Ever since I can remember, horses have been a big part of my life. My journey with them began at just five years old, when I started riding and taking lessons. From those early days, I loved being around horses and discovering all the different ways to work with them. As I got older, that passion only grew. When I was thirteen, I took on an exciting challenge—the Mustang Makeover. I spent one hundred days training a wild mustang, and it was amazing to see how much progress we made together. That project really taught me patience, responsibility, and how much you can accomplish when you bond with a horse. By the time I was fifteen, I was ready to go even deeper and took a course on safely and efficiently starting horses under saddle. That is when I got my own horse, and from the very beginning, I trained him myself, starting on the ground and working our way up to riding. These days, we enjoy roping cattle together and going to ranch shows. I am still actively learning new things; for example, I am taking lessons on advanced maneuvers like flying lead changes and sliding stops. Whenever my friends need a hand with their own horses, whether it is training or just exercise, I am always happy to help out. My interest in becoming a Farrier really started to take shape a couple of years ago, when I was sixteen and working at a camp's horse program. During my interview, someone suggested I might enjoy the Farrier industry, and that sparked my curiosity. I initially planned to pursue a career in horse training, but being a Farrier shifted my focus and interest. Soon after that interview, I asked if I could shadow their Farrier. I was able to have the opportunity to gain experience directly from him. He patiently showed me how to pull shoes, and soon I was helping more. During this time, I was also able to learn a bit about forge and was able to work with a friend of mine who has a forge. I quickly discovered that I liked both the physical work and the time spent with the horses. Over time working with the Farrier, I progressed from pulling shoes to learning to finish work, and eventually, under supervision, trimming and shoeing horses myself. I am eager to formalize my training and have a strong foundation for a successful career as a Farrier.