News & Events

Travels - Danny Ward Clinic

Travels - Danny Ward Clinic

It was such an honor to do Danny Ward’s clinic in November. To see the great man again always makes me smile. I have missed the last few years where I was able to see him at the Summit and the AFA Convention every year. I’ve been to the clinic a few times over the years and luckily this year Kelly went with me, and we had a fantastic time.
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Travels - Mustad Factory

Travels - Mustad Factory

Kelly and I are just back from Colombia, and it was an incredible trip. We did clinics in three cities and met over 300 Colombian farriers. To say it was inspirational would not do it justice.
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HHS Diaries - Second Session Start

HHS Diaries - Second Session Start

There is no doubt that the Heartland is a life changing place.  It has been amazing to have been doing this for over 20 years now, and seeing how the...
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HHS Diaries - An Update

HHS Diaries - An Update

We are already finishing the 5th week.  The current Practical Farrier Course students have around 16 days after today to get their projects all done, pass their final horses, and absorb enough knowledge to pass their final written tests.  I feel a bit overwhelmed for them.  But, I have seen it happen year after year, and those that are meant to make it will rise to the challenge.  We set unrealistic expectations for these folks, and the fully expect them to achieve them.
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HHS Diaries - Farrier Suppliers

HHS Diaries - Farrier Suppliers

If you shoe horses, you need supplies.  Even for those that do as much of their own shoe building as possible, you still have to have nails, rasps, nippers, hammers, etc.  There are many places to get those supplies around the country, but they are not all created equal.  With that in mind, I thought I would share my thoughts on some of the farrier supply companies out there.
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HHS Diaries - Almost Over

HHS Diaries - Almost Over

It is not often that we are able to get it all exactly right. In this last 8 weeks, the ratio of horses to shop to class time has been perfect. It seems like there are always too many horses to do, which makes it hard to get all of the other stuff done. However, this group of seniors combined with the newbies is unstoppable. They are able to get done with everything I throw at them, so it has been a great last class. The entire junior class passed their anatomy test. That is a very rare occurrence. Make me proud.
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A Thank You

A Thank You

Those of you that know me are aware that I was a hold out from the internet for a long time. I finally decided I had to embrace it, but I only learned just enough to make myself dangerous. (Like a lot of our customers that read something by a barefooter.) At any rate, I had a website made, and it became part of what was on the FHRC. I thought that I owned it, and www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com was mine and safe. Little did I know that the domain name was owned by FHRC.
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HHS Diaries - Summer Break

HHS Diaries - Summer Break

We always close the school in July. There is the World Champion Blacksmiths Competition in Calgary. It was fantastic this year, and one of the toughest fields of farriers that I have ever seen. Then, I spent a week with Jacquelyn at the International Youth Finals Rodeo in Shawnee, OK. Finally home and getting ready for the upcoming clinics. At the end of the month, Walter Varcoe is coming from New York to assemble an articulated equine skeleton.
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HHS Diaries - Halfway There

HHS Diaries - Halfway There

This is the 4th week of the Practical Farrier Course, and the 12th week for the Journeyman Farrier Course. Hard to believe how fast it is going. I have spoken to more graduates and friends this week than I have for years after the Joplin disaster. Those folks are all in our thoughts and prayers, but the school was safe and sound.
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HHS Diaries - Week 8

HHS Diaries - Week 8

Week 7 is behind us, and it was quite a week.  On Tuesday, Kelly got her foot smashed by a bad horse and broke her 2nd and 3rd metatarsal.  It happened just before noon on a day when the class did 44 head of horses.  She continued to work on horses the rest of the day, and was finally treated at around 8 that night.
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HHS Diaries - Week 5

HHS Diaries - Week 5

As summer gets closer, the students continue to improve.  Rachael, an Australian student, has actually passed her final horse on the first attempt.  In 19 years of teaching, that has only happened on a very few occasions.  It has been great to see the advancement of many of these students as they get closer to becoming farriers.
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HHS Diaries - 4 Weeks In

HHS Diaries - 4 Weeks In

It is hard to imagine, but we are now 4 weeks into our 24 week season.  The weather has been crazy, to say the least, and the students have come on like no one would believe.
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HHS Diaries - New Things

HHS Diaries - New Things

Thanks for coming to the site.  I am taking over the reins of running this site, and I hope to do a little blogging.  Over the last 16 months or so, I have spent any additional time working on Gregory’s Textbook of Farriery, so maybe I can donate some of those hours to this website.  Anyone who has any questions that they would like me to address, please don’t hesitate to ask.
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Why Become a Farrier?

Why Become a Farrier?

This is a trade like no other that we know of.  You will find farriers that have shod horses for a living for 30 plus years, yet they still have a love and desire to get up every day and shoe another horse.  Some travel around the world to pay for the fun of shoeing a horse at a contest.  For many, shoeing horses is not what they do, but who they are.  Chris is famous for asking, “Do you know what I like about shoeing horses?”  The answer he gives is, “Everything!”
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A Typical Week at HHS

A Typical Week at HHS

    Monday, Tuesday and Friday are usually spent in the field, shoeing horses at neighboring farms and horse ranches.  Wednesday is generally spent at the school doing horses that...
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