Mark Plumlee

I began taking my horses to the school (Mission Farrier School) for shoeing needs because I was tired of farriers not showing up and/or arriving late to appointments. The first time I brought my horses to class I was asked by Mark to stay and watch the students at work. Wow! I had no idea how much went into the science of horse shoeing! I had been holding the front end of the horse while farriers worked on the other end of the horse for years, but I really had no idea of what was going on. One day of observing and listening to class and I was hooked! Forward three years later and I am asking Mark if he would consider accepting me as a student! Mark sort of chuckled, looked down and around a bit and said, “Well I don’t want to be the one to say this, but you aren’t exactly a kid, and this can be pretty tough on a persons body.” Well, once I got my 44-year-old emotions more or less under control, I said, “I think I can do this!” The time I spent as a student of Mission Farrier School was tough!

My mind and body got a work out to say the least! But I am here to tell you that Mark and Karen Plumlee are two of the kindest, patient and giving people I have ever had the pleasure to be around! I went away from that school with the skills and knowledge needed to help horses and their owners. I can communicate with equine veterinarians and treat lameness issues with confidence. And just because I am no longer a student of Marks doesn’t mean I can’t still get helpful advice from him anymore. Yep, he is always just a phone call away! I swear that man could shoe a horse over the phone! J

To wrap this up, Mission Farrier School is not just about slapping shoes on horses. It is about Mark Plumlee and his passion to do good things for horses and their owners. MFS is all about the science of hoof health, and Mark Plumlee is dedicated to those who choose to pursue a career in helping horses!

— Marie Cavassa
Professional Farrier, Graduate of Mission Farrier School

My 23-year-old Thoroughbred mare was in crisis with laminitis when I first contacted Mark Plumlee at Mission Farrier School, and he told me, "If I could haul her to him he thought he could help her." That was the first positive statement I had heard regarding her condition since the onset approximately 2 weeks prior. Upon arrival that very day I found the facility to be exceptional and the individual care of each horse beyond compare and I am a longtime horsewoman and hard to impress!

That was 2 years ago and I continue to have Mark shoe my mare. She now just wears Natural Balance performance aluminum shoes in front. I have complete trust in his ability to always do the right thing regarding the well being and comfort for my horse. He is a treasure and I am so grateful to call him my farrier and friend.

— Sparkle Arend (Woodinville, Wash.)

Mark Plumlee and his graduates of Mission Farrier School have (literally) saved the lives of two of my horses. They were recommended for euthanasia by both vets and other farriers. Both horses are now healthy, working, and will be competing again! No doubt with the roundpen techniques Mark teaches to his students, he has saved the lives of a few farriers and owners too. I had a couple of fiesty youngsters and was dreading their first shoeing experience. I had them done through the school and instead of a bad time, the experience was so wonderful it made me cry. I use two Mission Farrier School graduates and I love, love, LOVE them. I will always hire Mark's graduates! Mark and Karen Plumlee are both terrific people; full of integrity.  Like the MasterCard Commercial, they are PRICELESS.

Can you tell I am a big fan? 

— Denise Green
Hissy Fit Farm
(Granite Falls, Wash.)

Mark Plumlee’s farrier students have been shoeing our horses for many, many years.  It’s a treat to take our horses there for shoes every session.  The students come from all over the world, and it’s fun to find out where they’ve come from.  At first I was a bit apprehensive about having beginners shoe our horses, but Mark assured me that he watches everything that they do and we’ve always come home with quality farrier work.  The atmosphere is relaxed, and our horses enjoy going.  Mark has amazing skills as a teacher.  He teaches more than farrier science and anatomy.  He teaches horsemanship and business skills.  He shows immense patience with the students and the horses, and just doesn’t get his feathers ruffled about anything.  Calmness goes a long way with horses.  Because we live fairly close to Mission Farrier School, we’re constantly hearing from others with wonderful stories about how Mark helped lame horses to be sound again.  He’s seen the worst cases, and knows just what to do.  It’s great that the students see these “problem” horses come in and can learn how to help other horses.  These students have such a positive experience when they come to MFS, and they leave ready to start their own businesses.  I’m sure they keep in touch with each other since they become so close at the school, and I know that Mark would always help them out with advice after they’ve graduated and gone home.  Mark and Karen are very involved with our community, and help with 4-H a lot.  They’ve had special classes, hosted events, and volunteered hours and hours of their time.  They are the nicest, most caring people you’ll ever meet.

