Karen Killgore attended the 2010 International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio, for the same reason most farriers did; to further her hoof-care education. But Killgore got a surprise bonus when she won a chance to spend a day in the field with an experienced hoof-care clinician — in this case, Blake Brown. And as a result, some of Killgore’s clients got the benefit of an expert consultation — at no extra cost.

Killgore’s day with Brown was sponsored by Delta Mustad Hoofcare Center, a Summit Educational Partner.

Brown, who spent more than 41 years shoeing horses, retired in 2004 from active shoeing. He spent the final 20 years of his career as the resident farrier at the Loomis Basin Medical Center in Northern California.

Brown joined Killgore in northern Virginia, accompanying her on her appointments for a day. Brown says it was actually very much like what he’s been doing on many other days since his “retirement.”

“As a consultant, I go around helping farriers with problem situations,” he said. “It’s also a lot like what I…