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Farrier,
Instructor, Author, Trainer, Clinician and Lecturer.
Past member of the UC Davis VMTH Farrier Staff, one of the
first 100 members of the American Farriers Association with
over 40 years experience that has invested his life into the
horse industry.
·
1971
to 1973. Military
service in the United States Air Force.
This time allowed me to work into a mid-management
position that gave me the skills of people management,
interaction of the various levels of management and overall
training in the development of the acceptance of a
responsible position. Honorably
discharged as a Sergeant with all of the benefits and
honors.
·
1973
to 1977. Return
to family owned/run Arabian horse breeding farm.
This was a mid-sized operation for the time of the
industry. There
were up to 100 brood mares, four stallions and a show string
of ten at any given time.
There were up to between 60 and 70 foals produced
each and every year. Total
immersion into this environment enabled me to hone all of my
skills as a horseman. There
was not an area that I was not involved in, those areas
were; the mare care, the stallion handling, foaling of
mares, training of young stock (from initial introduction to
advanced finished show training), minor medical training
from veterinarians and the management of a balanced and
proper nutritional programs for all stages of the lives of
the equine stock. It
was also during this time that there was influence and
development of my farrier skills through the guidance of Mr.
Gene Overnick, the creator of the “Natural Balance
Program”. It
was through his knowledge and training that allowed me to
aid in the correction and maintenance of horses that needed
to be continually used and do not have the time frame to be
placed in a “lay-up” program.
By implementing and learning these techniques it
allowed our junior stallion to continue to show to the
national competitive level and at the same time start a
correction program that allowed the horse to be both active
and productive. The
program also allowed for total completion of the correction
program one that the show season was completed and there
were not the time constraints.
·
1977
to 1978. Attendance
at University of Montana’s Farrier Skills Class.
This class was taught by Mr. Scott Simpson who was
one of the founders of the American Farrier’s Association
as well as an inductee into the Farrier Hall of Fame.
In addition, Mr. Scott Simpson was the creator of the
testing system used by the American Farrier’s Association
to this date. This
was one of the most complete and detailed classes of its
time. One of
the few that was operated in a university atmosphere.
· 1978
to 1980. Offered
a professional training position with Chancey Arabians in
Scottsdale, AZ. This
position was declined for the reason that I felt that the
pursuit of a farrier career was the path for me to follow,
so at this time I did move to Las Vegas, NV and
start
my professional public farrier business.
Upon moving to Las Vegas, NV. I was introduced and
did work with the following veterinarian doctors;
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The
clinic of Scott, Huff and Lamb.
In this clinic was Dr. Richard Scott, DVM, Dr.
Jerry Huff, DVM and Dr. Garth Lamb, DVM.
This was the largest large animal clinic within
that part of the state of Nevada and allowed me to be
introduced to many opportunities to hone and perfect my
corrective and specialized skills.
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The
clinic of Dr. Bob Clark, DVM.
Dr. Clark was the longest established
veterinarian in this part of the state.
His expertise was in the area of lameness and
correction of lameness.
It was through his initial guidance that I was
introduced to the specialized competitive areas of horse
racing, hunter/jumpers and cutting horses to mention
just a few. There
were many specialized techniques that I did learn from
my contact with Dr. Clark that I use to this very day.
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The
clinic of Dr. Dean Essex, DVM.
Dr. Essex was another specialist in the area of
equine lameness, their detection and correction. Dr.
Essex was a major force in my advancing into the area of
corrective and correct farrier work.
It was through the following of his research and
implementation of the findings of that research that I
was able to start how the whole horse worked with itself
and started me to realize that there was a reaction for
any and all actions that you did perform in the farrier
process.
Accounts
serviced on a regular basis throughout the area of southern
Nevada did include the following; Arabian Horses, National
Show Horses, Tennessee Walking Horses, Quarter Horses,
Appaloosa Horses, etc.