— Jana Lyons
Flyin’ Lions
(Snohomish, Wash.)

My 1999 AQHA mare Lil Miss Drift was diagnosed with Navicular disease in 2010. There is where my frustrating journey with vets, and farriers began. All 3 of my farriers would read her X-rays and throw on a shoe, then a pad, then more pad, then less pad, more shoe, and repeat. The last farrier I had was just convinced it was my mares shoulder because his last two sets of IDENTICAL shoeing jobs didn't help the mare. Not only did the first set not improve her, the second set he put on her were identical to the first?? How will that help my horse?? The vets were eager to take my money, and one vet gave the mare injections that I was assured would last a year. So I paid the money. At this point my next option was going to be having my mare put down. She was born on my place, and I owned her mother. She is a very special horse to my 13-year-old daughter and me. Needless to say the mare was sound after the injections, and for the first time in over a year I thought we finally had a shot at her not being in pain. That lasted 4 weeks, and then she was as lame as she had ever been. My friends told me about Mission Farrier School in Monroe, Wash. This is a 2-hour drive from my home to the school and by now, I didn't believe for one second that ANY farrier could help my mare. BUT this was my last hope.

I called Mark Plumlee and told him our story. In no way shape or form did he tell me that he could fix her, but he said he would sure try. I told him I didn't think he could help, but I would love for him to prove me wrong. So we set a date, and I hauled her up to his school. Within 10 minutes of us being there I KNEW this was the place to be. The obvious out of the box thinking made SUCH perfect sense to me!!! Just him using the angled boot on her, so SHE would let them know where she wasn't in pain while standing on her foot blew my mind!! I could have gone to vet, after vet, after vet, and farrier after farrier, and NONE of them would have done more than look at her x rays and shoe it accordingly.

This was NO solution to her pain!!!!! When in fact she didn't hurt in the typical way that the x ray showed she would. No one, and I mean NO one even attempted to figure out where she hurt, and how to build her a system that was specific to HER PAIN…until Mark Plumlee. My mare would have been put down almost a year ago, if Mark wasn't who he was, and hadn't fought against all the textbooks’ "always do this’s, and never do that’s." She is doing very well today, and is even sound for light riding. Now she is nowhere near the mess failed “professionals” left her in. I am forever great full to Mark, and his heart for the horse, not just being right, and not just the hoof. His heart is for what’s best for the horse, and that is more precious than gold.

— Rachelle Abston (Graham, Wash.)

Shoeing as palliative care. My 23-year-old mare suffers from equine metabolic syndrome and foundered 16 months ago.  Laminitis followed and radiographs showed significant coffin bone rotation and sinking.  But her physical condition left hope for management. 

After tenderness subsided she was put in composite plastic double nailed shoes.  Although there is no cure for her at the present time, she has remained mostly comfortable through special shoeing, regulation of diet and as much exercise as her pain level allows.  Her condition predictably goes up and down and at times she is ride-able.  She will have bad times and I contemplate putting her down, then when I next see her, she will be bright, almost sound and full of life.

Although I know that she will never fully recover, because of my farrier’s care and knowledge, we have enjoyed many months together until “it’s time.”

My horse:  TT Kazania (Bey) Arabian 23-year-old mare

­— Jo Frey (Lakebay, Wash.)

I acquired my first horse, Andretti, six years ago. A lifelong dream, I had no idea how much this horse and equine ownership would change my life. Andretti was released from his previous owner because of an injury to his leg, which resulted in a serious bowed tendon. My ownership came with the warning that I may never be able to actually ride him and that he would always be lame. 

When my horse arrived at Mission Farrier School it was with this injury and prediction he was not ride-worthy.   At that time, Andretti was wearing egg bar shoes and all his previous farriers had been saving heel.  But none of that helped.  In fact that combination took the frog out of the picture.  You could actually look down the back of the foot and see to the toe.  The frog was of poor quality and the heels were crumbling and running forward.  My horse was very uncomfortable but I was at a loss at how to help. I needed guidance and education. 

