2018 Farriers Week: Farriers Spotlight
Welcome to the 20th annual Farriers Week Farriers Spotlight!
(Note: This online feature requires a FREE AmericanFarriers.com website login to view. Please scroll to the bottom of this page where you will be prompted to either log in or register.)
Farriers work hard year-round to provide quality hoof care for horses worldwide. To honor their dedication and service, American Farriers Journal created Farriers Week. In its 20th year, Farriers Week is an opportunity to honor your farrier.
American Farriers Journal started the "Farriers Spotlight" in 2012, which is an online-exclusive compilation dedicated to showcasing some of the many farriers in the industry. The farrier tributes featured here were either submitted to us by farriers who want to thank their mentors and instructors or members of the equine community who want to express their gratitude to the farriers who care for their horses. If you submitted a tribute, you can jump straight to any farrier's dedicated page by clicking on their name in the list of submissions below.
There are plenty of photos, videos and anecdotes for you to read and see. Be sure to share this with your family and friends, and give your own "thank you" to our beloved farriers in the comments section here or on any of the individual farrier pages that follow.
Thank you, farriers, for all that you do for the industry. Happy Farriers Week!
—The American Farriers Journal team
Farrier Tributes, in alphabetical order by last name:
- B
- C
- F
- G
- H
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- R S T
- V
- W
- Y
Luke Binegar (Navarre, Ohio)
Luke is the most kind, patient and talented farrier I've ever had work on my horses. I am beyond fortunate that he started as my farrier and ended up as my husband. He truly cares about his clients and their horses. He works long, hard days and always puts others before himself, even during injuries. Luke has been a professional hot/cold/corrective farrier for 22 years now, and currently maintains some of the top Cutting and HUS AQHA horses in the eastern USA. His clients love him, as does his family. Luke makes sure all his clients are treated equally, from the local trail horse to the Congress champion. He enjoys volunteering and teaching blacksmithing to local 4H and therapy programs. He's our favorite farrier!
— Jamie Binegar (Navarre, Ohio)
Not only is he as skilled as they come, but Luke’s unique personality puts every horse at ease. They all love him. From slide plates to toe weights and everything in between, Luke can do it all and make the horses love him in the process.
— Jennifer Frank (Wooster, Ohio)
Luke is the best farrier around! Our barn is full of top show horses that have soundness issues, but he keeps them moving like they’re brand new. He does cold or hot corrective shoeing and has been shoeing horses since he was 14. Luke shoes horses for many large farms in Northeast Ohio. He is a quiet guy, but always makes sure to educate you on how he is shoeing your horse. I am extremely thankful for all Luke has done for my horses’ feet and others as well. Funny fact about Luke: if you have goats, he can trim their feet as well. He does corrective work on my show doe!
— Adriana Grimm (Navarre, Ohio)
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Chris Bouchikas (Elgin, Ariz.)
Chris Bouchikas — gentleman, horseman, donkey whisperer, cloven hoof trimmer, husband, father and overall wonderful person — is an integral part of our small-town America. Chris constantly strives to better himself in his profession by competing nationwide for certifications, as well as educating local clients about lameness, trimming techniques and novel approaches to the treatment of difficult diseases. As a veterinarian, I value his open-mindedness, informed ideas and natural compassion for our equine friends.
His handy-work has improved the lives of countless horses, and his positive outlook on life has lightened the day of many of his clients. We are lucky to have him in southern Arizona and I am proud to be part of his team.
— Dusti Prentice (Huachuca City, Ariz.)
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Carla Bryant (Dallas, Texas)
My darling little mare, Miss Winter, has had a tough time the last couple years due to a history of injury and having tiny feet. The farrier she had since I bought her as a filly abruptly had to retire, which caused a minor panic, as you might guess. As we struggled to find a new farrier (and this was harder than we realized!), a well-known farrier here in Texas (several hours away) recommended Carla Bryant. She started working on my mare and was doing fine … but, suddenly, after a few months, my mare turned up lame — and we had no idea why.
My vet was out of town, so we took her to a large, well-known equine hospital. The vet there recommended having another vet, who was also a farrier, give her special shoes in order to help with the lameness. We did this for a few months, but she only appeared to get marginally better and I was really worried about her. So, I listened to my heart (and ignored that vet) and asked Carla to meet with our regular vet and give us an assessment of Winter's situation. They both agreed completely on the course of treatment, and all of us agreed that what the other vet was doing wasn't helping. Within a single shoeing, we saw an immediate improvement.
Over the course of many months and shoeings with Carla, Miss Winter has become even better than her old self. I attribute all of this to Carla. Not only is she a good, adept farrier (and a horse rider herself!), but she is also kind. My little mare met every other farrier (other than her original one) with fear and no interest in having them touch her feet. Carla causes no such fear for her; she simply walks in the stall and almost falls asleep at Carla's hand. I don't think I've ever met a farrier who actually shows this much love and kindness, a skill that’s just as important as technical skill, and one that I wish more equine professionals had.
For sure, a horse that has had issues with its feet and farriers can easily learn it's something to fear, but Carla completely removed that fear from my horse. It's a pleasure to watch Carla work, knowing my mare (and my gelding!) are in the best of hands.
I have attached a file of Miss Carla at work — as you watch Miss Winter, near the end you can see she is starting to fall asleep. You don't know how important it has been to my peace of mind knowing I never need worry about my little mare and her feet as long as Carla is here for us.
— Jacqui Hastings (Cedar Hill, Texas)
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Esco Buff (Webster, N.Y.)
I met Esco approximately 6 years ago at a time when I was questioning my longevity in this industry. His guidance and mentorship led to a strong friendship 5 years later. Esco is a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of farriery and business. He has shown me how to set myself apart in a very competitive industry. I continue to hone my skill set, knowledge and expertise with his support and guidance. I have learned how to look at the whole horse, which has revolutionized my practice and made me more valuable to my clients. Because of his mentorship, I have been able to make a real difference in many horses’ lameness cases and create true value for my clients. I am extremely thankful for his mentorship and friendship. I would encourage any farrier who truly wants to grow to take the opportunity to intern with Esco. You don't know what you don't know until you do!
