MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Aaron DeFord, CF
I grew up as the 7th child in a family of eight; four boys and four girls. My father is a pastor of a small church in Des Moines. I grew up on the south side of Des Moines on the busiest intersection in Des Moines. I really didn’t have any exposure to horses growing up in the city, but I was drawn to them very strongly. I would read lots of books and watch movies about horses, always dreaming that I could own one or at least ride one!
My family started a yearly tradition of vacationing in Colorado where we would stay right by a dude ranch. I was in heaven every time we went, and I would spend hours watching, petting, and feeding the horses little bits of grass from my side of the fence. Eventually I got tired of waiting once a year to see and be around horses, so I asked my parents if I could take horseback riding lessons. They said yes, but that I would have to work to earn the money to pay for them (of course somehow my sisters’ music lessons were always covered at my parents expense, go figure). And that started me down the road of my horseshoeing journey.
I was asked one day by my riding instructor if I would be interested in farriering. I was 14 at the time and at that age was beginning to wonder what I would be when I graduated high school. My father had always encouraged my brothers and I to pursue the trades, so I figured it was something my father would approve of. I didn’t know of any farriers that would teach me, so I assumed I would have to pursue horseshoeing school. I started praying that God would bring a good farrier into my life to get me started down this career path if it was His will that I do this kind of work. One of my old riding instructors got wind of my interest in farriering and said I should come watch her farrier for a day or two. He was a farrier from Arthur, Illinois, by the name of Kevin Schlabach. On my first day of watching Kevin, he put me under an old arthritic gelding who needed a trim. I was surprised that he would do that. “Aren’t you worried that I’d lame this horse if I make a mistake?” I asked. Turns out I couldn’t go wrong, the old horse had such long feet and was going to be put down the next week.
After my two days with Kevin, I ordered some books on hoof care. Kevin said I should study anatomy and pathologies. He also told me that if I was serious about being a farrier, I should little by little start purchasing tools. Wow! I wondered how do these guys afford these tools! Goodbye riding lessons!
Finally there came a day when Kevin said, “You know, I’m not the only farrier you should be learning from and I feel like you need to be around normal, solid, everyday shoeing instead of Saddlebred shoeing.” That’s when I got introduced to Keith Boll, CF, who I attribute much of my education to. He grounded me in really solid shoeing and trimming basics and introduced me to the most important group of farriers in my life; the IPFA. Through the IPFA, I have met and been influenced by many outstanding farriers, Cale Danielson, CJF, Andrew Kempf, CJF, TE, Kenneth Schrock, CF, Kevin Bucknell, CJF, and most importantly, Doug Russo, CJF, AWCF.
Keith Boll had said I should pursue certification through the AFA and Doug Russo and Andrew Kempf were the best coaches to have in my corner in preparing me for that! In 2023 I passed my CF written and shoe board, and in 2024, I passed my practical making me a CF. This past spring, I passed my CJF written and bar shoe and I will hopefully pass my horse this coming spring. The whole certification process has taught me so much, and I continue to learn more every day.
Throughout the last five years, I have always prayed that the Lord would grow my business and make me a better farrier every day. He’s answered my prayers. Everyday I seem to learn something new and every time I get together with another farrier, or go to a clinic, or fail to pass a certification test, I’m challenged to improve! He has brought many farriers and opportunities that I have not even named into my life. Every tool or skill I own was taught or practically given to me by another farrier. I have been given such great clients and horses to work on! Yes, they stress me out some days and it makes me question why I’m doing this, but that’s not every day. It’s all worth it! Life is hard, all work is hard, and we’re never promised an easy life. But we can be promised grace and strength from God which has been my rock through these early years of horseshoeing.
Worst part of horseshoeing? Incompetent horse owners. Doug Russo eluded to this in his spotlight article, and he hit the nail right on the head.
Best part of horseshoeing? Working with a beautiful animal who works with you to accomplish your best possible work for him and his owner. I love the days when you put the last foot down and look at the work knowing you did the best you can do on a horse that’s an absolute sweetheart of a horse. You want to give the horse a hug and then when you get tipped by the client an extra 40 bucks, you want to give the client a hug!
My best advice to up and coming farriers is to surround yourself with mentors, ask lots of questions, and strive for excellence! I have so much to learn, but I have to take things one day at a time. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but in this career you are always on a journey. I hope to be on it for a long time. That is if the Lord wills, and I have the back and knees of Jon Urich, CJF.
I don’t exactly have any hobbies, though I try and do some blacksmithing to relax. I spend much time with my family and being outdoors. I just purchased an acreage with a fixer upper on it, so that will probably be my new hobby!
I want to thank everyone in the IPFA for all you’ve done for me and continue to do for me! I hope to continually give back to this great association! I want to thank my parents and my two brothers Austin and Andrew for all the business advice and encouragement they have given me. My father in particular has really kept me on the right path and has instilled in me discipline and a solid work ethic along with honest business practices. And most importantly, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whom I owe everything and seek to glorify in my life.
Aaron DeFord, CF