Keep it simple. It’s a popular adage, particularly among farriers.

Ironically enough, keeping it simple isn’t really simple at all. Simplicity is the result of organization, tough choices and hard work. Yet, once it’s achieved, the rewards are plentiful.

Kyle Crawford is like so
many people — he prefers to keep things simple.

“You’re going to be bored,” he says, “if you expect anything exotic
from me.”

What sets the Lawson, Mo., farrier apart is the fact that he succeeds in keeping it simple while others hope to do so, yet make little or no progress.

8:58 a.m. It’s a chilly morning in late February when we arrive at a barn on the north side of Kansas City, Mo., owned by Lorna Fogg. It’s the first of three stops today, all of which are within 5 miles of one another.

Crawford drives his blue Dodge Ram 2500 pickup to the gate and hops out to unlock it. He swings the gate open and makes his way back. As Crawford climbs into the truck, good ol’ Murphy enacts a mild form of his infamous law and slowly swings the gate shut. The mild-mannered farrier chuckles as he sets out to take a second shot at the task, which goes off without a hitch.