Forging Brains Podcast

It's pretty common with a new year that people talk about New Year's Resolutions. We don't necessarily try to come up with resolutions but instead, we talk about the Goals we have for ourselves-personally, professionally, with the podcast, and amongst being teammates with our friends. We'd also like to hear what other goals you guys have for the upcoming year as well. This episode we also got to cover some pictures of work you guys sent in to us too. So, thank you!

Another solo pod with Riley and myself! This time we're chatting about my journey to Spruce Meadows this year so far. The trials and tribulations of practice, what all the classes are at Spruce, how I have been preparing myself, and what are some of my goals for this year. We'll try and do a recap episode after Spruce to talk about how the week went for me and others as well. Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

We've got a special guest this week with Jennifer Horn. You'll hear in this episode that Jennifer had the determination from day 1 to become a successful farrier and blacksmith. She managed to build a successful business, become a Certified Journeyman Farrier and compete at farrier contests while raising a family and managing a horse farm. A lot of people have seen the great works of art she has created as a blacksmith and is always generous to donate elaborate pieces to associations auctions to help raise funds. In the northern part of Michigan she has figured out a way to manage a farrier business and operate a blacksmith shop, which I Imagine isn't very easy to do. We enjoyed talking with Jennifer on this episode and hope you enjoy the listen!Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Mason may not be very well known yet but he is dang sure doing his best by climbing through the ranks and trying to soak up as much as he can from those who are willing to offer their knowledge to him. Mason Mileski is a Utah farrier who has been shoeing for a short period of time but has made a big impact on his career by seeking help from top farriers in the industry. He didn't attend a farrier school but with his own motivation and persistence, he convinced his father in-law to teach him how to shoe horses. Though like most great farriers we've talked to on the podcast, he signed up for the Novice division at his states (the Utah Farriers Association) annual contest and learned so much by just diving in to get his feet wet and also meet so many like minded farriers who were willing to give up their time to help another out. From there he sought out the American Farriers Association certification system and convention competition. All the while he didn't know that he was going to be introduced to Bodie Trnka and become teammates in the Two-Man Draft Class. They eventually went on to win the Draft Class at the AFA Convention! Now Mason is competing at the WCB contests and placing well enough to have a shot at making the 2025 WCB Team. And something we haven't had many guests do to us on the podcast was have a couple questions lined up to ask us, so stick around to the end where Mason surprises us with a couple insightful questions for the us hosts! Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

We were honored to sit down with a legend in the PBR Bullfighting world, Shorty Gorham! You may be wondering what bullfighting and farriery have in common and why we sat down to hear from Shorty but in the short, it's work ethic. He didn't get into bullfighting for the fame or desire to get inducted into the PBR Hall of Fame, he did it because he enjoyed fighting bulls with a passion and the ability to master his craft to become the best. Like we do in the farrier trade, Shorty found great teachers and mentors that were able to push him to the next level of his career. We got to hear some great stories about how he got into bullfighting, a Border Patrol situation where they got to chase illegals coming into this country on horseback, how he shoes his own horses and his hunting guide service Escondido Hunting. Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

This week's guest is one a lot of people know, Conrad Trow! Conrad set out to horseshoeing school when he was 18 in Kentucky, coming from South Africa, when back home for an apprenticeship for a few years before making the decision to move back to the States for good. He's living proof of the American Dream and taking advantage of every opportunity he was offered along the way! He's been on the American Farrier's Team, won the Draft Class at Convention 5 times, been the AFT's Team Manager for almost a decade, took over the Grand Circuit farrier products business, and eventually becoming partners with John Harshbarger into the Well-Shod business and Grand Circuit. He's a busy guy and we appreciate him sharing with us on the podcast!Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Most everyone in our scene has met our guest, Weston Newsom, and guarantee that everyone you ask will tell you that he's the nicest guy you'll meet and give you the shirt off his back. Weston shared with us his interests throughout the years from working ranches, like the 6666's and others, to then finding a passion for shoeing horses and competing at the WCB contests, building spurs and starting a new venture leasing ground and owning cows. Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

It's that time of year where everybody is busy and busting their butts but we're back with another episode of Forging Brains Podcast! Just a recap of what we've been up to and what we have planned for the upcoming months as well. We look forward to seeing everyone out an about!Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

We recently asked you guys on the Forging Brains Facebook page if you had some questions you'd like for us to chat about on the podcast while we were planning on being at Troy Wood's shop. Just so happened that this years cultural exchange student, Ed Beeston was staying with Troy and happy to sit down with us for the recording as well. It was cool to hear what his journey has been like so far on his travels to the United States from England. Quite often we chat with guests that have previously been on the exchange in years prior but not necessarily when they're currently here on tour. So that was cool to hear from Ed about his experience so far.Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Early on the podcast we had Robert Jukes as a guest of ours and is still one of the most listened to episodes we've uploaded. So when we heard Robert is moving back to his homeland in Australia, we wanted to get him on the podcast to hear what he has planned and how he plans to do a move halfway across the world.Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.rustybrownjewelry.com use code BRAINS for 20% off your order!www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Last week's episode was with the judge of the next  @wcbfarrier  contest in Amarillo, Texas John McNerney of  @yukonforge  and this week's episode is with 3 highly skilled and devoted guys- Jim Poor, Bodie Trnka, and Chris Madrid to talk through how someone can break down a shoe list or their practice regimen to get to the top. These guys know what it takes to win and have a lot of wins under their belts. Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.rustybrownjewelry.com use code BRAINS for 20% off your order!www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Hear from the judge of the upcoming WCB in Amarillo, Texas! The West Texas Ranch Rodeo shoe list just came out and we sat down with John McNerney of Yukon Forge to hear how he made the shoes and what he's going to be looking for in each class as well. If you're looking for an edge on your competition, this provides great insight for what's to be expected from the judge of the West Texas Ranch Rodeo WCB April 9th-12th.Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.rustybrownjewelry.com use code BRAINS for 20% off your order!www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

