Horseshoeing

Every horse Nathan and Jesse shoe gets the same treatment: a thorough evaluation before a single nail goes in. Toe length measured. Hoof angles assessed. The natural balance of the foot understood before it's changed. That evaluation is what separates shoeing that lasts from shoeing that causes problems down the road.

Every shoe is custom fit to the horse in front of them - not pulled from a bin and nailed on. Nathan hot-shapes each shoe to match the foot, grinds the edges clean before application, and makes sure the finished job is balanced, safe, and appropriate for how the horse is used. A trail horse and a performance horse have different needs. A young horse and an older one do too. Nathan pays attention to those differences.

This applies whether the horse is going in steel, aluminum, or going barefoot. They trim barefoot horses with the same care and attention they bring to a full set of shoes - a well-balanced barefoot trim is as important as a well-fitted shoe, and in some cases more so.

They work with a wide range of horses from green three-year-olds getting their first set to seasoned show horses that have been shod hundreds of times. Every horse gets the same level of service, regardless of what it costs or where it competes.

Therapeutic Care

When a horse goes lame, the farrier is usually one of the first calls. Nathan takes that responsibility seriously. Over twenty years in the trade, he's worked alongside veterinarians on cases ranging from mild imbalance issues to complex laminitis management, navicular syndrome, white line disease, and hoof wall injuries that required months of careful rebuilding.

Nathan doesn't work alone on therapeutic cases. He collaborates directly with your veterinarian, reviewing radiographs, discussing the mechanics of the problem, and building a shoeing plan that supports the vet's treatment rather than working against it. That kind of communication between the farrier and the vet is what gives horses the best chance at a full return to soundness.

He stays current on the latest therapeutic shoeing techniques and attends clinics regularly to keep his knowledge sharp. He carries the materials and products needed for most applications in his truck — pads, pour-in pads, impression material, specialty shoes, glue-on applications so that when a horse needs something specific, he's not sending clients to wait for a special order.

For more complex cases, Nathan fabricates custom shoes by hand. A horse with an unusual foot, an extreme rotation from laminitis, or a hoof wall defect that won't accommodate a standard shoe - these are the cases Nathan has built his reputation on.

If your horse is struggling, Nathan is worth a call. He understands that lameness cases are stressful for owners, and he communicates clearly throughout the process - what he's seeing, what he's doing, and what to expect.

All Season Servicing

The Jackson Hole valley has a short warm season and a long everything-else. For horses that live here year-round, consistent hoof care doesn't stop when the temperature drops, it becomes more important. Hoof growth slows in winter, but the stresses on the foot don't. Frozen ground, ice, and packed snow create their own set of challenges, and a horse that went into winter with a good set of shoes and a tight schedule is a horse that comes out of it sound.

Nathan and Jesse structure their schedules to make sure year-round clients are seen consistently, regardless of season. Nathan comes back to Jackson in the winter months specifically to care for horses who live in the valley full time. He keeps a tight schedule and communicates well in advance when visits are coming - no guessing, no gaps.

For horses that are only in the area during the summer months, Nathan works with owners to establish a schedule that maximizes soundness during the riding season and sets the horse up well before it leaves.

Whether your horse lives here twelve months a year or six, Nathan will work with you to build a maintenance schedule that keeps it sound through every season.