Bill O'Neill

I own three rescued racehorses, and my former blacksmith, Bill O’Neill, did my shoeing for eight or nine years. Much to my dismay, he has moved away from Illinois to South Carolina, the reason he is no longer my blacksmith. I hope that people will read this piece and see what a fine blacksmith he is.

When thoroughbreds finish their racing careers, their monetary value decreases, but they are deserving of new careers or retirement. Some are more deserving than others. Before I acquired him, my big chestnut gelding raced — and raced often — until he was eleven. He won many of those races and almost $600,000 in earnings. His legs had the crooked confirmation he inherited from Mr. Prospector, and on those limbs he traveled many miles in service to owners and trainers. When he needed to retire, he was fortunate to find a home turned out in pasture with other geldings. He didn't have much to offer any more, repeated suspensory injuries and twice bowed tendons saw to that.

However, besides a new owner he had a blacksmith who was on his side and was willing to work on a "worthless" horse. Bill O'Neill is first class; a Certified Journeyman Farrier who has worked on high level show horses and traveled the country shoeing dressage horses. He was, however, willing to work on old "twisted legs" when his hoof condition drastically deteriorated.

The gelding had been barefoot for years, but his right front hoof on his most crooked leg was breaking down, as was his suspensory system. The inside wall of the hoof was upright and crushing badly. The outside wall was all flare. Blacksmith and owner agreed that a gradual, balanced trim and shoeing might help.

Balance is the most important consideration when trimming, and O'Neill's goal is not to create a perfect foot on an imperfect limb, but to match the imperfection. Too often farriers make changes without regard to conformation, but Bill believes that a seasoned farrier looks at the hoof in relation to the horse's conformation and trims according to what he sees. One cannot teach this talent; it is a skill acquired over time and with thousands of horses trimmed and shod.

Over the course of six months and four shoeing sessions, the hoof improved and looked healthy and normal.

Many busy blacksmiths might not have wasted their time on such a project, but in Bill’s mind, the 23-year-old gelding was worth his time, effort and skill. The horse continues to love his life and his equine friends, and has a few good years ahead of him because Bill O'Neill is more than a great blacksmith; he is a good man.

— Meredith Tucker
(Iverness, Ill.)