Shows
Forging Brains PodcastMarshall Illes-The Chief Steward for Calgary Back in the DayWhile we were at Well-Shod for the WCB Winter Clinic, we were fortunate to sit down with someone who knows a lot of history about competing at Calgary when it was held at the Stampede grounds, Marshall Illes! There were some stories i was surprised to hear in this episode. 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...
2026-02-051h 57Forging Brains PodcastNew Year Wrap Up with Troy Wood! And our Winter Clinic Demo AnnouncedFirst episode for the new year of 2026! We were at Riley's shop last week and discussed what we have done over the past year with Troy Wood. Troy was Reserve World Champion in 2025 but also wrapped up and won the 2025 National Championship this winter in Ft Worth, Texas hosted by the World Championship Blacksmiths. Jam packed year with Troy and myself qualifying for the 2026 WCB Team along with teammates Stan Mullen and Mason Mileski. We talk a little about what that dynamic is going to be like in this episode. And we announce what Riley and Gavine's demo is...
2026-01-131h 23Forging Brains PodcastSteven Beane- Six Time World Champ!Our first "across the pond" episode! This week's guest is none other than the now 6-time World Champ, Steven Beane. It was great to hear how Steven got into this trade and learn about the ambition he has had since a young age. Carving his own spot in history as one of the most decorated farriers in our industry. In this episode you'll hear how Steven prepped himself to win his first world championship up until his most recent, the 6th title, this past September at Spruce Meadows in 2025. Something i thought to be incredible is amongst all the...
2025-12-242h 22Forging Brains PodcastTravis Koons-Master Koonzagi Is Back for Part 2!Travis Koons is back! Our first episode with Travis wasn't long enough so we wanted him back to continue sharing more of what Master Koonzagi has to offer! We talked a little bit about what Travis has been up to since we last spoke to him and also the business side of shoeing, shoeing horses with concave and the many benefits and side effects flat wide shoeing affects a horse's limb/hoof, and vet to farrier communications how we can be more professional as a whole amongst each other. So buckle up and enjoy this great conversation we had...
2025-11-052h 54Forging Brains PodcastLearn From Your Failures To Earn Success. Winning & Losing Are Both Humbling MomentsWe've had a month to reflect on what has happened in the past 30 days ish.. And I was able to compete at 3 different contests in that time, the Blacksmith World Championships at Spruce Meadows, Farriers of Washington State Fall Conference, and the Virginia State Fair World Championship Blacksmiths competition. We talked about what happened at those contests, the highs and the lows, and what was learned through those events. Riley had guest, Andrew Neilson, out to his place for an elk hunt and was able to go hunt rams in Texas as well. All in all it was a...
2025-10-211h 38Forging Brains PodcastJourney to Spruce Meadows 2025-Blacksmith World ChampionshipsAnother 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...
2025-09-0259 minForging Brains PodcastJennifer Horn- Determined to Succeed and Failure Wasn't an OptionWe'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...
2025-08-201h 43Forging Brains PodcastMason Mileski- Man of Motivation & Persistence Carving His Own Path Through The Farrier TradeMason 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...
2025-08-061h 32
Forging Brains PodcastShorty Gorham- PBR Hall of Fame BullfighterWe 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...
2025-07-111h 46Forging Brains PodcastConrad Trow- Living The American DreamThis 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...
2025-06-241h 35Forging Brains PodcastWeston Newsom-Cowboy, Cowman, Father, Farrier, Jack of All TradesMost 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...
2025-06-181h 34Forging Brains PodcastLone Rangers! Upcoming Contests, Past Contests. Things to Work On, etc..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...
2025-05-161h 18Forging Brains PodcastCulture Exchange Student Ed Beeston and Q&A with Troy WoodWe 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...
2025-04-081h 21Forging Brains PodcastRobert Jukes-This isn't Goodbye, It's See You LaterEarly 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...
2025-04-0856 min
Full BlastRiley Kirkpatrick Rides Again!Riley Kirkpatrick is an extraordinary Blacksmith, farrier and one of the hosts of “Forging Brains Podcast”. Forging has so many specialized categories, creating unique groups and careers that focus on different techniques and methods to reach the goal. The experience Riley has as a farrier not only impacts his forgings but also the health of his clients horses, which was one of the most interesting parts of our conversation. We talked about forging, the rise of AI art and crazy hunting stories. Riley is the fantastic and his work on Forging Brains Podcast is a great listen as he and hi...
2025-04-031h 35Forging Brains PodcastJim Poor, Chris Madrid, Bodie Trnka- 3 Generations Practicing Practical Shoeing to Win-They're Just Fronts & Hinds!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...
2025-02-281h 34Forging Brains PodcastGet an Edge on the Competition! WCB West Texas Ranch Rodeo Shoes with Judge John McNerneyHear 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...
2025-02-2155 minForging Brains PodcastBilly Lovell & Matt Magan- Friends From the Beginning There to Help Each Other Any Way PossibleI'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...
