This is an interesting conversation with Mike Norris. Mike is a farrier with over 30 years of experience, having started his career in Colorado at the Colorado School of Trades in 1993 while I was still running that school. His specialty is the long-footed horse, and we get to talk about shoeing in that world. He is colorful character, to put it mildly, and hides nothing as he tells stories of a wild ride through life. Mike hides nothing as he talks about losing his son, scrapes with the law, and dealing with truck-defacing peacocks. This conversation took over two hours, but it felt like 20 minutes. Listening to it will be the same, so I hope you enjoy it.

Bud and Hannah met when they attended Heartland Horseshoeing School, where they return every year to play a part in the lives of the incoming new students. I sat them down to discuss their paths to becoming farriers, challenges faced, and their future aspirations. Hannah details her transition from a medical secretary in Alaska to becoming a farrier, while Bud shares his experience working on a dairy farm and as an arborist before deciding to pursue farriery. They emphasize the importance of hard work, passion, and good client communication. We talk about their business, injury experiences, and the importance of horsemanship and practical skills in their profession. They also touch on their goals of expanding their practice to include more farriers and reflect on the various aspects of farriery, including shoeing techniques and the industry's future.

Renowned farrier Jace Ellis shares decades of experiences from his life and career. He attended horseshoeing school in 1984 and has been shoeing horses ever since. Farriery has allowed Jace to do anything he has ever wanted to do in this life.

Jace recounts various aspects of his career including his first marriage, his son following in his footsteps, and the challenges of maintaining both personal relationships and business standards over the decades. His insights delve into the technical and business sides of being a farrier, alongside memorable stories of dealing with bad horses and complex shoeing techniques. Besides farriery, Jace has a rich life filled with cowboy activities, competitive coyote hunting, and an affinity for camp cooking. He also shares pearls of wisdom and reveals personal interests, emphasizing the importance of doing what you love, regardless of the challenges.

I get the honor or introducing you to expert farrier, horseman, pickup-man, and longtime friend, Robert McClaran. This episode is filled with personal stories, professional insights, and a deep appreciation for the craft and community of farriery. We talk about the cold plunge routine and its benefits, Robert's experiences with picking up broncs at rodeos, and the profound impact of community and mentorship in his life. The best seat in the house at a rodeo is on a horse in the middle of the arena, but right now, it is wherever you are sitting to enjoy our little visit. We are cleared for take off.

This episode is about Shearer Wludyka, a Heartlander from Anderson, South Carolina, who attended Heartland Horseshoeing School in 2013. Shearer reflects on her journey, detailing her challenging childhood in foster care and how she pursued higher education, eventually earning a degree in graphic design. Despite working corporate jobs, she found her passion in horseshoeing. Shearer shares her experiences building a successful farrier business, her approach to therapeutic shoeing, and her aspirations to start a horseshoeing school. She emphasizes the importance of hard work, people skills, and ongoing learning in her career. You are going to get a lot out of this conversation. We are cleared for takeoff.

Chris Gregory sits down with his son Cody Gregory, FWCF with honors, to discuss Cody's journey in the industry, their shared history, and insights into successful parenting and goal-setting. They talk about how Cody started as a young farrier, his experiences growing up around horseshoeing, and his journey to achieving his Fellowship with honors from the Worshipful Company of Farriers. The discussion also covers Cody's experiences starting a tool company, improving manufacturing processes, and his approach to homeschooling and raising children. The conversation emphasizes the importance of perseverance, goal-setting, and continuous learning, whether in their craft, personal development, or parenting.

In this episode of 'Final Approach with Chris Gregory,' Chris interviews Ross Zeiger, a technically skilled and knowledgeable guest discovered through YouTube. Ross shares his background, growing up in Washington State, attending the University of Washington, and joining the Marine Corps. He discusses his experiences in flight school, a stint as an Air Support Control Officer, and deployments in Okinawa, Thailand, Philippines, and Korea, where he met his wife. The discussion covers a variety of topics including their stay in Mexico City, his adventurous eating habits, and travel experiences in Nepal. He now runs https://www.descriptmastery.com, a website focused on teaching Descript, an AI-powered video and podcast editing software. The conversation delves into the benefits and challenges of using Descript, the learning curve associated with mastering new tech, and future aspirations for his business and personal life. We are cleared for takeoff.

I call this episode The Hoofsmith’s Path. From losing his dad as a toddler and being raised in the city by a single mom to becoming a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers Examiner, Mark Trussler’s life reads like a classic heroes journey to get where he is now. His is an inspirational story of grit and I had a great time getting to know him. You will too. We are cleared for takeoff.

Brought to you by: Heartland Horseshoeing School

I can’t believe it’s been thirty years. As a young man, I used to hear the old timers talk about how fast it goes. As an old man now, I can confirm the validity of their claim. Well, we are going to make a big celebration of Heartland Horseshoeing School turning thirty, and you are all invited to join us. There will be a forging contest on May 9th and 10th with buckles, added money and prizes in every division. Saturday afternoon will finish with a barbecue as we thank every Heartlander that has left some sweat and blood in this place, and every customer and friend that has been a part of it. We would love to see you. May 9th and 10th at Heartland Horseshoeing School.