Lately, it seems that there is more and more vitriol in our society. We’ve all felt it, seen it or experienced it ourselves. Across virtual space — and increasingly in face-to-face interactions — people are quick to generalize, sharply criticize and dehumanize others to make a point.

Regardless of whether you post under your legal name or not, anonymity on the internet no longer exists. However, the assumption of anonymity is enough. I’ve noticed increasingly casual hatred, callousness and apathy in many comment sections I browse.

The internet can be a wonderful tool for learning, bridging divides and leveraging resources that would otherwise be unavailable. Maybe that’s too optimistic a view. Though I don’t have a solution or even a suggestion to mitigate the damage being done, in my own feelings of frustration, I began looking for the little bright spots in otherwise chaotic news cycles.

Some Positive News

First, stepping back in time, U.K. farrier Jarvis Browning becomes a living exhibit for the Green Howards Museum in Northern Yorkshire. It’s titled “Forging History” and is part of their “Animal Allies” exhibition that celebrates horses’ role in historic conflicts and civilian life. The Northern Echo reports that he will give a demonstration for visitors of his “functioning First World War Army farrier’s forge.” Check out this article and videos for a close-up of what a forge would have looked like during WWI.

Besides learning about a bit of history many people aren’t aware of, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate that farriery is a viable career option today and not a relic of a bygone era. This is part of a pattern of increasing focus on the trades in the U.S. More young people are pursuing work that doesn’t require a degree, and well-funded high school shop classes are returning.

As the mikeroweWORKS Foundation puts it, “We’re redefining a good education and a good job, because we don’t think a 4-year degree is the best path for most people. We want people to understand the impact of skilled labor on their lives, and we’re convinced that the solution has to start with a new appreciation for hard work.”

It’s encouraging to see farriery be pushed more frequently into the spotlight. Within the industry, farriers also continue to advocate for each other. Recently, the International Outreach Committee, an arm of the American Farrier’s Association, traveled to Pereira, Colombia, for a certification, the first in the country since 2015.

In much of Latin America, farriery is passed down through generations by word of mouth with minimal structure or standards of care. These are also countries with large numbers of working equids that depend on their feet. The farriers who participated in the certification had some of the highest passing rates the AFA has recorded. Colombia is aiming to set the bar for Latin American farrier education. Read more about this endeavor here.

In India, a university in Ludhiana is partnering with Brooke: India, an equine welfare organization, to establish a farrier education program. A decline in farriery has made horses more susceptible to injury, says The Times of India. Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University aims to provide structured training to farriers where knowledge of horseshoeing is passed down from parent to child and largely unstructured.

At home, Native American farrier Leander Guy Thomas is serving his community by taking over farrier services across the Navajo Nation and Hopi reservation after many older farriers retired. He attended Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School in Ardmore and later participated in Change Labs, a Native-led organization that helps Native American entrepreneurs grow their businesses through resources and community support.

“We like our horses, but we don’t know how to love our horses,” Pascua Yaqui farrier George Goode tells Cronkite News. “Out of all the years and all the reservations in the United States, there are no programs out there teaching our youth — our people who have horses — how to trim and shoe their horses’ feet correctly.”

According to the Native American Horse Education Foundation, started by Goode, “Today, Native Americans continue to revere the horse as a means of transportation, hauling, rodeo competitions and as an essential part of the cattle and sheep industries. As horse use continues to become more sophisticated, it is increasingly important to produce and maintain quality horses.”

Protecting Farriers' Independence

In other positive news, the Model Veterinary Practice Act (MVPA) passed with the farrier exemption after 3 years of delays. Without the exemption, farriers would have been slotted under veterinary medicine “with farriers under the supervision of veterinarians and possibly requiring farrier licensing,” says Unionville, Pa., veterinarian Frank Reilly.

“It’s great news that the exemption stayed in place,” Reilly says. “The independence of farriers as part of the team of professionals helping horses is maintained. No recommendations or requirements for farrier licensing have been added to the 2025 AVMA Model Practice Act. This is a great example of veterinarians and farriers working together to protect horse health.”

Amid a constant barrage of doom and gloom news stories, it’s important to step back and search for the good news every day, too.