Switching careers at the age of 50 is not a standard practice, especially for a skilled farrier who has been shoeing horses since the age of 13.

 On August 25, 2001, Mike DeLeonardo checked his e-mail from his Salinas, Calif., home and opened a message simply entitled “Advice.”

 In a recent issue of American Farriers Journal (July/Aug., 2002), Managing Editor Pat Tearney wrote that theories on hoof-care need to be put to the scientific test.

 There's more to being a racetrack farrier than being able to shoe a horse for maximum speed and performance.