—Richard Armentrout (North Canton, Ohio)
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Curtis Burns (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.)
Curtis Burns gives as much care and consideration to a backyard pony as he does to Triple Crown Champion Justify. His glue-on technique is the gold standard in the industry. Along with great skill, he has a compassionate heart that loves horses and innovating new products for their betterment.
—Ann Singer (Delray Beach, Fla.)
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Pablo Calderon (Bloomington, Calif.)
Pablo has been my farrier for over 15 years. He has helped me with every type of situation. He has also helped me through rehabilitation and has done a lot of the work himself. He does not get offended by any of my questions, good or bad. He will stop by if he’s in the area just to see if anything needs attention. I can usually get him to come by that day if I have a situation. He will let me try new things just so I have to turn around and say he was right. After 15 years, he’s more like family than a farrier that I see every 7 weeks.
— Janese Makshanoff (Grand Terrace, Calif.)
Pablo Calderon is an amazing farrier. He does his best to help educate others for the betterment of their horses. He shares information on taking care of the horses’ hooves and shares issues that can accompany the troubles of owning a horse, such as canker. Watching Pablo work is very rewarding, since he is quite educational and does his best to teach and inform everyone about what and what not to do. His ability to handle horses and keep them safe in the stocks, as well as save his back, is a fascinating feat. I wish we had more farriers who knew how to do this. Pablo is a wonderful farrier and a hard-working man who deserves the recognition and honor of being in the Farrier’s spotlight. Congrats.
— Annamarie Thomas (Yakima, Wash.)
Pablo is one of the best farriers I have ever had the joy of watching. His videos are very informative, not only with farrier services but with training, etc. I really wish I'd had someone with his knowledge in my area when I owned horses.
— Blanca Marquez Bello (Stockbridge, Ga.)
Pablo is an awesome farrier, and deserves to win this recognition.
— Kelly Dehnel (Wausau, Wis.)
Although we are across the country from him, Pablo has been a tremendous help to us in treating several of our canker-ridden horses. He knew from the beginning that there was no monetary benefit, since we were so far away. Yet he never hesitated to offer extremely helpful advice and called several times to check on our progress. The horse world is full of snake oil salesmen who promise to cure diseases if you only pay them enough. Pablo has proven that there are still a few good souls out there willing to do what is right, not what makes them the most money.
— Jennifer Luttrull (Muskegon, Mich.)
Pablo is by far the best farrier we have ever used. He is kind to our animals and great with our horses. We have draft horses and the work he does with them is fantastic.
— John Dennis Palmer (Colton, Calif.)
I had the pleasure of meeting Pablo Calderon at the Lucky 7 Ranch, located in Ontario, Canada, in 2011. My horse was a 7-year-old Thoroughbred mare. She had suffered and survived the H1 virus, and it left her with paralysis, causing her to drag her back hooves. I was impressed with the way Pablo gently handled her, as well as the quality of his work. Since then, I have followed Pablo’s postings on Facebook. His work and treatment of canker sores on draft horses has been very educational. I would recommend Pablo Calderon as a very experienced farrier who is passionate about his work and is truly an animal lover.
— Lisa Zintel (Ontario, Canada)
Well, I’ve been showing, helping and teaching people about how to take care of their horses’ feet and also how to handle canker. I’ve also shown people how they can better feed their horses.
— Pablo Calderon (Bloomington, Calif.)
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Jordan Carelli (Dracut, Mass.)
Jordan Carelli is an amazing farrier. He is very knowledgeable and you can tell he loves his work and is passionate about what he does.
— Brittany Fitzpatrick (North Andover, Mass.)
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Danvers Child (Lafayette, Ind.)
SmartPak would like to say "thank you" to our hoof health consultant of the past 8 years, Danvers Child. He has helped us better serve and educate horse owners about healthy hoof-care practices. We would also like to congratulate Danvers on his 2018 induction into the Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame!
— Jessica Normand (Plymouth, Mass.)
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Joe Fox (Hazel Park, Mich.)
I am currently working for Joe Fox. I started in June after I finished working with Truman Mast, another fantastic farrier who encourages continuing education and will do anything for someone who is willing to learn and work. I am happy to be working with Joe and hope to continue learning from him.
—Noah Ballard (Hazel Park, Mich.)
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Sam Gooding (Richmond, Ky.)
I met Sam Gooding, CJF, when I attended the Kentucky Horseshoeing School 2 years ago. His dedication to his students and this industry is overwhelming, and his patience far surpasses that of most people I’ve met in my lifetime. He holds high standards and pushes his students to be their best, both under the horses and at the forge.
He has stayed in contact since I left school and has answered any questions I have, supported my ideas and theories and has even pep-talked me back into reality when I lose patience with my apprenticeship. Without his support, I’m not sure I would have stuck at it and learned as much as I did at school and at my apprenticeship, and for that I am forever grateful. Someday, I’ll be able to keep up in the forge and under horses with Sam — but until then I’ll keep practicing and working to make him proud.
Thanks, Sam, for everything you do for everyone.
—Brenna Sisley (Phippsburg, Colo.)
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Kris Hair (Pottsboro, Texas)
Our farrier, Kris Hair, has been a tremendous help over the past few years. We always seem to buy horses with hoof issues: low heel, no heel, soft soles, etc. Kris has done wonders with all of them! They are all performance horses, and because Kris has been able to keep them all comfortable and sound, they have been able to compete and perform at very high levels. They have qualified for the Texas HS Rodeo State Finals 2 years in a row, winning North TX HS Rodeo Finals in Poles and qualifying top 15 at AQHA Youth World Finals 2 years in a row.
It takes a team to keep these kids and their equine athletes going down the road, and we are forever grateful to our farrier Kris Hair and his wife, Dr. Natalie Bright Hair, equine chiropractor, for all they do to support our team.