2025-02-041h 42Forging Brains PodcastJuan Berumen-Humbled Man on a Journey Soaking Up Knowledge to Be The Best He Can BeWhile 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!
2025-01-081h 27Forging Brains PodcastJudging Our First World Championship Blacksmiths Contest!
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...
2024-12-181h 18Forging Brains PodcastFt Worth WCB Shoe List Tips n Details
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...
2024-11-2757 minForging Brains PodcastKayla & Lyle Shepherd-Husband n' Wife Multi-Farrier Practice Duo!
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...
2024-11-251h 09Forging Brains PodcastChad Chance- Entrepreneur, Family Man, Farrier, Competitor, Auctioneer, Real Estate Agent, Man of Many Talents!
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...
2024-10-231h 37Forging Brains PodcastWorld Championships at Spruce Meadows Recap
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...
2024-10-101h 06Forging Brains PodcastHow Was Your Go? 2024 World Championships Interviews After Pool of Shoes ClassWhile 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...
2024-09-251h 52Forging Brains PodcastGeorge Rogerson 2024 World Champion Blacksmith & Alex Collier Top 5 Finisher in World ChampionshipWhile up at the 2024 World Championships in Calgary at Spruce Meadows, we were able to sit down with guests we don't get to see often because they live across the world in England, so it was awesome to get to have a chat with Alex Collier and George Rogerson. What we find is really cool is that when we chatted, nobody knew who the new World Champion was going to be yet and now that we're releasing this episode it has been announced that George Rogerson is the 2024 World Champion Blacksmith! Congratulations George and to everyone else who competed...
2024-09-111h 46Forging Brains PodcastMike Stone- New Mexico Trio Los DiablosWe had a great conversation with our guest, Mike Stone. Unfortunately the wifi coverage wasn't the greatest and had some lag time and made our conversation cut short. But we got a great introduction of how Mike got into this trade of farriery. It's always interesting to hear how people didn't intend on shoeing horses in the beginning but ended up finding it and falling in love with it for their life and career. Mike's no stranger to competing and has competed with the best of em for over 20 years and always manages to pull off a best shod...
2024-09-0459 minForging Brains PodcastCraig Trnka at WCB HQWe recently were able to head down to New Mexico to hang out at WCB headquarters and while we were there we wanted to sit down with Craig to hear what else is on his mind and is going on within the WCB. Craig's a fountain of knowledge and a man that can shoot inspiration into you, if you're willing to listen. I gained motivation throughout our conversation to become better and strive for more and I think you will too listening to this episode!
Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com
2024-08-141h 57Forging Brains PodcastRobbie Mederos- If Life's leading You Down a Path You Don't Like, Change Direction & Pursue Your Dream!Man this was a great episode with our special guest, Robbie Mederos! You'll hear in this episode that Robbie worked in a different field for over a decade and then one day decided enough is enough, quit that job and decided to pursue a career that had meaning and can bring happiness. Robbie is a second generation farrier that was taught by his dad is Bob Mederos who has had lots of success as well. There were so many details and tips Robbie provided throughout this episode that hit home for us on Forging Brains Podcast and we think...
2024-07-231h 56Forging Brains PodcastTravis Buck- 4 Time Canadian Farrier's Team 2 Time WCB Team & Edgewood WCB Judge Tips on Shoes
Bet you think it would be helpful to get an in depth look at the shoes on a shoe list before the contest happened? Well, in this episode you can! We sat down with Travis Buck to hear what inspired him to come up with this shoe list and what are going to be some key elements he'll be looking for when he's judging. Also, he broke down each shoe on how he went about making them! Travis has qualified for the Canadian Farrier's Team 4 times and the WCB Team 2 times so far in his career plus shoes high...
2024-06-201h 38Forging Brains PodcastGathering a Game Plan for the Edgewood WCB Shoe ListWe sat down and thought it would be cool to talk about the shoe list for the next WCB in Edgewood as if we were to be getting ready to make the shoes for the first time. Consider it like if we were sitting down with each other and figuring out what steps we're going to be needing to do with each shoe before we even cut any steel. Getting a game plan together! Although we're not entered in Edgewood this year, we thought it may be helpful for some of you that are in the midst of getting...
2024-06-121h 44Forging Brains PodcastBob Pethick- Maintaining Top Level Shoeing Relationships for 50+ Years & Whilst Competing on American Farriers Team for 5 YearsThis week's guest can school us on a lot of things to become a successful, professional farrier- Bob Pethick. Bob has shod horses professionally for over 50 years and not only just regular type horses, high dollar, high stress, top level sport horses that compete at the highest level for the United States Equestrian Team for nearly his whole career. He had it set in his mind from day 1 of starting his career that he wanted to shoe the highest level caliber horses and made that happen for over 37 years now. That just blows my mind to be honest! I...
2024-05-081h 38Forging Brains PodcastEver Been to a Clinic? Ever Put On a Clinic/Contest? Quick Tips for Success in this EpisodeIf you're listening to this episode, you probably already know Riley & Gavine are firm believers in continuing education by attending clinics or competing in contests. But in this episode we covered some key tips for you if you are looking to host a clinic or competition. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes to put on a successful clinic or contest. It requires a fair bit of infrastructure for everything to go smooth and keep your clinician happy, as well as, the clinic attendees. So, we broke it down with what may be required if you're looking...
