William Arthur Ward once said, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

As we turn the page to November, Olympia Farrier Supply’s owners and customers are giving thanks to one another, but it’s not a one-time, seasonal expression. A familial bond has formed between Ken and Maxine Floyd and their hoof-care patrons.

The bond is being recognized this month with Olympia Farrier Supply being named the inaugural American Farriers Journal Supply Shop of the Year (please see “Olympia Farrier Supply Earns Inaugural Supply Shop of the Year ” ).

More Than a Supply Shop

“Ken’s like the dad pushing you to do well in sports and Max is the mom who’s there to support you,” says Nick Henry, a Gig Harbor, Wash., farrier. “It’s insane how much work those two put in for the community. I don’t know how they do it, how they have time to do it and run a business and a shop.”

When the Floyd’s aren’t running their supply shop, they’re likely supporting their local farrier community — preparing for a leg of the Farriers Association of Washington State Triple Crown, lining up a ride along between a young farrier and a potential mentor, or encouraging a customer to take a chance on themselves by competing or attending a clinic.

“They know enough about all the farriers in the area that if you’re struggling, they can say, ‘Why don’t you ride with so-and-so?” says April Wolf, a Tenino, Wash., farrier. “They also follow who’s new in the business. I got a lot of referrals from them when I was building my business. They keep a board with all of our names and try to keep up with who’s taking clients and who’s not taking clients. In any aspect, if you need support, if you need anything from this business, they’re going to know a way to help you get there.”

A Whole New Book

Henry has walked a mile or two in those shoes. A little more than 3 years ago, he was struggling to find a foothold, and Ken helped him secure it.

“He was fresh out of school, trying to get going,” he recalls. “I said, ‘What you need to do is come to these competitions.’ The hard part about the word competition is they think somebody’s going to be standing over them or critiquing them. It took quite a while to get him past that. Once he showed up, it opened up a whole new book to him. He’s doing really well now.”

Their support doesn’t simply fade at the close of business. It runs much deeper.

“They are just good, wholesome people,” Henry says. Everything about them screams great, just genuine. He texts me late at night asking, ‘How’s the wife and kids? How’s this going? How’s that going?’ Whatever it may be, he’s always checking up on you — not just for the farrier stuff. Make that bond with him and he’s there.

“I went down for forging practice one day, and his daughter was sitting there and he was like, ‘This is your brother. You’ve never met him.’ She says, ‘I’ve heard a lot about you.’ I don’t know, it’s just a cool feeling.”

The presents have been given and gratitude abounds in the Puget Sound farrier community.