—Autumn Gallagher (Sanger, Texas)
Kris Hair started working with us 2 years ago. In that time, I have won 3 AQHA World Titles, BFA World Title, National Junior High Champion and 2 American Semi Finals qualifications. Kris makes it a priority to continue to improve his craft. He is truly a team player and we are so grateful to have him on our team!
—Karsyn Daniels (McKinney, Texas)
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David Krahn (Newbury Park, Calif.)
In the early 1980s, a young man came from a small town in Southern Idaho and began working as an apprentice for his father-in-law, a full-time farrier in Southern California. After a very short time, he told told his wife, “Honey, there are two things I will never do. First, I will never live in Southern California. Second, I will never shoe horses for a living!” After nearly 30-plus years as a farrier, all of them spent in Southern California, one might say the previous statement was slightly exaggerated.
I would like to shine a spotlight on David Krahn for several reasons. Mainly because he is an amazing farrier. But also because he is my father. I have watched my dad work as a farrier for almost my entire life. I’ve seen him approach every single situation with integrity, as well as a unique sense of compassion. He constantly strives to do what is best for each and every horse he works on. He takes the time to let every horse owner know that he cares about their animals as much as them.
Growing up, I have watched my father mentor and form close friendships with nearly every apprentice he’s ever worked with. I’ve spent countless hours with him as he has collaborated with vets on how to fix complex foot problems. He is always too busy and could easily pass on these cases. But, he simply told me once, “If the vet asks you to help with something, you should really try to do it.”
As my father moved into the later part of his career, he bravely took on his greatest challenge: having both of his sons apprentice and eventually begin working full-time with him in his practice. He always says, “You know you are good as a family when you can work together all day, and still talk to each other at the end of it.” I consider myself incredibly lucky to learn from such a professional as my father. He constantly shows me the perfect balance of how to treat not only the horses we work on but also with the people we interact with every single day. For this, I will always be grateful for my dad, David Krahn. He is one of the best farriers around.
— Tony Krahn (Moorpark, Calif.)
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Stacia Langille (Northfield, N.H.)
Stacia is an amazing person and farrier. She does everything she can to make sure my horses get what they need for hoof care. She is a hard-working new mother of one and takes her child with her wherever she goes. She is a one-of-a-kind person and means a whole lot to a ton of people. She is not only an amazing farrier but she has also changed so many people’s lives by just being a part of them.
— Aleah Cacciola (Epsom, N.H.)
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Beth Lewis (Rochester, N.H.)
Beth is not only incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to hoof care but also extremely well-educated in equine nutrition. I have three rescue horses that she trims, and she has helped me correct all of their hoof issues. She has really helped me put weight on them as well. My horses look fabulous thanks to her knowledge. She is extremely caring about all of her clients and always takes the time to be calm and patient when my horses are nervous. I can't say enough great things about Beth! Her wealth of knowledge is truly remarkable, I learn something new and interesting every time she visits.
— Abbi Gillis (Madison, N.H.)
Beth Lewis has been my AAPF mentor for just over a year now, since I finished farrier school in 2017. Beth is the kind of farrier that every client should hope for. She is punctual, dependable, knowledgeable, friendly and patient. She understands the needs of both her equine and human clients. She is not afraid to take on challenging cases, and works hard to facilitate veterinary care, working hand-in-hand with vets and clients as a team. She is excellent at reading X-rays and test results so she can help in the best way possible.
As a mentor, she educates at each stop, and during travel time in between stops. In fact, she never stops educating! She is available to me via text practically round the clock, whenever I have a question about one of my own clients or if I have been reading books or online material and have a question about what I've read. She is generous with her time and her materials. If she finds a deal on things like casting tape or packing material, she sends whatever it is my way. She's been a great traveling companion for me to continuing education venues like the International Hoof Care Summit and the ELPO International Lameness Prevention Conference.
I have gotten to know many of her clients, and it is quite obvious that they appreciate not only her skills, but also the relationship they have with her. Beth goes beyond being simply professional: she cares.
I would certainly not be the farrier I am today, or the farrier I will be, were it not for Beth's friendship and mentoring. I'm so thankful for the past year and am looking forward to many adventures to come!
— Rachel Nydam (Northbridge, Mass.)
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Truman Mast (Imlay City, Mich.)
I had the incredible privilege of working alongside Truman for 9 months before his helper came back after graduating from high school. In those 9 months, I was able to work on a great number of horses and was shown so many things that helped me out tremendously. Seeing Truman interact with horses and clients was awesome! Truman is willing to help anyone as much as he can. I have way too much to thank him for, so I’ll just leave it at that.
—Noah Ballard (Hazel Park, Mich.)
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Audel Mendoza (Arleta, Calif.)
Audel and his assistant, his son Jose, have stepped into the role of my beloved farrier, Bill Bennett, in caring for my horse, Bodie. Audel has done a superlative job, and my horse is traveling beautifully and is strong and healthy. Thank you so much, Audel, for taking such good care of my special little horse!
— Denise Daniel Kelly (Sylmar, Calif.)
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Joepaul Meyers (Gatesville, Texas)
Joepaul Meyers, CJF, is a 46-year veteran of the trade. His knowledge of anatomy and the application of farrier science intertwined with his experience in the care of the equine digit is impeccable and places him in a class of his own.
Joepaul has the ability to look at the horse and know what needs to be done. He is an educator, and strives to share his knowledge and experience through lecture or one-on-one training with a fellow peer or student of the trade.
Joepaul has dedicated his life for the betterment of the horse. He has taught at the trade school level and university level. He is also a clinician and can present a quality lecture and presentation at any desired level of learning to local or county youth groups, fellow farriers, horse owners and veterinarians alike.
Joepaul has brought comfort and quality of life to thousands of horses over his lifetime. He has touched the lives of many and I would like to recognize him and send him my gratitude for giving me several more years with my Blue Roan Gelding, Tripp. If not for him, I would have lost Tripp way before his time.
Joepaul Meyers, CJF, is a master farrier and professional of the trade. He has blessed many with his talent and natural ability to bring quality farrier care to the equine industry.
