Bernalillo, N.M., farrier Brad Dirickson passed away peacefully July 3, 2024.

A farrier for about 40 years, Dirickson was well known throughout the hoof-care industry for his knowledge, willingness to share it and kindness.

“He was a terrific human being,” says Patty Stiller of Canon City, Colo., “and a great farrier and blacksmith who freely shared his knowledge with a lot of farriers.”

Dirickson’s death came just days after the passing of his good friend Roger Tomlinson, a fellow farrier from New Mexico.

“He and I have been down the road about [8,000] miles or more shod a bunch of horses together,” Dirickson wrote in 2021. “He’s helped me out a bunch — helped me when I was down and out, helped me when I was tired and wanted to take a break and didn’t have time to do that. I hope I have helped him as much. The thing is, we don’t keep score. He is a man I will go to the ends of the earth for.”

Although there are divisions within the hoof-care industry, Charles Piccione of East Stroudsburg, Pa., never experienced it with Dirickson nor Tomlinson.

“They … would not leave you wondering what they meant when they addressed an issue both in farriery and in life,” Piccione wrote. “They both accepted me a ‘barefooter’ into their world of farriery when it wasn’t cool to do so. For that, I was honored to call them friends. [They were] true cowboys and horsemen the likes of which are rare these days.”

Dirickson was quick to share his knowledge and experiences with anyone and often did so within the pages of American Farriers Journal. The array of topics included continuing education, health and safety, business practices and more. In the latter part of his career, Dirickson transitioned to a haul-in service to extend his career.

“I’ve always wanted to do this, but my previous properties weren’t set up for this,” he told American Farriers Journal in 2019. “It isn’t completely what I want it to be, but it has the necessities.”

He encouraged clients to transition to the haul-in service by raising his rates for barn visits and charging $30 less for haul-ins. 

“I’m saving the fuel, the wear and tear on my truck and my time in the truck — those are worth it to me,” he said. “I talk with farriers who disagree, saying I should charge the same, but I believe in passing the savings on to the client.”

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Aug. 3, 2024, at Trinity at the Marketplace, 2520 Chama St. NE, Albuquerque, N.M.

More Coverage

Gain more insight from Brad Dirickson by accessing the content below.

Idea for Offering A Haul-in Service

New Mexico farrier Brad Dirickson changes how he approaches the business of farriery to extend his career.

A Safe Way to Lift an Anvil Out of Your Rig

Farrier Brad Dirickson took a lesson he learned in the oil fields for lifting heavy equipment.

No More Sore Backs!

Here’s a quick and easy solution to the tedious chore of having to constantly lift a heavy anvil in and out of a shoeing rig.

Benefits of Attending the Summit: Brad Dirickson

Farrier Brad Dirickson of Albuquerque, New Mexico, shares his reasons for attending the International Hoof-Care Summit.