As most of you know I spent a week in West Texas recently. The main reason for the trip was to meet and get to know our new grandson Joshua. While there I spent two days with my son Samuel as he was out putting food on the table for his growing family. Sam is a farrier and blacksmith. I tagged along while he was trimming and shoeing horses. Here are a few images from those two days in no particular order. Hope you find them interesting.

I love the horse looking over his shoulder in the last picture making sure he's doing it right! In our modern world it's always refreshing and neat to see something manufactured so skillfully by hand. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Tony. Sam is very skilled. Many here will remember images from Calgary last year when he competed in the World Championship Blacksmith competition and finished in the top ten over 150 competitors form all over the world.

Great pixs, OT. Your son seems like a nice, hard-working fellow. Thanks for introducing him to us.

As a whole, you tell a great story here. I really like the 2nd and last one. The last one tells not only a story about Sam's work and labor, but the comedic side with the horse's "expression" adds a great touch. Nice job.

Thanks for the comment Loupey. I included that last one because of the horses reaction, glad you liked it. Sam is one of those people who is up before sun rise and works till he drops kind on people. The day I took these we were out of the house and on the road to the first clients before 6 AM rolled back in home about 7 PM. He makes the most of his daylight hours.

Ohhh NICE SHOTS OT!!!
These are the sorts of shots I wanted to get when I had a shoe challenge.
GREAT colours and clarity, as always!

Thanks Tony. Sam is very skilled. Many here will remember images from Calgary last year when he competed in the World Championship Blacksmith competition and finished in the top ten over 150 competitors form all over the world.

I remember your post and pictures from this event, Larry. I loved the pictures and remember how proud you were then - and still are - rightfully so.

I've said this before, but here goes. You have a wonderful family. Your images are not only excellent, but it's inspiring to look at the fruit of a wonderful happy marriage.

Liz

Congrats on the new bud on the family tree Larry. Nice shots. Could be used for promotional material but it sounds like he's busy enough as it is.

Thanks you Liz you're comments are always so positive and kind. And you are so right I am very proud of Sam's accomplishments in life and very pleased with his wonderful transition to fatherhood. My family is my greatest joy in life followed by photography.

Thanks you Chunk! Really great to hear from you. Hope all is well and that the art and the photography are progressing to suit you. Love to see some of your current work. I took a pattern and texture image just Saturday with you in mind. Start us a new thread so I can show it off.

Thanks Alison! I love tagging along with Sam when he works and he seems to enjoy the images I get. This last time however he put me to work. I basically tended the fire and pulled nails and cleaned up shoes and got them ready for him to fit and nail on. I learned a lot in a short time. One of the main things I learned is that a forge gets pretty hot and it doesn't take long to singe all the hair off your hand. And to stand back and to the side when you light it or you'll lose your eye brows as well.

He's probably going to end up sufferning with his back in years to come too.
Nice to see some of the old trades still surviving that's for sure.

He already has some back problems that date back to when he was a catcher on his high school baseball team. He has a contingency plan for his career as well. He is studying and learn the tool making. He currently works part time for a former championship blacksmith that makes and markets farriers tools. Sam is forming his own company and he is making as a start up enterprise Hoof knives. He is currently in the prototype and testing stage.

Many here will remember images from Calgary last year

I remember those! So much of the world runs on technology that it's great to see people still actually making things by hand and earning their living that way. And congrats on the new grandson!

Thanks Steve. Sam is a hands on guy for sure. He has been that way since he was a little guy. I wish that I was as self sufficient as he has made himself.

Hi OT!

As a major horse enthusiast, owner, horse photog, I am very glad to see that your son is in the 'Equine Industry'. Shoeing is very hard work, and tough on your back, legs. I can barely 'trim' my own horse's hooves. After just a couple of minutes of holding a leg, I'm in pain! This reminds me......I need to get my farrier out here to look at my Mare!

I'm sure that your son is very busy in West TX. If he runs out of horses out there, he'll find plenty in my area, and Boerne - San Antonio too! grins.

Take care and nice photos!

Kathy

Hi OT!
I'm sure that your son is very busy in West TX. If he runs out of horses out there, he'll find plenty in my area, and Boerne - San Antonio too! grins.

Kathy

Your right Kathy, Sam and Kate have more than they can handle now with their other obligations and commitments. However the first four images in this thread were on a ranch just outside of San Angelo, which is getting a little closer to you. I think he has a couple of friends that shoe in that area but it's a little further East and South than he goes. Most of his work is done to the east rather than to the west of Midland. He claims there are just better horses to the east.