2024-05-021h 07Forging Brains PodcastJim Poor & John McNerney- Yukon Forge Taking Over Flatland Forge Driving Hammers--Special Announcement!!You've heard it here first folks and heard that correctly, John Mcnerney (Yukon Forge) is taking over for Jim Poor's (Flatland Forge) driving hammer business! It's no secret that Jim Poor has built a strong empire of tools throughout his career over at Flatland Forge and couldn't be more fitting for a guy like John to take over that part of the business. Lot of the time what happens when someone takes over a great business, they run it into the ground and start making bad products. But that won't be the case with Yukon Forge taking the driving...
2024-04-2643 minForging Brains PodcastTyson Clark- Everyone's Path is Different & You've Got to Forge Your Own Path in LifeWe know we've been absent with uploading consistent episodes the past few weeks but sometimes we get super busy in life and they supersede other objectives we do but we are trying our best to get episodes uploaded on a weekly basis!
This week we have a great guest who a lot of you may know and love, Tyson Clark! As you'll hear in this episode, Tyson has been shoeing horses for many years and didn't get into the competitive horseshoeing world until 15 years after he initially started shoeing. Tyson has been an avid competitor and ambassador...
2024-04-171h 41Forging Brains PodcastMike Augenstein- Man Who Pays His Debts, Even if it Means Being a "Swiftie" for an Episode!We've got another great episode coming to you live from the WCB Winter Clinic at Well-Shod in Amarillo, Texas with this week's guest, Mike Augenstein! Just like a lot of us, Mike had been introduced to horseshoeing through his dad as a necessity and then decided to pursue becoming great at it after meeting many top farriers throughout his early days. Even though Mike went to college and earned an Engineering Degree, he had a passion for this trade and wanted to continue his journey shoeing horses. You'll hear in this episode that Mike was faced a serious decision...
2024-02-281h 20Forging Brains PodcastHank Chisholm- Man of the People, President of the American Farrier's AssociationComing in hot straight from the World Championship Blacksmiths Winter Clinic at Well-Shod, we got to sit down with a few cool guests and chat with them! This episode is with someone that most people know and respect because of how great a person he is, Hank Chisholm. Hank shared with us how he gained a passion for this trade and how he tries to share that passion with everyone through the American Farrier's Association. Most people were pretty dang excited when Hank was elected to be president of the AFA. Speaks volumes when you hear everyone say only...
2024-02-151h 20Forging Brains PodcastNigel Fennell FWCF (Honours) - The Jedi Knight Conquering All Things SteelKicking the year off right with what Nigel would refer to as a "belter!" of an episode! We had the privilege to sit down and chat with our first Englishman on the show, Nigel Fennell. It's amazing to hear about all the accomplishments and accolades Nigel has achieved throughout his career. He has achieved the highest level of certification in the Fellowship of Worshipful Company of Farriers, the FWCF with Honours. And he said that there's only a handful of people to ever achieve that since the beginning of the Fellowship in the early 1300's. Amongst all his achievements...
2024-01-242h 05Forging Brains PodcastTodd Walker- Man On Many Endeavors! American Farriers Team, WCB Team, Tool Maker, Mustad Rep & More..We were fortunate to be able to sit down with Todd Walker while we were competing in Ft. Worth at the 2023 World Championship Blacksmiths Season Finals. So you may hear the tune of hammers banging on anvils in the background and the occasional train passing by in the background. We got to learn so much more about Todd and what has drove him to succeed at all the great things he has achieved throughout his life and career. Todd has been on the American Farrier's Team and WCB Team numerous times each. He also shared with us, he won...
2024-01-021h 28Forging Brains PodcastThoughts & Impressions From Novice Competitors at Ft. Worth WCB!We were just in Ft. Worth, Texas for the 2023 World Championship Blacksmiths Season finals and thought it would be really cool to hear from some of the competitors that competed in the Novice Class. Either this was this their first one or they have competed in all three for the year and will be deciding to move up into the Categories next year. Little different style format podcast than we usually do but you'll have to let us know if you really liked this or not!
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2023-12-2038 minForging Brains PodcastTrey Green- Chasing that Gold Buckle Riding Bulls or Competing as a Top Level Farrier in the WorldWe have a great guest this episode with the one and only, Trey Green. Trey has shod horses at the top levels of their discipline, as well as, competed himself at the top level of farrier & blacksmithing competitions with great success. Like many of you, Trey has his own unique way of how he became interested in this trade of farriery. Throughout that journey. he had secured himself a place on the American Farriers Team multiple times. as well as, the WCB (World Championship Blacksmiths) Team more than once! Trey shared many great stories about his bull riding lifestyle...
