Jason Hagerty (Skidmore, Texas)
Jason Hagerty has been my farrier since moving to Texas over a year ago. He has always impressed me with his courteousness and professionalism. Who knew what a journey Jason, his lovely wife, Christine, and I would be a part of the past six months.
Stormin’ Norman, my rather large (size 4 shoe) German warmblood, came up with an abscess from hell! The abscess was located in the right hind bulb/heel. Jason was there from day one. We soaked and soaked. Jason was in touch with me daily by phone or in person. Norman was steadily going downhill. Jason, Christine and I took Norman to the vet. He had lost 200 pounds in a few weeks. The vet sedated Norman enough for Jason to work on the abscess and determined Norman’s care plan. He stayed at the vet’s for a week. I received a call from vet recommending Norman be euthanized! I was devastated. The vet felt Norman would founder in the non-abscessed hind hoof.
I chose to bring Norman home and fight an uphill battle with the help of my farrier, Jason Hagerty. Jason hand built a Z-bar custom shoe for the abscessed foot. He put a shoe on that painful foot. It took a few hours, but Norman ended up with this beautiful shoe! Fast forward to today. We rode Norman for the first time in 6 months just this week. He lost approximately 400 pounds total. But, we are getting weight back on him along with muscle tone. Jason saved this talented lovely horse when others gave up! We will be forever in debt to this young man and his horse-savvy wife!
— Julia Rupke (Mathis, Texas)
