Farriers, like everyone else in the United States, have been affected by the terrorists attacks of Sept. 11, but probably few to the extent of Steve Hardy and Allen Carpenter.

Shoeing For America 

After the terrorist attacks, Carpenter decided to donate one day’s total shoeing income to charities for the victims.

The shoer at Van Alstyne, Texas, selected Sept. 20 and challenged other farriers to do the same. He got the word out with e-mail messages, a posting on the Farrier’s Forum on the American Farriers Journal Web site, this magazine’s e-mail “Shoeing Tip Of The Week,” other Web sites and by phone.

His day’s shoeing income totalled $350 that he donated to a fund set up for the children of New York City firemen. The $350 actually turned into $700 as the company where Carpenter’s wife works matched employee contributions.

“With your help, we had a great turnout,” he says. “I did not think it would get that big, but it just kept growing and I was flooded with phone calls and e-mails.

“I know for sure that more than $30,000 was contributed by farriers who sent in a day’s income. Plus, I’m sure thousands more were donated that I don’t even know about.

Carpenter had no idea that his “Shoeing For America” idea would take off like it did. “I tried to think of something to do to help the victims and this is what I came up with,” he says. “I want to send a big thank…