2023-12-052h 10Forging Brains PodcastTravis Koons-World Renowned Farrier & Competitor aka..Master KoonzagiIf you've been around for a while in this trade you more than like have heard of this week's guest, Travis Koons! Travis has resided in Southern California for most his life and most his career shoeing high level sport horses. You'll hear in this episode how Travis got his start into shoeing horses, his introduction to farrier competitions, the ups & downs he has faced throughout his career, and as well as the men and women that have been most influential to make a big impact in his life. He has also competed at the highest levels of farrier...
2023-11-034h 07
Forging Brains PodcastCraig Trnka, Kyd Kelley, Troy Wood, Brian Strelow- Spruce Meadows Recap-Future WCB Headquarters & more..This past weekend I was at the FAWS (Farriers Association of Washington State) annual fall convention and contest, where Craig Trnka was our judge and clinician. So I figured what a perfect time to sit down with him and do a podcast to talk about their recent accomplishment with the World Championships at Spruce Meadows. We were also joined by Troy Wood, Jesse Wilson, Brian Strelow, Brandyn Davis, Richard Puglisi, Butch Whitaker and Kid Kelley to join in on this episode. Craig filled us in on the success they had from bringing the World Championships back for the first...
2023-09-281h 18Forging Brains PodcastA Year Behind Us With Many More to Go! Forging Brains One Year Mark
This marks the 1 year mark from when we dropped the first episode of Forging Brains Podcast! We want to thank all our guests and friends that have sat down with us to make the show happen. We certainly have enjoyed this journey getting to deep dive into people's lives and learn what it takes to become a successful farrier. This episode we talked about the highlights from this year, some of the lows, and just some goals we have for ourselves and the show in the future. Congratulations are also in store for the newly crowned World Champion Blacksmith...
2023-09-201h 49Forging Brains PodcastJohn McNerney- Yukon Forge, Badass Policeman Catching Bad Guys by Day, Farrier & Tool Maker by Night!This week's guest and episode is a great one, John McNerney! Mostly everyone in the farrier world has probably seen or heard of the "Yukon Forge" line of tools throughout the past couple decades. But, something we learned in this conversation with John, is that he has the passion and dedication to serving his community by making it a safer place for those living in it when he decided to become a Policeman. John has completed his tenure on the force and during that time he was dedicated to catching the worst criminals off the streets. He talked about...
2023-09-132h 04Forging Brains PodcastStan Mullen-Former Kiwi Making His Presence Known in AmericaIt's got to be quite an experience to move away to another country halfway across the world. Stan Mullen started that journey at 17 years old searching for a horseshoeing school and after that he decided he was going to live in the United States after growing up in New Zealand previously. Not only has been shoeing horses full time, Stan has been making his presence known in the competitive horseshoeing scene by kicking ass and taking names! The last WCB he won all 5 classes, making himself the Overall Champ. He's currently on the WCB Team and prepping to go...
2023-08-302h 32Forging Brains PodcastDan Salcito-Hand Crafted, Salcito Hoof Knives from Skull Valley Arizona
We got the opportunity to learn from Dan Salcito about what makes a great hoof knife and how or why he got into the hoof knife game to create the best hoof knives on the market today! If you've been to your state horseshoeing contest or a World Championship Blacksmiths competition, then you've probably seen some of Dan's hoof knives because he is so supportive of this trade and generous for wanting to give back by donating numerous knives to associations so you have something cool to remember that event by. Dan also shared with us his upbringing about...
2023-08-191h 39Forging Brains PodcastDifferent Beginnings on the Same Path for Success- Life of an Apprentice FarrierWe all have a unique story about how or why we got into shoeing horses initially. Recently I had the chance to sit down with three farriers that are in the early stages of their careers and what their experiences have been like so far, as well as, what they are doing to help ensure their chances of success. The three guys in this episode are Brandyn Davis, Trey Hayden, and Richard Puglisi. Brian Strelow is in this episode too because the 5 of us were headed down to the Oregon Farriers contest last weekend and stayed the night at...
2023-08-091h 18Forging Brains PodcastAustin Edens-aka..Captain Asshole-World Class, World Champion FarrierYou want to be a world champ one day? Or just be a top competitor? Or be the best farrier you can be? Well, Austin Edens is all of those and more! Austin has won the World Championship Blacksmithing competition in Calgary in 2003, crowning him a World Champion. That's no easy task. This episode, Austin let us in on the things he had done in his career to get him to become a world champ. As well as, how he felt after winning the title and up to that point (Not what you'd expect). Besides Austin's competitive horseshoeing accolades...
2023-08-031h 44Forging Brains PodcastEdgewood WCB Recap with Surprise Special Guest, Ben Snure!A bunch of us got the opportunity to go compete in Edgewood, New Mexico at the World Championship Blacksmiths competition so we sat down to chat about what we experienced and learned about the trip. Midway through the episode, Ben Snure jumped on with us to share his experience about competing in the Novice Class too! We had a great time in New Mexico and also had a great time telling stories throughout this episode. We shared a lot of laughs, as well as, gained some knowledge about what we can do to become better in our next endeavors...
