Here in northeast Dutchess County, it was dairy farms and we were the Milk Bottle of New York City. But as dairy farms closed, different animals were brought to graze our pastures — horses. Now we’re Horse Central.  Along with the new animals came new people and new trades. One of the most crucial is the farrier, the blacksmith who makes and sets shoes for horses.

I’ve met folks (usually from the city) who have no idea what a farrier is or actually does. Who better to show them than Hilary Cloos, our farrier, shoeing my own horse for his first set of shoes.

Prestur is an Icelandic horse, only four years old at this session. What is amazing is not the fact that Hilary is a female farrier, but that this was Prestur’s first set of shoes and he was very calm about having his hooves banged on for the first time. It bodes well for his demeanor on the trail.