Mark Plumlee from Mission Farrier School and I had a conversation about Andretti, his injury and how shoeing to help get the back of the foot working again might help. The day Mark took his old shoes off and changed his trim and shoe, well I could see my horse visibly relax. It was as if his entire body dynamics changed in front of my eyes. It was an amazing thing to witness. But even more amazing to witness was what followed when I turned him out. He ran and galloped thru the pasture as if unencumbered for the first time. If horses could laugh out loud, that laughter is the sound that would have accompanied my horse running free. 

Two years ago, during an ultrasound on Andretti's leg, the Vet told me given the extent of his injury he expected to see holes similar to Swiss cheese throughout the tissues in his leg. There was not a single hole in any of his leg tissue!  I fully believe Mark's way of shoeing is the reason for this astounding recovery and the significant change in my horse's demeanor. Today we not only ride but Andretti is also competing again.

Mark's Farrier skills in equine hoof care and the art of shoeing and trimming are certainly matched by his incredible heart and passion for horses. Andretti is sounder now than he has ever been. It also means a greater opportunity for me to have this incredible experience of living my dream of owning and riding my horse. I believe Mark's understanding of horses, how they are built and the best approach for each individual animal saved my horse and changed his life and if I live to be 100 it won’t be long enough to thank him.  

— Maurene MacDonald (Lake Stevens, Wash.)

He is an amazing farrier and horseman!

September 2011, I was gifted a horse (Phoenix) that had a horrible vertical crack and white line disease in her left front hoof. The previous owners vet and farrier said to have Phoenix put down because she would never be sound again. I knew there was hope and the best farrier for this job was Mark Plumlee. It has been a long road between DNP pads, groving, removing most of the hoof wall on Phoenix's toe, special shoes and special pads after 9 months Phoenix's crack is completely grown out and she is 100% sound. Last week we enjoyed our first ride on the beach at Nehalem Bay State Park in Oregon. Without Mark Plumlee and his great skills as a farrier Phoenix would have had no future.

— Nicole Donohue (Arlington, Wash.)

I've known Mark for 6 years now, and over this time I have seen him do amazing things; anything from fixing crooked lagged foals, saving laminitic horse, getting navicular horses back in the show ring to improved the life of a horse suffering from ring bone. After going through his program at mission farrier school I know I can do the same thing and that is an amazing feeling.

I first met Mark when I was barn manager at a local therapeutic riding program. Part of my job was to take horses to mission farrier school for mark and his students to shoe. I was immediately intrigued by Mark and his program. I had never heard a farrier talk so eloquently about hoof science before. I was also impressed I how well thought out each shoeing was and how much they could do to help the programs aging herd.

Over the next year and a half I got to know mark and what a great person he is. So when Mark offered me a job working in his boarding stable I could not resist the chance to work with such a talented man. Mark encouraged me to sit in on the school during my long lunch breaks. This is when I fell in love with hoof science. I had always wanted to help horses and I knew that with what Mark was teaching I would be able to. Mark feed my thirst for knowledge, taking time to teach me to shoe my own horse, letting me help him with lameness cases and pushed me to come through the program "officially". It took some time but I am now a official graduate of mission farrier school and shoeing professionally. Now, thanks to the priceless knowledge that Mark has given me, there is not a day goes by that I don't make a positive change in a horse's life.

Mark and his wife Karen have become family and I am truly blessed to have had been in my life.

I have attached a picture of mark teaching my class to shape shoes. I can send more pictures if you need them.

— Bridget Richardson

I first brought my TB gelding, Tucker, to Mission Farrier years ago. When I bought Tucker he it was soon evident that he was lame to the point of having to lift up his whole front end just to turn from a stand still.

With time Mark Plumlee was able to return Tucker to being completely sound, not to mention comfortable for the first time since I had purchased him. It was such a huge relief to see Tucker prancing around again instead of looking "off” and very uncomfortable.

I continued to bring Tucker and my other two horses to Mission Farrier on a bi-monthly basis for farrier care.