— Angie Meyers (Gatesville, Texas)
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David Miller (Prunedale, Calif.)
I want to thank David Miller for being one of the kindest, most honorable and humble farriers there is. He is my mentor, since I’m starting out in the industry, and has been 100% selfless and caring along the way. He believed in me when I was starting to think nobody would, and has helped me get to a great place in my life. He is patient and kind while teaching me, but also pushes me to be my best. For that, I am forever grateful.
— Phoebe Rose English (Aptos, Calif.)
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Stan Mullen (Christchurch, New Zealand)
To be able to write a brief statement about Stan is almost impossible, but I'll try my best to keep it short.
As a teacher, Stan will try many different ways of doing something so people can understand it better. There have been many times I've come to Stan and asked him about a certain way he did something and if he could explain it better. He then amazes me by simply doing something a little different and still coming to the same outcome. He also has an answer to every question, which is very helpful.
As a farrier, I get the opportunity and privilege to see Stan work on a daily basis with horses and clients to make both parties happy and healthy. It blows my mind when I see him take on what is, in my opinion, a difficult foot to manage and simply work on it until it is up to a high standard that makes everyone happy. I also see the love he has for what he does and the many accomplishments he's made while in this trade.
Finally, as a person, I think without him being as wonderful, funny, smart, generous, kind, humble and enjoyable as he is, he wouldn't be the person he is. It has been one of the most enjoyable times of my life getting to know Stan. I am excited to see what I can learn next from him as I continue my journey in this trade.
—Noah Ballard (Hazel Park, Mich.)
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Eric Nygaard (Sarasota, Florida)
Eric has been a driving force in my career over the last 6 years. Although I have never formally apprenticed under his stewardship, he has taught me many lessons on business practices, finance practices, inventory and client relations through many hours of conversation at his supply shop checkout counter.
He’s a recognized veteran in the farrier industry and a superior businessman too. As a past American Farrier’s Association president, he knew what it meant to have comradery within the industry and he always made sure that you could contact him and ask anything. If he didn’t know the answer to your question, he’d find the answer. My only regret is not taking full advantage of his knowledge when I was a young farrier.
— Earl Ellerbee (Lake Placid, Florida)
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Darren Owen (Charlottesville, Va.)
Darren Owen of Indian Fields Farrier Service is the best farrier I have worked with over my 35 years with horses. Besides the fact that he is an amazing farrier, he is a huge proponent of continuing education for farriers, working with clients to understand their horses’ feet and what can be done from a nutritional and farrier aspect to improve poor feet. When it comes to correcting feet that need help, he starts with a balanced trim and will continue to refine his approach until he finds the best one for the horse. He works in concert with the veterinarian if the case is such that a consult is needed.
My one mare had a seriously underrun heel on her right front when I got her. It was so bad that she was not only lame but also body sore from compensating. After the diagnostics were done, Darren reviewed the images with my local vet and a plan was developed. It took the better part of a year, but her foot is now normal, and she’s sound and staying that way.
I have watched him mentor his apprentice into a confident and competent farrier. He creates opportunities for him to expand his experience and knowledge base by having him work with other farriers that specialize in certain disciplines.
As a horse owner, I cannot say enough about all I have learned from him about the function of hooves, limbs and the locomotion of the equine, and, most importantly, how different shoes and shoeing techniques affect this. It’s refreshing to be able to work with a farrier that explains things to you and can answer questions about your horses’ feet and care so that you can make the best decision for your horses — together.
—Annmarie Stark (Moyock, N.C.)
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Jimmy Petty (Concord, N.C.)
Jimmy is a wonderful horseman. He is very open-minded. He is also invested in his work and dedicates himself 100% to horse and rider.
He shows you the mechanics of the foot to help you understand what is going on within your horse’s foot. He has made so many of my horses perform much better on a higher level, and has also helped them be a lot happier while doing their job. Jimmy always wants to further his education in any way he can by going to clinics and trade shows. Thank you again for considering Jimmy Petty, CF, APF.
— Elizabeth Bost (Concord, N.C.)
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Dr. Ramanathan (Pune, India)
Our horse developed lameness in its hind leg in September 2017. In spite of various X-rays, scans, etc., nothing was obvious.
The only vet who said this was laminitis was overlooked. Most other vets said laminitis in the hind and on one leg was not heard of and extremely rare.
We started the process of laminitis therapy and shoeing with Dr. Ramanathan. Dr. Ramanathan would drive from Pune to Mumbai every 15 to 20 days. His veterinary truck was among the most unique things I have seen in racing.
Such a dedicated veterinary/farrier truck is, I think, one-of-a-kind in India. The truck has multiple functions encompassing veterinary and farriery needs. With the built-in forge, Dr. Ramanathan makes custom horseshoes to satisfy the special needs of individual feet.
Various types of shoeing modalities were put in place based on the radiographs and the clinical conditions of the feet. The various shoeing types ranged from just thermacol or Styrofoam to custom-made “M shoes,” as Dr. Ramanathan calls it, with an open toe.
Dr. Ramanathan also used Sureshot (a patented product from his armory) which enhanced the healing processes by completely preventing any possible infections.
Finally, as the deviation and the dip of the P3 were corrected, a ready-made PU heart bar shoe was applied.
Luckily, I found Dr. Ramanathan and bestowed full faith in him. It has been a gruelling period from then to now. The horse having “good days” and “bad days” reflected an emotional rollercoaster. Ultimately, with lot of patience and perseverance, the horse is ready to get back to work
.
— Raj Shroff (Mumbai, India)
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Mike Ratermann (New Carlisle, Ohio)
A farrier is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy horse, but in my eyes, they are under-appreciated for all the work they do. The work and dedication that is done by a farrier contributes to a well-rounded horse. I have owned horses my entire life, but it wasn’t until this past year that my appreciation for farriers was raised to a new level.
