When Chuck Potter shows up, he means business. 

“Anything that has a hoof on it, it’s the farrier’s job to take care of,” says the Dakota, Minn., farrier.

Before becoming a farrier, Potter lived quite the exciting life — serving 21 years in the military, many of those years as a Green Beret with the Special Forces and then as a bodyguard in Afghanistan.

Working with animals is similar in that no two jobs are the same.

“The worst part of the job is summertime — just the heat, humidity,” he says. “The flies biting the animals. Wintertime I love because the body temperature of a horse is 101 degrees so when I’m up against them and it’s 10 below I stay plenty warm.”

Being open to trying new things is a big part of why Potter believes he found a job he loves. If you ask him, he’ll most likely tell you it’s all about following your passion.

“With the jobs I’ve had throughout my life, it’s always been about helping people,” Potter says. “In the military to now ... now it’s just moved on to animals.”

A few weeks ago, Chuck was called to an animal rescue involving 14 horses with hooves that appear to have never been trimmed. It’s stuff like this that Potter says makes him mad.

“You have to take care of your animals,” he says.

Another thing that makes Potter mad: People who spend their whole lives doing a job they don’t like.

“You can do whatever you want to do,” he says. “Your life can change. I went from the high school into the Army, switched jobs ... got out and then did bodyguard work. Now I’m a farrier. You can do whatever you want. Just do your best and work hard.”