When Miriam “Meg” Thayer Oliver first went looking for a women’s horseshoeing organization back in 2001, she couldn’t find one.

“At the time, I had been out in the shoeing world for 10 years,” she recalls. “Surrounded mostly by men in my trade of choice, I wanted the camaraderie that a women’s group would provide. There was no such group! I was astonished.”

So the Acton, Calif., farrier started her own.

The Sisterhood of Shoers was born in October, 2001, with the first member other than Oliver joining 2 months later. There are now 10 members from eight states. Oliver set up the Sisterhood as a non-profit cooperation, had a logo designed and had a friend launch a Web site. The Sisterhood’s mission statement is, “To provide the format and opportunity for female farriers to meet each other and share ideas.”  

Oliver believes there are a number of reasons that women shoers need their own organization.

“As anyone can imagine, women must approach the art and trade of horseshoeing differently than our male counterparts,” she says. “Heading a business is also somewhat different for women. Our association attempts to provide as many ways as possible to support, educate and encourage each other.”

While the Sisterhood is small at this point, Oliver indicates it has ambitious plans.

“A deal is in the works to provide low-cost group health and liability insurance for each of our members,” she says. “We also plan to incorporate a vacation plan so each of us can…