2023-07-091h 27Forging Brains PodcastHanging Out with Troy Wood In His ShopThis past weekend I was at Troy Wood's shop practicing for the upcoming WCB contest in Edgewood, NM and we decided to sit down and do a podcast! We discussed some things about what we've learned in our practices together about the shoes and what we've got to be prepared for at the contest. Plus we BS'ed about other random stuff that's been going on in the world around us too. Enjoy this week's episode and maybe we'll see you in Edgewood!
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2023-06-2852 minForging Brains PodcastTim "Hooter" HooverMost people know that Tim "Hooter" Hoover ain't afraid to have a good time and share laughs, and that's exactly this episode went! Tim shared with us on how he acquired the nickname Hooter and it isn't what you were expecting or thinking. We got to talk about how he started his career shoeing horses and also some of the trials and tribulations he had to go through living in Arkansas as well. Give this episode a listen and let us know what you think!
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2023-06-231h 30Forging Brains PodcastDoug Russo- Resident Farrier at the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.Doug is a man of many talents. Although he has faced some challenges physically, he hasn't let that slow him down one bit when it comes to raising the bar and sharing knowledge about our trade to many people. Currently Doug is the resident farrier at Iowa State University and does A LOT of therapeutic shoeing there. Listen in to hear what he has to say about that. He also is a big advocate for the AFA and the new "American Farriers Association Foundation" which sounds like it will be super beneficial to us but mainly the trade in...
2023-06-151h 42Forging Brains PodcastSpring Time Hustle & Bustle! Contests and Clinics Kicking Off in the near Future..Plus MoreI think It's safe to say this time of year gets busy for a lot of people, or more busy I should say, and we're trying to stay on top of weekly episodes! But we got together and chatted about what's been making us more busy this past month. Gavine went on a fishing trip and Riley went on a bachelor party bear hunt. Listen in to hear how those went! Also, if you're interested in some contests or clinics coming up over the next few months, we had people reach out and let us know what are some...
2023-05-261h 16Forging Brains PodcastCaleb Payton-Full Time Farrier Turns to Law Enforcement Becoming Full Time Police Officer
Caleb Payton has an eye and developed the skills to be a top farrier. Even though he doesn't live in a densely horse populated area, he still does the best job possible for each horse. What i found interesting is that he made the decision to step away from shoeing full time to become a police officer. You'll have to listen to the episode to hear why he made that decision!
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2023-05-171h 01Forging Brains PodcastCarl Via- Busy Man Lifestyle. AFA Tester, WCB Team Member, and Continuing the Family Farm HeritageCarl Via is a busy man and we're glad he took some more time out of his busy life to do another episode with us! He's an AFA Tester and involved with a lot of pre-cert clinics, as well as, being on the current WCB Team and has been on the team for the past 4 years. So it was cool getting to hear a little more about Carl's busy life and also a little more about his family farm's history dating back to the 1800's. There's also some really good bits of knowledge Carl dropped on us about competing...
2023-05-031h 37Forging Brains PodcastTravis Smith- Retired Marine to Full Time Farrier that's Winning Best Shod Draft Foot at WCB ClassicMan we really enjoyed sitting down with Travis Smith for this episode. Travis enlisted in the Marine Corps straight out of high school, served our country, and then decided he wanted to shoe horses after his time was up because he thought getting to wrestle with horses would be "fun" but quickly realized that there's so much more to it than just wrestling horses! You'll have to listen for the full story. Travis also has been on the American Farrier's Team twice and is now the Team Manager for the AFT and also, on the Rules Committee for the...
2023-04-261h 40Forging Brains PodcastBen Snure- Hammer Making Blacksmith in the Farrier WorldBen Snure is a man of many talents! He has a long background in ranching which in turn exposed him having to shoe the ranch horses out of necessity for the job and that is what peaked his interest in blacksmithing. Ben later found his passion for building tools but mostly for some of the finest handmade hammers on the market currently. This episode shows how someone with no initial background in blacksmithing can get into this trade, as long as, you have the determination and self discipline to learn and become great at it. Give it a listen!
2023-04-191h 55Forging Brains PodcastForging Brains-What's Been Going on in Our Lives Recently
We're back! Two days late. Life's been busy and hectic but we got an episode out for you guys. Riley and Gavine sat down and just talked about what's been going on in our lives as of late and just some random conversations about this crazy messed up world we live in too. There's some shoemaking talk, toolmaking talk, and some social media buzz in here too. Enjoy this week's episode and stay tuned for who we have coming up in the upcoming weeks!
2023-04-141h 46Forging Brains PodcastAdam Fahr-Finding a Way to Make Competing FUN Again After Being Stuck in a RutThis was a great episode with Adam Fahr, who owns River Bottom Forge, and we're really glad we got to talk with him. Adam has achieved a lot of goals in his professional farrier career. He's been on the WCB Team, American Farrier's Team, and some others that have done really well, as far as his competitive horseshoeing goes. Adam talked about there was a time that competing wasn't much fun for him anymore and felt like he was stuck in a rut. But, what is really cool to hear is that Adam was able to find a way...
