When I was young and my dad was working in town during the day and shoeing horses after work, I would beg my mom to let me go with Dad on school nights. The very first horse I ever trimmed was my own mini when I was 12. I put on my first set of shoes on my own horse when I was in the 7th grade. In high school I started riding with my dad in the summertime, learning and earning money. I went to college, bound and determined to never shoe horses, except for myself. I then decided college was not for me. I left that behind and took a gap year to attempt to figure out what I wanted to do. In this time, I continued to help Dad, bought an equine cryotherapy machine, and decided to go to shoeing school. I graduated from shoeing school in May 2025. I am a 5th generation farrier now.
My #1 mentor is, of course, my dad. He has taught me so much and has continued to encourage me to learn more and do more. Colton Thornton, an instructor at Oklahoma Horseshoeing School (OHS), took the time to teach me different techniques. Colton was very reassuring during the difficult moments at school. He taught me that it was OK to walk away for a minute to regain my composure.
My immediate family is just me and my two dogs, Nash & June. Of course I have my parents close by, and my sisters. I work a lot because I decided to buy a house and I am excessively expensive. I waitress on the weekends and work a few days a week at Kwik Star. Along with shoeing, I give riding lessons in the summer and do cryotherapy. I do still find time to ride my own horses & rodeo.
My best experience shoeing, so far, was a client’s horse with a previously torn tendon with low angles that needed a special shoe. I didn’t want to put on a bar shoe, so I made a modified wedge shoe. This horse is now sounder and happier than before his injury.
My second day at shoeing school may have been my worst experience. I was assigned to an old red mare. I fought that mare all day. At one point she jerked her foot out of my hand with a nail partially driven in the hoof and it caught my index finger. It sliced the last 1/3 of my finger wide open. After I got my finger glued back together and bandaged, I was finishing her last front foot and the old red mare decided to take a bite out of my shoulder.
What I like most about being a farrier is seeing horses feel better and their owners be so excited to have their horse feel better and move better. I enjoy working on my own schedule and providing for myself. What I dislike the most about shoeing is bad standing horses and the cold weather.
The number one lesson I have learned is to have patience. It is okay to step away and take a moment to have a moment. Some advice I would give to new farriers is to ask a lot of questions. There is no such thing as too many questions. Also never stop learning because we will never know it all.
I began attending IPFA events with my dad when I was probably 12 years old. It fired up my passion for the horse, their anatomy and their feet. I was able to learn so much, so young, that I find has served me well, even before I became a member. It has also introduced me to a great group of people who have supported me and encouraged me to become a farrier. Thank you, Brandon Kucera and Keith Boll, for always being in my corner!