Sure-footed business 302279999
Judge is a massive 17.2 hands of solid Percheron horse muscle. He stands calmly on his four huge re-shod hoofs, nickering like a Shetland pony.
Percherons are a French breed, Kelly Arnold explained, and similar in size and shape to traditional draft horses. Judge is intimidating (14.2 hands equates to more than four feet from the ground to the top of his withers). But Kelly said he’s a teddy bear.
Donnie and Kelly Arnold are horse people, operating two equine-based businesses in Hernando County. Judge, one of their carriage horses in the couple’s carriage business, was receiving new shoes for a job that weekend pulling the carriage in a wedding.
Donnie is a farrier who operates Superior Shoeing. Donnie had just finished applying Judge’s new shoes, a practice Judge undergoes about every six weeks. That is a typical span for a working horse, Donnie said.
Donnie demonstrated Judge’s gentle spirit by tapping the gelding’s front leg which cued him to lift his hoof. Judge complied with no effort, comfortable with the routine. “He’s trained,” Donnie said.
Cradling the hoof in his lap, Donnie then showed how easy it is to work on the horse’s hooves, whether to trim or replace the shoes or check for abnormalities that can lead to infections.
The Arnolds live and breathe their passion for horses. In fact, the couple met when their two businesses connected. Kelly needed a farrier that worked with a specific shoe and called Donnie. A friendship ensued, based on equine commonalities, and the two were married. Thirteen years later, they work together running their businesses, while their seven-year-old son, Jessie, plays near the barn.
A farrier is a “specialist in equine hoof care, including the trimming and balancing of horses’ hooves and the placing of shoes.” The trade combines some blacksmith’s skills (fabricating, adapting, and adjusting metal shoes) with some veterinarian’s skills (knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the lower limb) to care of horses’ feet.
“It’s one of the oldest professions,” Donnie said. Farriers date back to the classic blacksmith trade and are commonly referred to as equine shoeing specialists.
And it appears it is not a dying art. Even during tougher times in a still struggling economy, horse people don’t skimp on the health and well-being of their animals. With minor adjusting, Donnie said the recession has not impacted his business. “I take care of their babies,” Donnie said.
He currently rotates about 500 horses, trimming, filing, and shoeing horses of all different breeds, from working equines to pastured backyard pets. He even custom makes shoes, some with therapeutic components for horses suffering from different issues. And, he “floats teeth”, which Donnie explained files down the rough edges as horses age.
All sorts of things can settle into the hoof, he said. Even horses that are basically pastured need consistent maintenance on their feet. Exposure to moisture and rough terrain can cause bacteria to grow, leading to infection.
He has a selection of different shoes, neatly organized on the back of his truck. He is also equipped with tools for clipping, filing, and installing the metal shoes.
Donnie has been a farrier for more than 15 years. The idea to branch out into the industry grew from frustration waiting for farriers to show up. He is also highly skilled, trained with continuing education that sets him apart from many cheaper services.
“You can go on Craigs List and hire a farrier for $20,” he said. “And they show up with a set of nippers and a file.”
He cautions the public to ask for experience. “The quickest person to lame a horse is a farrier,” he said. “An uneducated farrier is even worse.”
“I’m not saying every farrier needs to go to school,” he said. “But they should at least work in an apprenticeship. Just make sure you are using someone that is knowledgeable.”
A good judge of experience, Donnie added, is observing how the farrier shows up to a job. “Do they show up with just a file and a nipper?”
Knowledge of how to handle a problem is also vital, Kelly added. Some jobs won’t involve a quick trim.
“I’m certified in natural trimming which means the horse goes without shoes,” Donnie said, “and in modern with shoes.”
Superior Shoeing is a mobile service, visiting customers in Hernando, Citrus, Pasco, and Sumter Counties. Donnie makes regular trips to St. Augustine to work on horses from one of the largest carriage service in the state. “They don’t have a farrier there that works on technical shoeing,” he said.
It’s a passion for him, Donnie said. He has built a solid reputation among his clients, many who have used his services for years. “I love what I do,” he said. “I take care of their babies.”
Name: Superior Shoeing
Telephone: 352-428-9607
Kim Dame is a correspondent for Hernando Today. She can be reached at [email protected].
