That one compliment from an old timer in Lubbock

I was shoeing a paint mare last Tuesday when this retired farrier, probably 70 years old, just watched me from the fence line for a good 20 minutes. He walked over after I finished and said "you got a nice touch with nervous horses, kid" and honestly that meant way more than any certification I've ever gotten. Anyone else remember a specific compliment that stuck with them?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_sean5mo ago

@daniel_cooper34 you nailed it, that's exactly the kind of old timer who doesn't waste words on fluff. I had a similar deal a few years back with an old horseman in Wyoming who watched me start a green colt and just nodded and said "you let him figure it out without getting in his way." No big speech or critique, just a simple nod of approval from someone who'd seen it all. Those moments hit different because they know you didn't just get lucky with the horse, they saw you working with the horse. That paint mare comment from your guy probably meant more than any clinic or certificate could, like the old school validation that you're actually doing it right.

daniel_cooper345mo ago

Wait, a 70 year old retired farrier actually recognized when you were dealing with a nervous horse and took the time to compliment your handling? That's wild. Most old timers I've met just stand there critiquing every move you make, especially if they've been out of the game for a while. That guy clearly saw something real in how you work. For him to pick up on your touch with a paint mare of all horses, those can be real headcases sometimes. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little jealous reading that.

wright.leo5mo ago

Not sure I'd call paint mares "real headcases" compared to any other horse. They're pretty standard once you figure out their personality, like any horse. That old timer wasn't critiquing because he wasn't the type to do that. He was just quiet and watching, which is how a lot of old school farriers are.