2023-04-051h 38Forging Brains PodcastTyler Marshall- All the Little Details Matter
On this week's episode of Forging Brains Podcast we sat down with Tyler Marshall, who resides in New Hampshire. If you follow Tyler on social media, then you know he can build and forge badass mini horseshoes! Other than building mini shoes, Tyler is a top farrier in our industry, as well as, a fierce top competitor in the competitive horseshoeing world. We got to know a little bit about Tyler's past and reasoning why he got into becoming a farrier . We think you'll like this episode as much as we did while recording it. Enjoy!
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2023-03-291h 37Forging Brains PodcastMike Poe, Jason Smith & Kurt Fisk While at the Sarah Baker Benefit Clinic
I was in the presence of Mike Poe, Jason Smith and Kurt Fisk while we were at the benefit clinic in Oregon and figured we oughta sit down and record a podcast! We've had Mike and Kurt on the show already but not Jason, yet. It was cool to hear from Jason about his beginnings and achievements through his shoeing career. Mike shared some cool stories about his experiences on the WCB team and also his efforts taking the AWCF exam and what it entails. This was a fun episode just getting to sit down and chat with these...
2023-03-271h 05Forging Brains PodcastPhillip Box & Andrew Wells- Cold Calling and Becoming Close FriendsThis was a great episode with Phillip Box and Andrew Wells, not only to hear about how Phillip got into this trade and how he's taken it to another level, but the interesting thing is both these guys didn't have intentions of becoming farriers but yet, they both fully embrace it and have gone to another level in their careers. It's cool to hear that even though your sights aren't set on something, you can still find something you become truly passionate about and both Andrew and Phillip have a passion for this trade. Enjoy this weeks episode of...
2023-03-151h 09Forging Brains Podcast2023 American Farrier's Team ~ 4 Top Competitors Working Together to Take the Top StepLive at the WCB Winter Clinic Riley sat down with the 2023 American Farrier's Team- Bodie Trnka, Chris Madrid, Daniel Jones, Sawyer Spradling and Tom Petersen to talk about their approach for the upcoming year competing as a team together. They talk about what they've learned so far about themselves as a team up to this point and things they will have to work on to improve and get better as a team.
2023-03-0852 minForging Brains PodcastIain Ritchie & John Dixon- Mentor, Teacher, Competitors, Canadian Farriers Team Teammates, and FriendsWe were fortunate to have Iain Ritchie and John Dixon come down south from Canada while we were having a team practice for the upcoming WCB contest "The Classic" to share their knowledge and criticism for us to become better prepared as a team. Top notch guys to lend their time out of their busy schedules to just to come help us! Says a lot about who they are, as respectable men. So thank you for that Iain and John. Of course since we had them here in our presence, we had to do a podcast with them. Getting...
2023-03-011h 30Forging Brains PodcastBilly Klapper, Terry Stever & Jim Poor- How to Build a LegacyWhile at the WCB Winter Clinic Billy Klapper, Terry Stever and Jim Poor were present and had a great opportunity to sit down and hear stories from the legendary bit and spur maker Billy Klapper and Terry Stever who so many people have brought up who they look up to in their careers over the years. It was great having Jim Poor steer the ship and hear many stories.
2023-02-221h 56Forging Brains PodcastJohn Harshbarger- Owner of Well-Shod Farrier Supply Who Loves His Job & Has A Passion For Our TradeWe are "Live" at the WCB Winter Clinic! We got to sit down with John Harshbarger who owns Well-Shod Farrier Supply and got to hear from him about how he and his partner Timmy Snider started the supply house in a feed store and how it has now grown to a massive farrier supply that is known worldwide. John also shared with us some business tips that might be helpful for others out there and how they're able to do that $10 shipping! Something that we think is super cool is that John decided he wanted to try his hand...
2023-02-151h 23Forging Brains PodcastTroy Wood-"Discipline Creates Motivation"-Basic Elements for Shoe Making & SystemsOver the weekend Troy Wood came over to my place to practice shoes for the upcoming World Championship Blacksmiths (WCB) Classic Competition. While Troy was here we thought it'd be a great time to sit down and do a podcast with him. Since we last had Troy on Forging Brains Podcast he was competing for a spot on the WCB Team, but now he has earned himself a spot on that highly prestiged team! He expressed to us what he's looking forward to learning this upcoming year and the hard work that he'll be facing this year. We also g...
2023-02-071h 33Forging Brains PodcastTerry Dokken -Rock & Roll Farrier!This week's guest, Terry Dokken, has multiple talents and passions! Terry's passion for the farrier trade and being an excellent musician have always pushed him to be great at both, even though, it may be hard to juggle between the two with other interests and family life. This was a great episode being able to chat with Terry about how he runs his business, shoeing different disciplines of horses, the highs and lows from injuries, and as well as Terry's music career! Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did.
