A Heartland Horseshoeing School graduate has been awarded a scholarship from a high-profile advocate of blue-collar workers.

Bryanna Solmonson, a Lexington, Mo., farrier, received a Work Ethic Scholarship from the Mike Rowe Works Foundation. She owns and operates Dixie Horseshoeing with her husband Shaun.

Solmonson earned a bachelor’s degree in equine administration from William Woods University in 2018. However, she soon realized that managing a barn wasn’t what she wanted to do. She wanted to work closer with horses rather than people. She learned about Heartland Horseshoeing School, owned and operated by Hall of Fame farrier Chris Gregory, in her home state and gave it a shot.

“There was no excuse not to try,” she told the foundation.

Solmonson successfully completed Heartland’s journeyman farrier exam, allowing her to graduate as a certified farrier. The scholarship allowed her to graduate debt-free.

Learn More

• Heartland Horseshoeing School Celebrates its 20th Anniversary: The Gregory family marks milestone with clinic, forging contest and a Farrier’s International Testing System exam.
• A Conversation with Chris Gregory: In this episode of the American Farriers Journal podcast, brought to you by GE Forge & Tool, Editor Jeremy McGovern spoke with farrier educator and clinician, Chris Gregory to talk about his life, his family’s farrier school and some important points on client management.