Our biggest struggle came in 2011 when Tucker developed canker in three of his four feet. Mark was able to turn one foot around to being healthy after a short few weeks, while the other three feet took over 8 months of care to return to health. It was touch and go for months and we all had our moments of thinking that we may have to put Tucker down.

Thankfully, now a year and a half later, Tucker, with the help of Mark Plumlee and my vet, has now made a complete recovery from canker.

I would like others to know that Mark spent months rehabilitating Tucker. For months Tucker had his feet wrapped twice a day every day by Mark, his students and by me. Never, ever a complaint from Mark. He did what had to be done and did it just as the vet and I had requested. Towards the end of Tucker's rehab Mark was dealing with a horse that was frankly sick of everyone messing with his feet day in and day out for months on end. Tucker was becoming cranky and had to manage. He began to let everyone who cared for him that he was "done". Tucker's impatience never stopped Mark though. He hung in there every day until Tucker slowly recovered.

Mark has a huge heart when it comes to horses. He does what he does because he loves it.

The good news is I now have my horse back. To this day, thinking back on Tucker's struggle to overcome canker still brings tears to my eyes that he actually is with us today! Tucker did make a complete recovery. He endured two tissue removal surgeries and three freeze treatments and over 8 months of intense farrier care by Mark.

I am so grateful to Mark and Mission Farrier for all they did for my horse, Tucker. If it weren't for Mark being willing to go the extra mile (and boy did he go the extra mile!) Tucker would not be with me today. He is a special horse, who is here now because Mark and Mission Farrier had his best interest always in mind.

— Amy Wright Klimke

I am writing on behalf of our wonderful farrier, Mark Plumlee. Our horses have been fortunate to be in his care for the past 7 years. In addition to the careful and personal attention Mark gives each horse, I’d like to note that he has spent a considerable amount of his personal time educating 4-H youth in the areas of equine science, anatomy, and horsemanship.

Mark is truly a master teacher, able to effectively communicate essential principles to youth and adults alike. His generosity, sincerity, and humble personality have endeared him to the hearts of many 4-H youth across Snohomish County. Many of these youth have exceled in county, state and national knowledge competitions in part because of Mark’s dedication to serving others, passion for education and love of horses.

Mark is an amazing man whose exemplary example and outstanding character inspire everyone he comes into contact with. We are blessed to know him.

— Kim Lobb
Snohomish County 4-H Hippology Chair
(Snohomish, Wash.)

We all want to be Mark Plumlee. His horse intuition is beyond comparison. AND, he saved my mare.

Her name is Bellarina.  She is a beauty with grace, intelligence and courage. During a ride in 2009, Bellarina incurred an impact fracture while on a ride on Cady Ridge. I would soon find out that she had broken her back right cannon bone in half.  She had the courage to hop on three feet down 3 miles of trail and the strength to rehab with Mark for eight long months.  Mark’s knowledge of the healing process, his inventive skills to design the most unconventional yet effective shoes for every stage of her recovery brought her back to the athlete she is.  Prior to the injury Bellarina won Reserve Champion for the State of Washington Competitive Trail competition in 2009.

Bellarina arrived at Mark’s facility within 24 hours of her accident. I had x-rays in hand to identify the break.  Unloading her from my trailer was painful to watch.  Mark stopped her immediately and started building a shoe that would facilitate her to put minimal weight on her injured foot and walk as comfortably as possible to her recovery stall.  A shaped styrofoam heel with duck tape become a functioning shoe, each week that went by Mark with the help of x-rays, watched the bones remodel and lowered the Styrofoam shoe until he had that foot flat on the ground. 

Bellarina continues to compete in Competitive Trail without any sign of a limp and celebrated her 20^th birthday last month.

Yes, we all want to be Mark Plumlee, not only because he saves horses but because he influenced so many lives.  Mission Farrier School, located in Snohomish, WA, has provided a place for ferriers to learn the best techniques to give horses back their mobility to use their instincts, and to view their career as a calling rather than just a job.  

In all of our lives a few people rise so far above our expectations that they garner our respect for the rest of our lives, Mark Plumlee is one of those for me.

— Vickie Stewart,
Owner and Partner to HP Bellarina
(Snohomish, Wash.)