2023-02-011h 41Forging Brains PodcastBodie Trnka- Greatness Takes a Long Time to Achieve & Requires Commitment!This week on Forging Brains Podcast we have the one and only, Bodie Trnka! Bodie grew up under the watchful eye of his father, Craig Trnka, who had taught Bodie how to shoe horses initially. It's what Bodie has done for himself after that that has proven successful not only in his competitive horseshoeing career, his farrier business, but also his personal family life. Bodie currently resides in Minnesota with his wife Rachel and son Quincy. This year is his 5th year being on the American Farrier's Team and has won many highly regarded competitions. We also got to...
2023-01-251h 46Forging Brains PodcastBill Poor- Damascus Billets & Knives, 4 Mile Long Range Shooting, Calgary Stampede World ChampionThis episode we got to sit down with the one and only, Bill Poor! Bill competed a lot many years ago winning lots of competitions including the first ever season of the WCB and also became World Champ of the Calgary Stampede. He also shared a some cool information about forging damascus knives and billets. And as of late, Bill also holds the record of long range shooting at 4 miles. Enjoy this episode!
2023-01-181h 23Forging Brains PodcastJim & Kathleen Poor-- It's All In The Mindset!I think it's pretty common knowledge in the farrier industry that if someone asks you-"What's a good brand of tool to buy?" and guaranteed 9 times out of 10, people will say-"Jim Poor/Flatland Forge Tools!". That speaks volumes about not only, the tools themselves, but about the creators of those tools. Jim and Kathleen Poor have worked hard to be an honest, hard working, figure in this trade we love. Not only do they have some of the best tools on the market, they have a very interesting dynamic between the two of them throughout their careers shoeing...
2023-01-112h 49Forging Brains PodcastIt's a New Year! Let's Talk about Goals and some Pre Game FunkIt'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!
2023-01-041h 49Forging Brains PodcastTom Petersen-Climbing Mountain after Mountain and Becoming a Journeyman isn't the Top of the MountainThis episode was really cool. Tom Petersen is a highly skilled, talented and educated farrier that resides in Montana. Tom goes into depth about his up bringing about how he became to be a farrier and then on to winning multiple National and International Championship Titles. We got to hear how Tom shoes in his everyday business that would benefit a lot of horses out there if more people understood this concept. Riley & Tom also geeked out on Tool Making from, power hammers, presses, hammers, driving hammers and more. It's worth the listen, Enjoy this episode!
2022-12-211h 56Forging Brains PodcastDaniel Jones- Best Shod Foot at Stoneleigh International Farrier Competition!In this episode of Forging Brains Podcast we got to sit down with Daniel Jones! Daniel is a top farrier in the world. He has many years of experience running a successful horseshoeing business and at the same time, being a successful competitor on the American Farriers Team, at World Championship Blacksmiths competitions, and international competitions! Daniel also shared some of his knowledge with us on how 4-Man teams operate well and how a person can learn something new if they're trying to do so. We think you'll really enjoy this episode and you're not going to want to...
2022-12-141h 42Forging Brains PodcastForging Brains Pre-Game Funk #3! Listener Submissions Q&A Feet Pics and ShoesHere on the Forging Brains Podcast we ask you guys, the listeners, to send in your own questions regarding shoeing or forging that you're wanting some feedback on and we try to lend our knowledge to you by going over the pictures you send us! The Pre-Game Funk episodes are best viewed on our YouTube channel because it shows the pictures that we are discussing so you can follow along with what we're talking about. If you have something that you'd like feedback on, email us at forgingbrainspodcast@gmail.com or send us a DM on Instagram @forgingbrainspodcast. Thanks...
2022-12-0935 minForging Brains PodcastKurt Fisk & Butch Whitaker- Live In Action @ Riley's Shop in the Wall Tent & Mini Fire PlaceWe were all at Riley's shop one weekend wanting to do some forging and after that we decided to do a podcast. Earlier that day the four of us forged out a Leg-Hold Trap from scratch and that made our conversation so much better for the podcast! We talked about how Butch runs a farrier school in Oregon and maintains a business for himself. Kurt has a real interesting story of how he became the farrier he is today in Bend, Oregon. Along with, talks about contests, feet, hobbies and fox hunting(believe it or not!). Enjoy this episode...
2022-12-072h 58Forging Brains PodcastCraig & Christine Trnka- Forging a Community Through CompetitionIn this podcast we sat down with Craig & Christine Trnka, the founders and owners of the World Championship Blacksmiths. These two know a thing or two about hard work. As they say in this episode, there is no down time when it come to putting on the best Farrier Competitions in the world. They're on their 16th full season not including the first two Road Runner Classics they put on, which is an accomplishment in itself to be devoted to this trade they love! Not only have they created the beast we call the WCB, they have created a...
2022-11-302h 03Forging Brains PodcastChris "Money" Madrid- Put the Kids to Bed, I'm Gonna Give You Some ClickBait Today!Chris Madrid, also known as, "Money", is definitely known as a top competitor in the farrier world. Most guys we've talked to on the podcast have even attributed their success from Chris helping them along the way. Not only is he a fierce competitor, but he is their to help people out. Chris let us know where he gets that drive that fuels him to be the best and continue being the best in this episode. Definitely worth the listen!
