Intensity is a key trait found in most successful farriers. Concentration on the job at hand, striving for self-improvement and unwavering pursuit of established goals are a few ways it manifests with practitioners. Without that spirit, one will not last long in this industry.

Working in a profession known for dedication, Doug Hogue brings a level of intensity to farriery that is hard to match. This attitude helps the El Paso, Texas, farrier educate others about horseshoeing and light a spark.

A native of Arizona, Hogue got into horses through team roping, becoming an active roper while in military school and during part of his nearly 10 years serving in the United States Army. It was Jerry Pulaski, a farrier from Phoenix, Ariz., who got Hogue into shoeing in 2004. It was a struggle for everything to come together.

“I’m a self-taught farrier, which means I screwed up for a very long time,” he says. “I had no idea and would practice all the wrong ways.”

A full-time shoer since 2006, things have changed considerably since those early days. Now an American Farrier’s Association certified journeyman farrier and tester, Hogue is committed to education, furthering his knowledge and skill, and sharing it all with others. This “Shoeing For A Living” day was an exhibition of how far Hogue has come.

8:16 a.m. As we head to the first stop, Hogue takes a couple of phone calls from clients. The sound of his phone’s ringer is a common sound throughout the…