People have been putting shoes on horses since Medieval times, but only within the last generation has the farrier industry entered its golden era in the United States. During the past 30 years or so, farriers began banding together to spread knowledge and skills, taking the farrier craft to a new, higher level of professionalism. At the same time, the tools of the trade greatly improved, further boosting the abilities and effectiveness of farriers. Hoof care has never been better.

Many of the people who helped usher in the changes are still on the scene. They can now look back with a perspective that comes only with time and a front-row seat. Here is the first in our series of occasional stories through which we invite you to meet the people who made a difference in the farrier world.

Today, meet Donald Jones...

“C'mon in and have a seat,” says Donald Jones, showing the way to a barber’s chair in the middle of the room. Jones sits down in an old office chair and turns away from a messy desktop in a corner of the slightly cluttered, dark-paneled office. He crosses his ankles, folds his hands across his stomach and offers his time to talk about farriers and their trade.

These days, Jones usually spends his time running his NC Tool Company…