Berkeley is a 15-month-old Boykin Spaniel and the loving companion of Manakin Sabot, Va., farrier Jason Usry. Though scared of horses, Berkeley is an easygoing work-day partner that never says no to a pup cup.
The Dog of the Year contest is meant to both have a little fun and honor the important bond between farriers and their dogs. Photos of Berkeley and 11 other top dogs are featured monthly in a 2025 calendar, downloadable for free here.
1. What is the story behind your dog’s name?
The Boykin is the state dog of South Carolina, so we wanted to use a city or county in South Carolina for her name. It would have been significantly easier had she been a male. Lots of male names in South Carolina.
2. When and where did you get your dog?
October 2023 from Lockhaven Farm and Kennels in Galavants Ferry, S.C.
3. When you’re working, does Berkeley come into the barn or stay in the truck? Does it vary among barns and specific horses?
A little bit of both, but she mostly stays under the truck. She's afraid of horses, which is odd but also good because it keeps her from being in the way.
4. Do you have liability insurance concerns when taking your dog on the road?
No.
5. Does your dog help you clean up by eating those extra-nutritious hoof scraps at the stops where you work?
Not if I can help it.
6. What’s the craziest thing your dog has ever done while on the road with you?
She’s super mellow at work (not so much at home or in the woods), so she doesn’t really do anything but hang around and wait for me to come hang out with her.
7. What’s your dog’s favorite fast-food restaurant and meal?
We don’t often do fast food, but she has never turned down a pup cup of vanilla from Chick-Fil-A.
8. What’s the perfect work breakfast for you?
Steak and eggs.
9. If you could have dinner with anybody in the hoof-care world, who would it be and why?
I have been fortunate to meet and learn from so many of our farrier legends, heroes and educators throughout my career that I think I'd just really like to sit down at a big table with the good friends I've made over the years from all over the world, break bread and swap shoeing stories.
10. How long have you been shoeing and how did you get started?
I'm in my 25th year. My dad was a farrier, so I began by just hanging out with him. After a couple of years, I attended Danny Ward's school and then apprenticed for another year with my dad before going out on my own.
11. What type of shoeing or trimming do you specialize in?
Correct and balanced, hopefully. But as far as disciplines, I shoe mostly English performance horses with a solid helping of back yard trail horses. And a couple of miniature donkeys.
12. How many different horses have you worked on in the past 12 months?
I currently keep about 225 horses on my books. Down from 300+ in my younger days.
13. Do you normally have another person in the barn when trimming and shoeing? Berkeley doesn’t count.
Depends on the barn and the situation. I like people, and I also like being alone. And I have been fortunate to be able to cultivate a business that lends itself to both situations.
14. What brand, model and year was your first farrier truck, and how many miles and years did you drive it?
1996 Toyota Tacoma with a bedslide and cap. I think I had 225k on it when I moved to a bigger rig.
15. What has been the major key to your success as a farrier over the years?
Customer service is key, in my opinion. And that doesn't mean bending over backwards to get a lost shoe back on in a day. But it does mean making your clients feel like they matter because they do. I think I've always been pretty good at that.
The client-farrier relationship needs to feel good to both parties, so I don't work for folks that I don't like, and folks that don't like me don't usually stick around. I've also spent a good deal of time increasing my skill set through contests, certification and clinics. Honestly, that helps me as much as anyone by keeping the fire lit, but when you have a client that respects and appreciates a farrier with an above average skill set, and you're able to provide that, things tend to go well all around.
16. What one piece of advice would you have for someone just graduating from farrier school?
Find a farrier with a killer set of skills, a well managed business and who seems overall happy. Sweep the floor for them until they allow you to pull a shoe. Sweep like it's the most important thing in the world. Put your phone away and sweep. Hang on to their every word. Show up on time, help where you can and get out of the way otherwise. If they keep inviting you back, keep showing up.
The beginning of your career will mirror the farrier you ride with so be selective. Stick with them for longer than you think you should. Even when you know you could make more money on your own. Stick with them until you begin to really understand how much you don't know. Slow roll into your career, it will pay off in the end, I promise. And chase certification.
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