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2022-11-231h 28Forging Brains PodcastAndrew Wells - Finding Yourself Through a Trade You Never Expected and SucceedingThis was probably one of my favorite episodes yet, you don't want to miss it. Andrew Wells has an interesting and quite different story about how he became the successful farrier and competitor he is today. Andrew shared with us his whole story and what he chalks up his success to. We talked for 2 hours and barely scratched the surface! So we'll have to get with Andrew again and do another episode. Enjoy
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2022-11-162h 02Forging Brains PodcastJake EnglerWe sat down with Jake Engler and talked about how he got into shoeing horses, competing and much more. Riley and I laughed quite a bit in this one and think you will too. Enjoy!
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2022-11-091h 03Forging Brains PodcastMr. Tom WilloughbyTom Willoughby is a well known, exceptional blacksmith. He was even a farrier for a large part of his career too. Tom tells some great stories in this episode and he has a sense of humor that can make anybody laugh! Riley & Gavine had a good time sitting down with Tom swapping stories. Enjoy
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2022-11-021h 31Forging Brains PodcastPre-Game Funk #2 with Gavine & Riley Going Over Listener's Feet Pics They Sent In!We told you guys to send us some pictures of your work you wanted critiqued and we got some work to discuss! In this episode Riley & Gavine go over some questions and people's work they sent to us. If you have some work you'd like our feedback on email us at forgingbrainspodcast@gmail.com or send a DM to our Instagram @forging_brains_podcast and we'll discuss them right here.
2022-10-2752 minForging Brains PodcastGetting Personal with the Judges of Ft Worth WCB Patrick & Mckenzie Dutton!Patrick and Mckenzie Dutton are what we would consider a "power couple" in the modern day farrier world. Riley & Gavine got to sit down with the couple and talk about why they started shoeing horses, how they met and came to be a married couple, and as well some key points they want to see at the Ft Worth WCB Competition this fall. This was a really fun conversation between the 4 of us and think you'll enjoy it too!
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2022-10-261h 46Forging Brains PodcastWCB Teammates Carl Via, Mike Poe & Stan MullenThese guys know what it takes to get to the top level of being a farrier and competitive horseshoeing as well. Riley dives in with these 3 and finds out a little about their own personal history on how they got to where they're at and also, what it is like being on one of the highest leveled team in United States. The highs and lows, you can find out here on the Forging Brains Podcast.
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2022-10-192h 07Forging Brains PodcastPre-Game Funk with Gavine & Riley on Forging Brains PodcastBefore each episode Riley and I sit down and chat a little while before talking with our guests discussing what's been going on with our lives day to day. This is that conversation. We talk about some of the horses we shod this week and the feet we trimmed and sent each other in our group chat message as well.
2022-10-1640 minForging Brains PodcastEpisode 4- Andrew NeilsonOn this episode of Forging Brains we got to visit with our friend, Andrew Neilson. Andrew is a multi-generational farrier residing in Pennsylvania. He talks about how he became a farrier and then his trials & tribulations throughout to become a member of the World Championship Blacksmiths (WCB) Team for multiple years. Andrew is a hard worker and cares about improving the trade for years to come. Enjoy.
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2022-10-121h 30Forging Brains PodcastCatching up with Team PNW after 2 days @ WCB Contest-Wheelie Boys & Hurricane Ian in North CarolinaWe sat down with Team PNW-Brian Strelow, Troy Wood, Jesse Wilson and Riley Kirkpatrick after two days of competition had passed them to share their experiences as a team and their results of what they have done up to that point. Hurricane Ian was blowing past them at this point so they had no power in their hotel or surrounding areas so we decided to record a podcast to kill some time. The guys explained how each of their individual feet were done along with how the team performed in the Draft day and Pleasure day. In the video...
2022-10-0956 minForging Brains PodcastEpisode 3- Robert JukesIn this episode we sat down with the one and only, Robert Jukes! Robert gave us a lot of insight on what it was like growing up in Australia to then moving to the United States to shoe horses. He also shared what it's like to be on the WCB team and other 4-man teams, along with his famous fullers everyone loves. Enjoy the Podcast.
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2022-10-051h 52Forging Brains PodcastEpisode 2-Team PNW-Brian Strelow-Troy Wood-Jesse Wilson-Riley KirkpatrickIn this podcast Riley Kirkpatrick & I sat down with Team PNW after they finished up a team practice where the shod a Draft Horse with Handmade Plain Stamp Horseshoes with a Masselot Toe Clip. They shared what it's like to be on a team together and a little back story of each on how they became who they are today. Enjoy!
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2022-09-281h 26
Forging Brains PodcastEpisode 1 - Forging Brains Introduction with Gavine Cooper & Riley KirkpatrickThis is the introduction podcast between Riley Kirkpatrick & Gavine Cooper, getting to know each other a little more and giving you guys a little bit of our backgrounds and life story to become who we are today.
2022-09-211h 07