeing horses on naval bases around the world and his perspective on the importance...

In this episode, we talk with Jack Millman, of Worthington, Massachusetts. He is a Certified Journeyman Farrier, has a Diploma from the Worshipful Company of Farriers, and holds the APF designation from the Professional Farriers Association. He began shoeing horses in 1976 and has been shoeing now for more than 42 years. Jack shares his story about how he left the advertising industry, studied hor...

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier, Austin Edens, from Dripping Springs, Texas. He is widely known as one of the most successful and consistent international farrier competitors in history (including being World Champion) and a popular judge. Austin's farrier work today is centered on a sport horse client list and challenging veterinary collaborations. He has been shoeing h...

In this episode, we interview Canadian farrier Paul Thibodeau of Port Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada. He attended Eastern School of Farriery in Martinsville, Virginia with Danny Ward. Paul shares his story about how he got started, lessons he has learned over 35+ years of shoeing horses, and memorable stories from his career of shoeing all over Nova Scotia.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier, Chris Madrid, of Stanley, New Mexico (which is 40 miles east of Albuquerque). He studied horseshoeing for two years at Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari, New Mexico with Nate Allen and Jacob Butler. He has been shoeing horses for more than 14 years. Chris tells his story about how he got started as a farrier, his lessons from compe...

In this episode, we're privileged to talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Jennifer DePollo Horn of Northern Michigan. She has been shoeing horses for more than 26 years. In addition to her career as a horseshoer she is also a highly creative artist-blacksmith. She has been an active member of the Executive Board of the Michigan Horseshoers Association for many years. Next year will be the 50th y...

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Scott Davidson of Nine Mile Falls, Washington (just outside of Spokane, Washington) and Tucscon, Arizona. He has been shoeing horses since 1971 for more than 47 years. Scott shares how he got his start by studying under Scott Simpson, his experiences on the North American Horseshoeing Team in 1986 and 1989, and numerous experiences and les...

In this episode, we talk with Brent Chidsey of Cynthiana, Kentucky. He is the founder of Stone Well Bodies & Equipment and Bay Horse Innovations.  Brent is a manufacturer and supplier of a wide variety of farrier rigs and has been involved in the farrier industry for more than 28 years. In this wide ranging interview, he tells his story about how he got started shoeing horses and making rigs for f...

In this episode, we talk with Dani Rueter of Paulina, Iowa. She has been shoeing horses for eight years. Dani talks about her beginnings as a farrier, her experiences at Butler Professional Farrier School, business lessons she has learned, and her thoughts about what it takes to succeed in the farrier profession.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier Shane Allen of Ocala, Florida who has been shoeing horses for 35 years. He started shoeing horses in 1982 while studying at Northwest Missouri State University under Dr. Doug Butler. Shane shares his story about how he got started, lessons he has learned as a farrier, the differences between feet in Florida and Pennsylvania, how he ran his...

In this episode, we're privileged to talk with farrier legend Gunner Gatski of San Diego, California. He has been shoeing horses for 55 years. Gunner shares his story of how he got started as a farrier in the army, memorable stories from his career including "The Horse with the Golden Shoes", "The Polish Chicken" and numerous other funny stories and memorable experiences. Gunner shares the origin...

In this episode, we're privileged to talk with farrier Steindor Thorisson, who lives in Sweden, but is originally from Iceland. He shares observations about Icelandic horses, their gait and observations about the farrier business in Iceland and Sweden. He also shares how he got his start, his schooling at Butler Professional Farrier School and the commitment it takes to master this craft. He share...

In this episode, we talk with farrier Wayne Preece, FWCF of the Midlands of England. He has been shoeing horses for more than thirty-three years. Wayne shares lessons he learned from teaching at Hereford College and some of the biggest mistakes he has seen beginning farriers and competitors make from his years of teaching and judging competitions. He also shares numerous lessons from his years of...

Today marks a special milestone in that this is the 100th Episode released of the Farrier Focus Podcast. To celebrate this historic moment, Dr. Doug Butler, Jacob Butler, Peter Butler and I reflect on lessons that have been learned and some of our favorite insights and stories that have been shared as we have talked with farriers from around the world.  This episode shares some lessons that you ma...

In this episode, we talk with Eli Atiya, a farrier from Golan Heights, Israel. He has been shoeing horses for 6 years since he graduated from Butler Professional Farrier School. Eli shares lessons he learned in school, the value of a professional education, the importance of continually learning and some of his most memorable experiences. You'll learn a lot about how Eli has built his business, ti...

In this episode, we talk with Robert Shepherd from the north Birmingham, Alabama area. He has been a blacksmith, tool maker, welder and farrier since 1987. Robert shares how he got his start, his experiences studying under Dr. Doug Butler at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri and lessons he has learned about making tools and Damascus knives.

In this episode, Dr. Butler talks to a group of farriers about turning points in his career and his observations on great achievements in the farrier business. He shares numerous stories and historical insights into how numerous products and techniques have been developed that give a greater understanding to what farriers do everyday. You'll learn many tips on what it takes to master this craft an...

In this episode, Certified Journeyman Farrier Rollie Gallego of Waialua, Hawaii shares his thoughts and observations on what it takes to balance your life and your farrier business. You'll learn a lot from Rollie on what it takes to achieve balance from his experiences he shared at a Farrier Focus conference several years ago.

In this episode, we talk with Certified Farrier Neil Miller of Brighton, Colorado. He has been shoeing horses since 1975 and specializes in shoeing reiners, and jumpers. Neil shares memorable stories from his career including how he got his start, lessons he has learned from training twenty apprentices, how to be more efficient with your shoeing rig and under the horse, how he got into competing a...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Robert M. Miller, an equine behaviorist, veterinarian and cartoonist. He is recognized for his system of training newborn foals known as imprint training. Dr. Miller is well known among both veterinarians and cowboy poetry & humor enthusiasts. His cartoons, done under his initials RMM, have been published in veterinary and horse magazines around the world. He has...

In this episode, we talk with Jed Pappas of Stockhoff's Farrier Supply ( www.stockhoffsonline.com ). Jed talks about how his wife Molly (and her family) purchased Stockhoff's from the Stockhoff family, which started the farrier supply business in 1863 and how they have grown it to four locations today (two stores in Kentucky, New Jersey and Arizona). Jed shares numerous business lessons he has lea...

In this episode, we talk with farrier legend John Marino of Peaster, Texas. John shares his early experiences of how he became a farrier after getting out of the Air Force, his early studies at the University of Arizona's Farrier School (where he studied under Donald Canfield), how he opened Across the Anvil Farrier Supply (which he operated until he sold it in 1991). He also discusses his contrib...

In this episode, we talk with farrier and veterinarian Emilio Ezcurra of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has been shoeing horses for more than twenty-five years. Emilio shares his story of how he got started as a veterinarian and his quest to become a farrier including his travels to the United States to study with Danny Ward, Dr. Doug Butler, and many others.  Emilio shares insights about the farrier...

In this episode, we're privileged to talk with Certified Journeyman Farrier and AWCF John Schmidt of Shelbyville, Tennessee. He has been shoeing horses for more than 33 years. He talks about Tennessee walking horses, unique aspects of the breed, and some of the controversy that has arisen in recent years around them. He also shares lessons from his career and some of his most memorable experiences...