Earlier in my life, I tried different ways to have a profession that involved horses. I realized I wanted to make my living under horses rather than on them. From 1994 to 2007, I was on-and-off shoeing full-time or part-time. For some time, I worked second shift and still handle more than 200 head of horses.

Looking back to my approach to shoeing back then, I would say that I was an applicator. I would think of specific shoes as specific uses, not considering anatomy and other variables that go into what we decide is best for the horse. That was just the approach to shoeing that the farriers I came up with took on. For example, if I needed a bar shoe, I wouldn’t forge it. I would trace the foot to make a template and cut out a plate, cut out what I didn’t need, punch nail holes and nail it on.

In 2007, I decided to go back to shoeing full-time. I was never passionate about the corporate world like I was for being a farrier. I started going to more clinics and found a great mentor, but my style of shoeing didn’t change going full-time. I built my rig on the model of buying products that I thought I needed. I financed a trailer — which wasn’t the best idea — and used my business line of credit to fill it with supplies.

It really was a rolling supply shop. I wanted to be prepared for…