My mare of 8 years had a trauma to her front right hoof. The cause of the internal trauma to this day is still unknown, but she started to rotate her coffin bone. I was desperately looking for a farrier that specializes in founder. My mare is a difficult horse to shoe since she has never liked the vibration of nailing a shoe.
I then found Mike Ratermann. He has an extremely busy schedule already, but he was able to fit me in to assess my mare. Mike and my veterinarian, Dr. Chuck Savini, worked together and aligned their schedules to work on my mare at the same time. Assessing my mare, we could not find the reason for the rotation, but she was aggressively continuing to rotate, even with appropriate corrective shoeing and treatment. I had to take her to Rood & Riddle in Kentucky for evaluation.
Mike went above and beyond by contacting the doctor at Rood & Riddle and helped report what was happening to my mare. He then continued to get updates and a treatment plan for her return home. After returning home, my mare had to have weekly X-rays and correction. This required my veterinarian and farrier to meet at the same time and treat my horse together. I have never seen such great teamwork and dedication from a farrier and veterinarian.
Little by little, my mare continued to improve with the work Mike put into her: adjusting wedge boots, decreasing angles as needed and transitioning her into a shoe. Mike would patiently work with my mare that has a fear of having her feet messed with. He never got frustrated or lost his temper with my horse. He would constantly contact me for updates and wanting to know how she was handling the shoe. We would be checking her digital pulses, swelling, and lameness daily through pictures, phone calls, or texts.
At the start of this ordeal I was praying that I would keep my horse alive, even if it was just as a pasture horse. I never thought that I would be able to ride this horse again, not to mention return her to full function as an active trail horse. Even though we are still continuing to improve, I have been on multiple trail rides and she has no restriction on turnout or riding, as long as she can handle it. We are shoeing every 5 to 6 weeks and I can now say I have my horse back.
I want to nominate Mike Ratermann for this recognition because of the work and dedication he has given me. He did not have to be so dedicated to my mare and her problems. I truly feel that it is because of the passion and love he has for his career that I can honestly say I would not have my horse today if it wasn’t for the effort that he and my veterinarian exhibited.
His skill level and knowledge shine through his work on my horse and her feet. He is constantly pushing himself to learn new information that will help his work and clients. Mike went above and beyond what was asked of him by responding to texts and phone calls immediately, following through with reports and updates with veterinarians, multiple visits to my stable for emergency shoeing and X-rays and overall looking out for the wellbeing of my horse.
He always stops and explains what he is doing and ensures that I understand and agree. Even to this day, he is constantly thinking about what will work best for her. He picks up corrective shoeing at conventions and seminars. I have come to truly understand what a dedicated farrier should be like, and Mike Ratermann is one of them. I will forever be indebted to him. After all, the feet of a horse are one of the most important part of its body. Why would we neglect something so important to the health of the horse?
— Laura Busteed (Vandalia, Ohio)
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Randy Rider (Centre Hall, Pa.)
I have been involved with horses for more than 30 years and have had the opportunity to work with many farriers and vets throughout this time. My boyfriend is a horse trainer with a large program and keeps about 40 horses at our facility. We have known Randy for almost 8 years now. He has exclusively been our farrier for about 5 years.
Randy's work ethic and knowledge are unmatched, as far as I am concerned. He is not only an excellent farrier, he is a wonderful man. Continuing education and learning are very important to Randy and he stays up-to-date with his trade — and that is valuable to his customers. He is wonderful with the horses and is always open-minded when it comes to treating special needs horses. He is more than willing to work with our vets when there is a soundness issue related to a horse, and goes above and beyond to help fix a problem. He is not just that way with us. I have seen him do the same for his other customers. He works very long days in all kinds of conditions, yet if we call with an urgent issue — he doesn't hesitate to come help right away.
I credit Randy with saving my hunt seat gelding and getting him back to the show pen. I turned to Randy for help and 3 years later, Petey is sound, with great feet and no issues. Randy was very open to working with my vet and they discussed changes for Petey. Randy's attention to detail and experience is what helped the horse the most. We have had many special needs horses in our barn that Randy has tirelessly worked on with my boyfriend and the vets, and they have helped get the horses back to being sound and shown again.
I value Randy greatly as a farrier and as a professional. Everyone at our barn adores and appreciates Randy and thinks that he is the best! I believe that he should be recognized by American Farriers Journal for his outstanding work and knowledge, as well as his excellent professionalism and commitment to his customers and their horses.
— Anne Marie Tufo (Bellefonte, Pa.)
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Boris Ryaschenko (Primorski Kray, Russia)
I once was asked to shoe a young backyard horse. It was a 3-year-old stallion that was very excitable and completely untrained to give its legs. The hosts helped me to shoe the horse: a guy and a girl. We were been tormented for several hours. The horse allowed me to shoe his front legs only with the help of ... cucumbers. It was in the summer when vegetable gardens began to ripen. It turned out that our colt was not indifferent to cucumbers, which, fortunately, were growing on the vegetable beds in abundance. For every hammered nail, he received a reward: a cucumber. So, he allowed his front feet to be shod for cucumbers.
Shoeing the horse’s hind legs was more difficult. The slightest touch caused him to beat his hind feet so sharply that it was really scary. I was afraid to get hit by his hooves. Cucumbers, unfortunately, did not help. I had to make a crouch of the rope and put the colt on the ground in a position that would allow me to shoe him. For some reason, the neighbors became very interested and watched the event from behind the fence.
When the horseshoes were nailed, we quickly removed the fetter and the colt instantly got to his feet, not understanding what had happened to him. But it was done. We have shod him!
Two or three months later in the autumn, I came across a familiar colt. I walked closer and spoke to the owner of the horse. The stallion listened, turned his head in my direction ... and suddenly lifted his front leg, bending it in his wrist. Unfortunately, we did not have any cucumbers.
—Boris Ryaschenko (Primorski Kray, Russia)
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William Schwab (Montell, Texas)
My farrier, Will Schwab, is a rockstar because he is so knowledgeable, calm and amazing with all of my horses.
