Farrier Doug Figgs of Lemitar, N.M., has been nominated for the International Western Music Association male performer of the year and entertainer of the year awards, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The awards ceremony took place during the annual convention on Nov. 7-11, 2018 at the Hotel Albuquerque.

Horses have been a staple in Kirk Smith’s life long before he started shoeing horses in Freeville, N.Y.

He always had horses while growing up in the small farming town of Clark in northeastern South Dakota. He cut his teeth working cattle part-time as a high school student and later during his summer breaks while attending Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Along the way, he broke and trained horses.

Uncle Sam is spreading a little Christmas cheer by stuffing the equine industry's stocking with tax breaks.