I've known these guys for over half my life now and if it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't have a career as a farrier. Billy Lovell and I met in high school going to high school rodeos and then he encouraged me to take up the farrier program at Walla Walla Community College where we both took the class together. I met Matt Magan while I was in the farrier program as he graduated from there the year before and would come by the school regularly on his days off to hang out and get in the forge. These guys are hard working folks that you don't necessarily see in the lime light everyday on social media or anything but have been grinding away the past 15+ years successfully managing shoeing practices and going to a WCB here and there, as well as, our states contests we have too. Billy recently passed his Certified Journeyman Farrier certification this past year too and talked about how that experience was for him even after running a business all these years and if it was a hard adjustment for him. Matt is a second generation farrier, his father Paul Magan is a CJF that works for WSU farrier/veterinary program, inspired Matt into becoming a farrier and has had great success over the years. These are some of my best friends and I hope you guys enjoy listening to this episode! Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com Our Proud Sponsors of the Show www.rustybrownjewelry.com use code BRAINS for 20% off your order! www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order! www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order! www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees) www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

While at the AFA Convention we were able to sit down with Juan Berumen and hear his story how he has navigated his way through his career, working for some of the legends of our trade, and earning a spot on the American Farrier's Team as well. Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com Our Proud Sponsors of the Show www.rustybrownjewelry.com use code BRAINS for 20% off your order! www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order! www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order! www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees) www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Riley and I were honored to be asked to judge a WCB event and took a lot of pride in trying to do the right thing to judge fair and honestly. In this episode we talked about our experience on how that event went for us to judge. Let me tell ya, it ain't as easy as you would think! There's a lot of shoes that get judged in three days as well as picking up a lot of horse's feet to be judged and scored too. Honestly we learned a lot from being on that side of the spectrum and can try to implement those things for the next contest we decide to enter. Hope you guys enjoyed this episode and let us know in the comments what you thought! Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com Our Proud Sponsors of the Show www.rustybrownjewelry.com use code BRAINS for 20% off your order! www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order! www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order! www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees) www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Ft Worth WCB is dang near here! Riley and Gavine are judging this year and figured we should add some insight about the shoes before people are on their way to the contest. We went over each shoe on this and laid out things we'd like to see with each class but ultimately it's going to come down to the basics of horseshoeing. If you have the basic elements in your jobs, then you'll do well. Look forward to seeing you all there and hope you have a happy Thanksgiving! Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com Our Proud Sponsors of the Show www.rustybrownjewelry.com use code BRAINS for 20% off your order! www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order! www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order! www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees) www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

We recently attended the American Farrier's Association annual convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee and while we were there we got to sit down with Kayla and Lyle Shepherd. Really cool story about how they met initially and then became to be husband and wife starting a multi-farrier practice of their own. Kayla was involved with the Culture Exchange program, getting to travel across the world to work along talented farriers to learn what it takes and Lyle currently is competing in the WCB contests with the goal of making the Cat 2 Team. Among their farrier practice, they have a whole farm they manage as well! Give the episode a listen to hear how they manage it and let us know what you think in the comments. Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com Our Proud Sponsors of the Show www.rustybrownjewelry.com use code BRAINS for 20% off your order! www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order! www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order! www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees) www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Chad Chance is a man of many talents and is a great entrepreneur in our industry. It's safe to say that Chad paved the way for us here on Forging Brains Podcast in the sense of being one of the firsts in the farrier trade to publish content to the internet and YouTube. Through his channel, HoofWatch, Chad has provided so knowledge with the collaboration of Craig Trnka and the WCB and also Mustad with Grant Moon that initially gave me a lot of inspiration to become a better farrier and have the information readily available to watch at a click of a button. But aside from his media presence, Chad has ran a successful shoeing business for many years, shoeing top level horses in northeast Texas. He has accomplished being on the WCB Team and the American Farrier's Team multiple times through his years as a competitive farrier! But Chad hasn't stopped there, he's stepped out of his comfort zone to become an auctioneer and sell real estate as well. Just about anyone you ask in this trade will tell you how great of a person Chad Chance is and will help you in any way he possibly can if asked. Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com Our Proud Sponsors of the Show www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order! www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order! www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees) www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

We sat down and talked about our experience at Spruce Meadows a few weeks ago from a competitors standpoint and as well as a spectator. Discussed some of the struggles and great things we experienced all week long. All in all, it was a great week! Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com Our Proud Sponsors of the Show www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order! www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order! www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees) www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

While up at the 2024 World Championships in Calgary at Spruce Meadows, Riley was able to sit down with competitors after they had their "go" on Saturday's, Pool of Shoes Class. It's really cool to hear everyone's input after they've had a go to hear their thoughts while it's fresh on their mind, because we always like to ask each other while we're at a contest "how was your go?". So we've got guests, Justin Fountain, George Rogerson, Paul O'reilly, Jason Hill, Daniel Ark Everson, Bodie Trnka, Chris Madrid, Sergio Perez, Troy Wood, Iain Ritchie, Russell Floyd, Toby Pedley, Dan Corkery, Alex Collier, Daniel Jones, Carl Via, and myself. That's a lot of handy competitors all jam-packed into one episode! There is a bit of background noise from the contest going on behind us but I tried my best to lower it the best I could, just an FYI.. Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com Our Proud Sponsors of the Show www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order! www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order! www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees) www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order! For Riley Kirkpatrick clinics contact, David Moose or Forging M Farm on Facebook to get signed up. June 6-7 2025 Riley Kirkpatrick Clinic Hamptonville, North Carolina