I contacted him when I couldn't find anyone local to help me and he didn't hesitate to help. Will travels a great distance to be my horses’ farrier. He is honest, kind and doesn't mind me asking a million questions.
Will has helped me understand the importance of hoof maintenance and timing of hoof care. He is always on time and goes above and beyond to help me with any hoof-related questions I have. Since Will has been working on my horses, they haven't had any issues and all of my horses are sound and happy. An amazing farrier really is an essential part of horse ownership and can make a world of difference for your horse and your own peace of mind.
— Melissa Schreiner (Eagle Pass, Texas)
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Ted Shanks (Lihue, Hawaii)
Ted Shanks has been an amazing mentor and teacher to me and many all over the country. He has dedicated his life to learning how to help horses by learning from the best farriers in the world. He is a true blessing to our state and the farrier world. He has drastically changed my life. Ted has taken me from just another person nailing on horseshoes, to learning a skill that has allowed my clients to believe in the farrier’s ability to truly help a horse.
He helps horses overcome fear of having their hooves maintained and also shows other farriers that a horse can be shod in a calm, pleasant fashion, with his “Willing Participant Program.” This is an amazing program that helps educate farriers on how to shod horses in a calm and safe way. Ted has also helped many foundered horses who are on death row grow a hoof back and go back to work.
Ted Shanks has truly improved farriery for thousands of horses here in our state. I believe every horse, farrier and owner could benefit from the knowledge that this man has obtained.
— Forrest Parris (Maui, Hawaii)
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Eric Simmons (Millersville, Mont.)
Eric Simmons of Simmons Shoeing Service was recommended to me by my veterinarian after my mare kept coming up lame. She had underrun and contracted heels due to incorrect trimming and shoeing.
Eric is also a registered vet tech who has worked in the equine veterinary practice before becoming a full-time farrier. The combination of these two fields adds to Eric's knowledge base and is a plus in diagnosing and correcting problems. He is very willing to answer questions and explain everything he is doing and why.
All four of my horses had messed up hooves with incorrect and inconsistent angles due to sloppy work by my past horseshoer (I hesitate to call the other guy a farrier). Eric took the time to explain what was wrong and what it was going to take to correct them. A year later, all my horses are moving beautifully and freely. The mare with the lameness issues due to heel pain is still a work in progress but she is back in work and moving pain-free. Eric never hesitates to put in the extra effort to make sure my horses are well-cared for and moving correctly. I'm truly blessed to have such a good farrier to care for my horses.
— Sandy Kern (Farmington, Mont.)
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Travis Smith (Columbia, Miss.)
Most mornings, Travis Smith wakes up with an aching back, and most nights he lays down to bed with one as well. He knows more about how to care for back injuries than most medical professionals, and he can tell you more about how to read a horse than many professional horse trainers. But he’ll never give you advice that’s not requested, and he’ll never walk with a swagger or pretend he knows what he doesn’t. He’s a student of hard work, a professor of bodily injuries and he’s earned a PhD in client relations and scheduling. He has days that are incredibly frustrating, when every single horse is rotten and doesn’t want to cooperate, and his scheduling sometimes gets so tight he can’t even grab lunch. Still, he won’t take it out on the horses, or his clients or his family. He still tries his hardest on every single hoof, on every single horse, to give them what they need to compete at the highest level, pack kids safely around, or just enjoy their well-deserved retirement.
He ignores the toll this job is taking on his body, and the fact that he’ll never have a cushy retirement or the certainty that comes with a steady paycheck. He knows the winters will always be slow, and the springs and summers are backbreaking and cripplingly busy. He’s very much aware that he’ll receive texts and calls at all hours of the day and night, sometimes for real emergencies, other times to replace a lost shoe and, once in a while, just for an odd question that needs to be answered, or a mind that needs to be soothed. He forms emotional attachments to horses that he cares for over many years, and then loses those horses, time and time again, from everything to old age to being sold or even to a fellow farrier because the owner felt someone else could do his job better. All of that he deals with on a daily basis, and he knows it won’t ever change, and it’s simply the nature of the beast. So he gets up every morning and continues every day, throwing his heart and every ounce of skill he’s got into that hammer and that rasp and that anvil and that horse. He humbles himself time and time again to learn more, to be more, to do more. To make sure every hoof is right, that every shoe is tight and every client is taken care of. That no one is charged more than he would be willing to pay for the same job, and they know how much he appreciates their business.
He does it because he loves the animals, and he finds contentment in those long-term friendships, both with clients and their horses. He loves those moments when he actually receives some credit and he’s told that he’s worked wonders, even though much of the time it’s attributed to their new magnetic fly sheet or their herbal supplement. For him, that’s perfectly fine, because all he wants in life are happy horses. No acclaim, and no special accolades, just happy, healthy horses. If that’s not a good man, I don’t know what is. I’m lucky to call him my farrier. Lord knows we couldn’t replace him if we had to.
— Laura Smith (Harrisburg, Miss.)
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Wesley Stewart (Southern Highlands, Australia)
Wes has been looking after my horses for the past 19 years. He comes, he catches and does a great job.
— Karen Cooper (Penrose, Australia)
Wes has been doing my horses for roughly 21 years and, in that time, has helped me to better understand everything about horses, ranging from shoeing right through to breaking in. If I ever need any help, he’s quite happy to talk to me anytime over the phone, email, etc. I wouldn’t be where I am today with horses without him. He maintains all of my horses’ feet to a very high standard and, because of that, I have succeeded in my chosen sport of eventing extremely well.
— Samantha Cooper (Penrose, Australia)
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Deanna Stoppler (Underhill, Vt.)
Deanna has done an incredible job with my mare Stella. Stella suffered from a botched trim which resulted in mechanical laminitis before I hired Deanna. Deanna has been a game changer in treating Stella and making her sound again. She has worked rigorously with all the different veterinarians who have looked at Stella and stayed up-to-date as we struggled with a torn suspensory. She makes the horses comfortable around her and I know that I can always trust her to do her best work, even when I cannot be there. I am eternally grateful to have such a knowledgeable and engaged farrier, and I hope she gets the recognition from her clients that she deserves.
