Gene Armstrong (Paso Robles, Calif.)
After several falls and quite a bit of unpredictable behavior from my first horse, I found a Belgian Warmblood who has turned out to be my equine dream come true. He's gentle, safe and sweet; perfect for me in nearly every way.
But, of course, no horse or human can be completely perfect. He has standing hyperflexion, a condition that makes it hard for him to lift his back feet normally while standing still. He lifts from the hip and the muscles lock up for several seconds, making balance difficult. The vet who did his pre-purchase exam told me it was considered a blemish — not an unsoundness — and that it was mostly a nuisance for the farrier.
So I called Gene, who had been shoeing my first horse for a year, keeping my fingers crossed he would be willing to take on my new boy. "It's going to require an awful lot of patience," he told me. He also pointed out that the farrier who worked on him at the high-end dressage barn where I bought him had been cutting corners on his back feet.
Three shoeings later, Gene still has the patience to get my boy done right. He's finding it a little easier each time because he's doing it in a way that's right for the horse, who has benefitted from not having to flex his back legs in that stressful position. I'm not sure I could have found another farrier patient enough to do the job and do it right, but Gene truly loves horses and "right" is the only kind of job he does. He even took a day in May to provide a low-cost seminar to help us understand our role in our horses' hoof health.
Gene Armstrong is a treasure for those of us who love our horses and want only the best for their care.
— Catherine Hyde (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)
Gene Armstrong is a great farrier/blacksmith and has shod my horses for 40 years now. It’s hard to believe that so much time has passed. Gene makes all of the horseshoes from straight bar stock for all of the horses that he shoes. Gene is very precise in how he shapes the hoof and in how he makes the shoe. His shoes are perfectly made. He is also a horseman and can handle all the poor-mannered horses. I’ve held other people’s horses for him at times and I thought they were too bad to be shod, but Gene knows how to handle all horses. He raises, trains and shows his own horses and continues to shoe and show (reining cow horse) at age 74. Gene has a wealth of knowledge and wisdom about horseshoeing and horsemanship, and has been shoeing for over 50 years. I’ve learned a great deal about horsemanship from him; it’s been a blessing to be able to have the greatest farrier shoe my horses.
— Jennifer McCallum (Los Osos, Calif.)
After my big, bossy mare ran a few farriers off, Gene Armstrong finally helped me understand my responsibility in promoting better behavior in my horse that would allow farriers to do a good job while shoeing her. Up until that time, I wasn’t aware what a crucial role the owner played in facilitating ground manners during shoeing time. It was only then I realized that communication between owners and farriers over horse behavior and farrier safety is a seldom-discussed topic, rife with potential emotional pitfalls. Gene’s explanation of what action could be taken on my part was assertive yet considerate, and my mare’s behavior has since made progression in a positive direction. In this respect, I asked him if he would be willing to share this information, and he freely gave his time to speak with local horsemen, promoting knowledge of hoof health and farrier-owner communication. By actively reaching out, Gene has made not only a difference in my life with my horse, but in the lives of many other horse people country-wide. I am honored to have Gene as my farrier, and appreciate his uncompromising dedication to promoting knowledgable practices among farriers and owners alike.
— Christina Sugarman (Los Osos, Calif.)
