Anyone who knows me is aware of my extensive library with its collection of horse books that go as far back as Xenophon’s “On Horsemanship,” Gueriniere’s “School of Horsemanship,” Olivereira’s “Reflections on Equestrian Art,” Tom Dorrance’s “True Unity,” Ray Hunt’s “Think Harmony with Horses” and hundreds of others in between and after. Regardless, I have virtually always referred customers to the latter — “True Unity” and “Think Harmony with Horses” to use in their pursuit of horsemanship.

My approach to horsemanship consists of working the horse from the inside out. This involves listening to the horse’s intelligence, observing its behavior, thinking and using finesse. It allows the horse to use its brain to figure its way through a dilemma.

For a farrier, horsemanship isn’t just how to handle the horse — it is about protecting yourself.