Additionally,
disciplines that were serviced at that time started to
expand into specialized areas and did include the following;
English pleasure, western pleasure, hunter/jumper,
dressage, cutting, reining, driving as well as many other
performance disciplines.
Further
areas of concentration allowed me to be the farrier for any
and all horse shows that were held in the Las Vegas area.
These did include AHSA sanctioned shows, Dressage
meets, hunter/jumper competitions, cuttings (such as the
Tropicana Hotel Sponsored cutting), etc.
The
final area of involvement and understanding of the movement
and operation of the equine body came through my involvement
with a select number of young unbroken stock and progressing
them through a training process that allowed them much more
flexation and allowed me to start a limited research program
that showed progression of my farrier techniques.
· 1980.
Time
taken to help family move Arabian breeding operation to the
state of Oklahoma. During
this process I did start to go to the Quarter Horse Race
Track located in Sallisaw, OK and started to gain knowledge
in the specialized area of Quarter Horse racing.
Additional experience was gained when I was
introduced to Dr. Hamm, DVM of Fayetteville, AR when one of
our fillies had tendon problems.
Dr. Hamm was instructional and informative in the
area of the equine leg and its overall care.
My contact with Dr. Hamm allowed me to become much
more informative in reference to a proper development and
maintenance program for younger horses.
· 1981
to 1983.
Move
to Canada to gain knowledge in the area of racehorses,
hunter/jumpers and dressage.
Upon seeing that this was a major influx
(hunter/jumper and dressage) into the horse industry.
I felt that I needed the best training that I could
get in this specialized area.
I went to Canada since there were many farriers from
countries that had much more experience in the specialized
areas that I was looking to learn about.
I learned from the Irish farriers while licensed and
working on the Vancouver, B.C., racetrack and training
farms. I
learned from the English about hunter/jumpers and dressage.
In fact I did meet and learn from Bob Marshall, Sr.,
a fourth-generation English trained farrier.
It was under the guidance of Mr. Bob Marshall, Sr.,
that many of my present day forging techniques are practiced
to this day. During
this time I did work with and become a back-up farrier for
Mr. Kevin White, who was the team farrier for the Canadian
Olympic Equestrian Team.
Mr. Kevin White was instrumental in the refinement of
my technique that is used in the shoeing of both dressage
and jump horses. While
in Canada I did test and receive a blacksmith license for
the Province of British Columbia Racing Commission for both
thoroughbred and standardbred race tracks.
I was also licensed for the entire country of Canada
for the shoeing of standardbred horses at trotters and
pacers racetracks.
·
1984 to 1988.
This is when I returned to Las Vegas, NV.
Returning to Las Vegas, NV. allowed me to
re-establish my public farrier business and continue to
service my prior accounts, resume the duties of the show
farrier for the area and pursue my involvement in the area
of equine corrective farrier work.
I did resume my business relationships with the
existing clinics within the Las Vegas, NV. Area.
It was at this time that Dr. Richard Scott, DVM did
retire from his clinic and move his thoroughbred breeding
farm to Oregon and accept a teaching position with the
University of Oregon at Corvallis, OR.
I was also requested to attend the Los Angeles, CA
Olympics and be part of the farrier contingent, but due to
time constraints I could not attend.
Also that year I was asked to be the farrier for the
National Finals Rodeo but declined due to my client base
would not allow me to give it the attention that it
required.
·
1988.
Due to the massive expansion that was starting to
happen in the southern Nevada area, a great movement started
to re-locate to southern California.
We went with the people that chose to re-locate to
southern California. The
workload was basically the same as in Nevada, except there
were additional areas to explore and refine within the
farrier trade. It
was during this timeframe that the expansion into the areas
of world-class competitive gaited horse began to happen.
The world of the gaited horse farriers is a closed
and select group and in order to become involved you must be
invited in. This
is what happened to me, I was asked to become involved with
the Tennessee Walking horses at that level.