— Scarlett Stone (Burlington, Vt.)
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Tom Stovall (Comanche, Texas)
In the early ‘80s, I beat Al Gore to the punch and "discovered" the internet (known then as ARPANET). In those days, it was a difficult platform to navigate, and it took some work to figure things out, so I patted myself on the back for being the first farrier on the web. I found a discussion group for "horses" and immediately began to answer questions related to hoof care. I was the best!
After a couple of days of waxing eloquent and explaining "the way" that things should be done, I crossed the stupid line one too many times, and a crusty old cowboy who was equally impressive as a blacksmith and a wordsmith, appeared from nowhere and thumped me on the head.
Mr. Tom Stovall started schooling me that day and still schools me today. Although my first lesson was in humility, the lessons progressed to gaits and movement, biomechanics, monitoring and adjusting for discipline and environment, forge work and a host of other topics.
Yet, no matter the topic we discussed, there was always a thread of common sense. He might take me down a path littered with eloquent references to Occam's Razor or an Archimedean Point, but he never failed to bring it all back to the fact that I needed to attend to the basics, to look for the obvious, and not over-complicate the obvious once I found it.
I'm a better farrier for having known Mr. Tom. More importantly, I'm a better man for having known Mr. Tom.
— Danvers Child (Lafayette, Ind.)
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Benjamin Franklin Talbert (Dunkirk, Ind.)
Mr. Talbert was one of the farriers (then known as horseshoers or blacksmiths) that mentored my father, Don Hobson. He moved home to Pennville, Ind., in 1944 and opened a blacksmithing and welding shop, where he worked until his death in 1959.
You can learn more about Mr. Talbert by reading a blog post about him on The Hoof Blog.
—Kim Hobson (Pennville, Ind.)
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Juan Vasquez (Brookville, N.Y.)
Juan has been my farrier for about 6 years and I couldn't imagine anyone else shoeing my horse! He works 7 days a week and travels for his clients! When I went to see the horse I have now (he was not local), he had a nice crevice in his hoof.
During the pre-purchase, the vet said, “A good farrier will fix that.”
My response was, “Well, then I have nothing to worry about because Juan will fix that!”
Right now, all that is left of that crack is a thin line. Juan is one of the best shoers around. He loves his job and takes it seriously! I am having a hard time putting this into words without sounding all mushy. But he is the best and he deserves to be recognized!
— Dianne Boothe (Bohemia, N.Y.)
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Clayton Wilber (Saint Cloud, Fla.)
Although horses are not my profession, they are my passion and very much a part of what makes me, me. My farrier, Clayton Wilber, understands the importance my horse has in my life and he never hesitates to indulge my constant questions.
He is always learning and researching new techniques and using his own educated creativity to adapt them for the specific needs of the horse he is working on. No cookie-cutter solutions — each case is looked at with fresh eyes, and he is always happy to explain the "why" and "what's next" to owners to help them best care for their horses.
It is also worth mentioning that Clayton works with my veterinarian as a team. This teamwork can sometimes be hard to find, but Clayton is always focused on what is right for the horse. This photo is of Clayton (on what was supposed to be his day off) strategizing with my vet on the best way to treat an injury. A few short weeks later, the horse was back to work and 100% sound!
— Darcy Cormier (Orlando, Florida)
My tribute is to the amazing, talented farrier Clayton Wilber. Clayton has been my farrier for 20-plus years. He has helped my horses with corrective shoeing and trims. He puts his horses care first and always does what is best for them. Six years ago, my show mare was a two-time Florida State Champion racking mare. After her show career, we were going to use her as a broodmare and got one foal, but unfortunately lost him at 4 days old. She was never the same after that and she foundered on us 2 years after she lost her foal. Between the vet (Matt Walters) and Clayton Wilbur, corrective shoeing kept her sound for 5 years. She would relapse and they worked together and did everything possible to keep her comfortable. A few times my husband and I would almost give up on her. We didn't like to see her in pain, but Clayton would suggest shoeing her a different way and she would walk off sound and comfortable. Thank you to Clayton for giving us more years with our precious Ebony.
— Lisa Witzel (Saint Cloud, Florida)
Clayton has been working on my horses feet for over 3 years. I own and operate a hunter/jumper stable, Ballyclare Sport Horses. Every horse has benefitted and improved in quality of angle, shape, and mobility since Clayton started working on them. He has worked diligently on addressing complex feet and has been personally invested in each horse he works on. I have complete confidence in him with every horse I own, Grand Prix to green newbie. He is always looking for quality collaboration with owners and vets for the best outcome for his client, the horse. As it should be. God help me if he decides to ever retire.
He is professional and we work great together, collaborating on any particular needs a horse has. He educates and takes the time to explain what's going on as it pertains to the foot and why he sees a change that should be made and what that should accomplish. After a few experiences where I had new horses come in and after Clayton got started on their feet, I could see and feel an excellent improvement in my horses. That's the best proof I can give.
I would highly recommend Clayton to anyone looking for a farrier to help their horse get to its optimum performance level, as well as heal from complicated issues from founder, quarter cracks and injury-related trauma. He makes and forges to customize what’s required. His skill level and knowledge give him a unique arsenal to help all types of issues.
— Sally Ivory Wright (Palm Bay, Florida)
I have owned an OTTB since 2009 that was nominated for the Breeders Cup. This gelding came to me from a friend who worked for formidable trainers. He holds a Florida record at Gulfstream and raced both Saratoga and Churchill Downs. His future was very promising until he just stopped running. He was visited by top veterinarians along the east coast but to no avail.
Even though Just Ben’s racing career may have ended, this is where Clayton Wilbers story began at my farm with this amazing horse. After looking at Just Ben, worth saving and certainly loved, Clayton Wilber discovered he had an encapsulated necrotic form of white line in his right hoof. We were in for a battle.
Clayton looked at me and said, “We have a long road, but I can save this horse.”
