Twisted Metal Forge

03/27/2022

Bull cutter I just finished up! Message me for pricing on knives

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02/14/2022

Happy Valentine’s Day!

12/23/2021

Just a tad sharp! Just finishing up some final touches. This one will be available!

12/22/2021

Another knife coming along. Should I do a dark etch on this one or polished?

12/05/2021

Just finished this one up and figured I’d give my Facebook friends first dibs. 1084 steel, mosaic pins and cocobolo handle. Shoot me a message if you’re interested or come see me tomorrow at Country Club Park at the Christmas expo!

03/22/2021

Nothing like a day of concave fronts and some handmade hinds to match! This horse is headed to the Classic in Guthrie. Call to schedule and appointment! 720-539-0588

01/01/2021

Starting off the new year right! I have openings coming up for 2021, message me to get on the schedule.

12/19/2020

*copied*

The Farrier.

Wake up, alarm clock blaring. Push a tired body out of bed, driven by determination, discipline and being of their word.
Coffee in a cup held by a tangling of aching joints and scars.
The few moments of peace before heading off to meet an owner, to spend a day of ringing in the ears, aching feet, back screaming.

“Stand mare” you beg as the memory of a close call burns into your brain—Sharp nails, sharp tools, 1,200lb unsettled flight animals with the strength and precision to change your life with one quick blow.

Juggling appointments. Last minute cancelations. Last minute, “emergency” stops.
Ungrateful clients, Gracious clients.

Cold hands burn and stick to even colder metal tools, shoes. Heart warmed by young children with questions and a roaring forge.

Clean—Clean. Balance. Shape—shape. Check your work—check your work. Line it up—check your work—Begin to drive a nail—hate the way it’s lined up—remove it. Do it again—Perfection.

Feel a hot breath on your neck. Body tenses, shrug off a bite.

“He won’t bite you.” The owner suggests.

Eye roll, know you’d rather not risk it but hide behind a polite face. Deep breath, patience.

New client? Scoffs at prices. Demands, demands. You? Meet the demands, to meet the demands again.

Take the blame. Differing opinions. Veterinarians, trainers, other farriers... “I read online.”

Striving to do your best. No—better than your best. You? Your biggest critic.

Watch lives change. Grow with clients, grow with horses.

Days of unsettled horses. Angry horses, spoiled horses, jerk-you-around horses, hang-on-your-back horses.

Last stop of the day. Few backyard trims. Breath of fresh air.

Old horse, 33. No teeth. Arthritic joints from years of tough work, tough demands. He met the demands.

He’s tender in his movements—quietly crippled by dull aches. Stands patiently for you, you wait patiently for him. Each joint, slow moving. Slow to give the leg, slow to bend, hard to hold—he tries. A mutual understanding of aching bodies. Quietness. Docile. Peace.

A soft voice—“he will be euthanized soon.”

You hold back emotion, swallow a tear. Make a polite comment. Back to work, hide your face.

Finish your job.

Run your hand down the back, feel a deteriorated body. Say goodbye. Go home.

Wake up, alarm clock blaring...

11/17/2020

One of those days! Accidentally made two left fronts! Built another shoe quick and got her done. Horse rotational deviations in the fetlocks causing him to land hard laterally. These sidebone shoes should help them out. Another pair of handmades went on an overdue horse!

11/16/2020