Ross Smith (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan)

I would like to thank our farrier, Ross Smith from Moose Jaw, Saskatcheewan. In 2006, our horse Galen had huge issues with his feet and our veterinarian called Ross and asked if he “wanted a challenge.” When he arrived to have a look at Galen he did not have any idea what he would do. When he left he still did not know exactly how he was going to help but he accepted the challenge. Fast forward to a year later and Galen was sound and performing in the hunter/jumper ring. Galen was always in the ribbons and in 2008 began to place first in competitions. In 2010, Galen won first place in nearly every class of every horse show he was in and won many provincial awards. We believe without Ross as his farrier Galen and Katie (owner/rider) would never have achieved such accomplishments. We are so very grateful to Ross for his work with Galen in keeping him sound and productive with his innovative shoeing and thinking “out side the box” ideas.

Ross is still our farrier for our horses Perry and Acorn. We are there and have been there at every trim/shoeing and have learned so much about the care and issues that feet can have. Ross is a teacher. Patient, understanding and answers all our questions about our horses. His 40 years of horseshoeing experience has taught him a lot and we and all his other clients have benefited.

We know from listening to his other clients that Ross treats all of them and their horses with the same care and attention he had with Galen and now with Perry and Acorn. He has done some amazing things to help a horse. He has become one of the “go to” farriers for serious, complicated feet issues. His passion for his craft and dedication to helping horses is what makes him one of the top farriers in Saskatchewan if not Western Canada.

Ross is also an avid ranch roping enthusiast. He is president of the Canadian Ranch Roping Association, a teacher of Ranch Hand and Ranch Roping clinics, volunteers at the Moose Jaw Rough Stock School, which introduces and teaches young people about bareback and saddle bronc riding. He has worked in the Community Pastures in Saskatchewan applying his skills and knowledge of roping, cattle and horsemanship to the job. As you can see with everything he has done and continues to do, horses are always a part of his life.

Ross’ passions for helping horses, has led him to invent a tool and a guide to trim/shoe horse’s feet. It is called the Center of Balance Indicating Tool. It is a straightforward tool that anyone can use. He invented it to help a horse named Henry that was experiencing severe lameness issues when conventional shoeing was not able to help the horse. It is no surprise to anyone who knows Ross that he would take those extra steps in helping a horse. We experienced it with Galen. His philosophy of “listen to the horse,” to watch and learn from them is what makes him such a great farrier. Thank you Ross!

— Marian Finucane, Regina, Saskatchewan

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