He went to work. Extensive resection and great advice we recovered to give Just Ben his second career as a hunter/jumper.
Clayton goes beyond the role of a farrier. He has had to deliver bad news and he always took the reins for the solution. I owe my horse’s life to him. As I have told him many a time as he began to drive down the driveway from the farm, smiling and always with an uplifting attitude after being under horses all day, “Clayton, I never feel as if I can do enough for you and Teri.” (Teri is his amazing wife and office manager). He always looks back and says, “You just did.” Him working on this horse is, I'm certain, only a minute part of his day but he makes you feel as if you’re the only customer. I’ve never seen him rushed, and have never seen him worried. Who can ask for a better farrier than that? If you see this, Clayton and Teri, thank you again from the bottom of my heart and Ben’s too. As you know, he has a big one.
— Shelly Taylor (Christmas, Florida)
I wish to recognize Clayton Wilber from Florida Farrier Service. Clayton has been shoeing my horses for over 10 years. I also have several friends and trainers who trust Clayton with the well-being of their horses’ hooves.
My horses have difficult feet to maintain. They are show horses and must always be perfect! Clayton always has a solution to whatever problem they might be having. He has so much knowledge and experience, is always up on the latest techniques and is ready to put them to use in order to help a horse move better or just be more comfortable and healthy-footed! He is so talented that he is now working with equine podiatrists. I have seen pictures and heard stories of horses that would have been put down if not for his dedication, patience, knowledge and determination. I’ve seen him do hospital plates and handmade special shoes that have kept horses alive and sound. Go take a look for yourself on the Florida Farrier Service page on Facebook.
I am proud to have him as my farrier! We rode to a World Championship under his care! I will be forever grateful to all he has done for my boys! I’m sure his clients all feel the same way! He definitely deserves a moment in the spotlight!
— Michele Franz (Geneva, Florida)
Clayton feels there is always a way to fix a problem. He goes out of his way for emergencies, sometimes traveling over an hour just to put a shoe back on. He does his job because he cares. We have had horses for 35 years and he is the best farrier we have ever had.
— Bryan Callahan (Cocoa, Florida)
I was referred to Clayton Wilber by a well-respected veterinarian who travels from Maine to West Palm and was an Olympic Dressage Veterinarian in Spain. My horse at the time had torn his deep suspensory ligament. Clayton was able to help him heal. I was impressed with his knowledge, ability and patience with a heartbroken woman. Clayton has been my blacksmith for around 10 years. He comes when he is scheduled, and calls if he is ill or delayed. He brings an apprentice with him and educates both of us with interesting stories and patience. Clayton is often called to work on foundered horses, and does large barns with champion horses, but still comes to shoe my single-trail horse. He has helped me keep my 24-year-old mare able to keep going. Clayton is a credit to his profession by educating owners and helping horses stay usable and educating the next generation of farriers.
— Louisa Killian (Melbourne, Florida)
You see a farrier become part of your family when they are with you from the start of your horse adventures. My relationship with my farrier, Clayton Wilber, goes a little deeper. I was a little girl dancing on his toes at his wedding. He stuck with me through all my horse adventures, through good times and bad.
When our mare ripped her hoof almost all the way off in a trailer, he met me at the house, family in tow, in the rain, to look at her. He followed up with phone calls and check-ups until she made a full recovery.
He never complained about my pain-in-the-butt mares who were lazy or had bad habits. Just ask him; Annie was his least favorite.
When my husband was injured and hospitalized, he didn’t even ask about appointments. I came home and it was done, never saw a bill or complaint. He did this for months to help my family.
When I lost my gelding, he sent a card in the mail as a condolence for our loss, not his. You see, our farrier never saw us as a job. We were family. Our horses were his horses. Our troubles were his troubles.
— Ashley Holl (St. Cloud, Florida)
Clayton is truly passionate about the wellbeing of our horses. He never rushes through his work. It’s not 
about the money to him. He genuinely wants to give the horse the best set of hooves, whether by assisting in improving the horse’s performance or assisting in healing a hoof injury. Clayton gives every client 120%, and I thank my lucky stars to have him as a farrier!
— DeAnna Crisafulli (Cocoa, Florida)
Clayton was highly recommended to me over 8 years ago and, in the time I have known him, he has always acted with integrity and professionalism. His greatest concern is for the horses and he strives to always bring his A-game, nothing less!
— Jalane Speer (Oviedo, Florida)
Clayton Wilber has been my farrier for many years now. He is the best! Before Clayton, I had farriers that left long toes, short toes and even lamed my horses and argued about it!
Clayton is knowledgeable, meticulous and kind! He is kind to his clients, his assistants and the horses! I always look forward to his visits: I learn so much about horse/hoof anatomy.
When he gets a new assistant, they don’t know much in the beginning — but in very little time, they get better and better. He always double-checks their work because the hoof has to be the best for the horse! And vets love to work with him too. Clayton is everything a farrier should be!
— Lyssa Braga (Chuluota, Florida)
I am grateful to have Clayton Wilber as my farrier. His passion and dedication can be seen in his work. He is always willing to explain what he is doing with the horse and why. I have always had an interest in shoeing horses and Clayton is always willing to teach me about what he does, from how to hold the foot to how to use the different tools to get the correct trim. He is always educating himself so he can do the best work possible. I would not want anyone else as my farrier!
— Tanya Nicholls (Orlando, Florida)
Lester Yoder (Olmstead Township, Ohio)
Lester is one awesome farrier! I can say this with all honesty, as my husband and I have had numerous farriers for our horses these past 25 years. Les is always on time, returns texts or phone calls promptly and has the best interest of our horses in mind, regardless of their hoof issues. I often refer to Les as our equine podiatrist, especially watching him work on my laminitis-prone mare. He shares his knowledge and farrier advice with a smile and helpful suggestions. His modern accounting practices make it easy for his customers to keep track of costs and appointments. I'm also impressed that Lester continuously adds to his expertise through frequent classes and seminars. Lester receives my highest commendations.
—Kathy McCollum (Olmsted Township, Ohio)