I shod for;
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Jim
and Pat Fox, Pat Fox has been a top competitor as both a
non-pro and professional trainer.
She is presently a carded judge for the Tennessee
Walking Horse breed.
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Russ
Thompson Training Stable.
The most winning trainer in the nation (at that
time) for the Tennessee Walking Horse breed.
Holder of many National and World Championships.
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Golden
West Training Stable.
The largest and most influential Tennessee
Walking Horse farm on the west coat of the United
States. Holders
of many National and World Championships.
It was at this time that I did start my teaching and seminar
process. My
first presentations were given at the Women’s Jockey
Association Training School, located in Hemet, CA.
I also did test and receive my California Race Track
License for the farrier trade at this time.
I shod for many of the lay-up and training farms that
were located in Hemet, CA.
I was requested to come in and do mostly corrective
work that was necessary for the progression of the lay-up
programs that were implemented by various veterinarians.
· 1989.
This is when I wrote my first book “Legs …
their needs and their function”.
My customers had been after me to write a book in
plain everyday English that would explain to them how the
foot did work and what went on when a horse took a step.
The largest book distributor of equine books in the
western United States distributed the book.
Distribution was into all parts of the United States,
Canada and Australia. The
book distributor eventually bought the rights to that book
and two others that I have completed and distributed.
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1991
to 1996.
This was a time that required us to move to
southern Oregon. My
mother was quite ill from heart disease and was in need
of a second by-pass surgery.
The move was to aid in her recovery and help look
after her during that time.
Also during this time I did continue to maintain
a public farrier business.
One that did specialize in competitive and
corrective farrier work.
The area covered was quite large due to the
select nature of my business and the fewer number of top
competitors within that area.
Area covered was from northern California to
southern Washington State.
Once that the responsibility with my mother was
completed and our last child had graduated and selected
their career, the decision was made to return to
California and be able to travel less and pursue my
select area of the farrier trade.
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1997
to 2000.
The area selected was that of northern California
and specifically the counties of Marin, Sonoma and Napa.
This was an area that did allow me to be home
each evening and there was a definite need for someone
with both my talents and experience.
While in this area of the United States I have
worked for and with Dr. Wheat, DVM, Dr. Scott Sims, DVM
and various other veterinarian clinics in the areas of
Napa, Sonoma and Marin Counties.
This is also the time that the “Balanced Stride
Program” was finalized and developed into the complete
and detailed program that it is today.
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2001.
I
have continued to work on world-class competitive
horses, perfect the "Balanced Stride Program"
and did received a position with the UC Davis VMTH as a
member of the farrier staff as a relief supervisor for
the farrier shop.
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2003.
Continuing to service existing client base on a
regular basis and the writing of the book titled "Natural
Movement Through Balance and Motion" explaining
the need to be allow horses to operate naturally and
what it takes to get them into balance and keep them
there so that they can operate at their peak efficiency.
This book has become the guiding
force to move onto the next level of my development.
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2005.
The development of an educational program call
"Ground School for Horse Owners". This is a
complete program that gives the horse owner of today to
advantage of the many years of experience and knowledge
that I have accumulated throughout my entire horse
industry career. During the year of 2005 I was filmed by
a California based informational television program
called "California Country" that highlighted
my abilities and my knowledge. That particular program
has been shown a number of times throughout the year on
syndicated television stations and aired on satellite
based RFDTV as well.
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2005.
Attendance at "Equine Chiropractic Methods and Clinical
Applications" in Bakersfield, CA September 2005. Given
by Daniel Kamen, DC, Certified Animal Chiropractor.
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2006.
Attendance at Western States Horse Expo held in
Sacramento, CA June 9th, 10th and 11th as a vendor with
an educational booth. Started the process of bringing my
educational programs; the "Balanced Stride
Program" and "Ground School for Horse
Owners" to a greater number of horse owners and
interested parties.
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