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Over six years ago, a young(er) Christopher Payne from Easton set his sights on one of the lesser-known trades. Today, Payne owns and operates Shore Shoeing LLC, a one-man farrier business based out of Preston. “Based” is generous, though – he spends most of his time on the road, traveling from Earlville to Middletown to Berlin and everywhere in between. For rural communities like the Mid-Shore, farriers are an essential part of keeping horses and other hoofed animals safe, sound, and able to do the activities we rely on them for.
Before Payne went to school to become a farrier, he “rode around” with a few local ones to get a feel for what the work required. Once he was sure of his decision to enter the field, he traveled to Missouri for six months to get all the modern training someone in his shoes would need. Payne explained that “the old style would be, you apprentice under another guy.” Rather than go that route, he decided to attend the trade school because “not that the old guys don’t know stuff, but sometimes they’re just stuck in their old ways.” When he returned to the Eastern Shore, he continued to work under another established farrier until he launched Shore Shoeing. Still, he thinks continuing his education in his career is important, “There’s some more advanced stuff you can do,” he said, “It’s good to keep up with it.” When he can fit it in his busy schedule, he said he tries to “go to one or two” educational opportunities a year.
Nothing in particular led him to the farrier life, except “I like working outside, working with my hands, and running my own business,” Payne said. Of course, running a solo operation is not for the faint of heart. His days are often 10 to 14 hours long, sometimes more. He does this five days a week, dodging the changing seasons and sun patterns. Winter, he said, has a particular set of challenges, as daylight shrinks and temperatures drop. But Payne has grown a strong clientele throughout the Shore.
Ask him to describe what a farrier does, and he’ll tell you it’s “essentially, just trimming fingernails.” But that’s too simple a definition. In reality, farriers play a big role in keeping horses and other animals healthy. Hooves grow continuously, just like our fingernails, and without proper care, they can split, crack, or grow unevenly, leading to discomfort or even serious injury. For many horses, horseshoes are an important part of keeping them balanced and safe. Payne said his main objective is “just making the horse comfy.” “They’re standing on their nails all day long, and sometimes they’re not good without shoes.” He mostly works with horses, but also has been known to help donkeys, mules, and even the occasional pig (although that last one is his least favorite – if you’ve heard a pig squeal, you can assume why). Each week, he typically tends to 50 to 60 horses, each with its own needs.
Payne explained that different animals require different approaches, based on their environment, workload, or other factors. For instance, horses that pull carriages on the road need shoes with more grip to avoid slipping on asphalt. Others who spend most of their time in fields may only need routine trims. A big part of Payne’s job is reading the animal in front of him and adjusting his techniques accordingly.
This line of work demands a broad skill set. Payne says that to be good at it, “you need people skills, business skills, and horse skills.” Also, the strain of the task is often underestimated. He said that people tend to question his rates, only to change their tune once they’ve tried their hand at it. “I don’t think a lot of people quite understand the physical demand,” he said, “I’ve had people kind of complain about what I’m charging. And then they get under their own horse, and they’re like, ‘okay, never mind.’ The physical demand to do it is more than people think.”
All that leaning, lifting, and bending to ensure a horse is comfortable sure takes a toll on the human body. Payne regularly sees a chiropractor and a massage therapist to keep himself straight. “I want to be able to walk when I’m 50,” he said, “and be able to hopefully have grandkids one day, and be able to do stuff with them.” Like any good farrier, he also knows when to step away. Some horses simply aren’t safe to work on due to age, injury, or behavior, and Payne draws a firm line. “It’s not worth getting hurt…I’d rather lose the money than a few weeks or my life or my career.”
Payne’s favorite part of his job is “the satisfaction of making the horse comfortable and, like anything else, when you get it done and it looks good, it makes you feel proud of yourself.” The toughest part, he admits, is usually the people, not the horses, “Not necessarily everybody, horses do have their moments, but I just have to deal with the horse and the person.”
Farriers like Payne are just some of the necessary supporters of rural life, ensuring that horses stay healthy and safe for riding, work, and companionship. Without them, many of the equine activities people enjoy, and sometimes require, wouldn’t be possible. That’s part of why Payne offers this simple piece of advice to anyone who owns a horse or is thinking about getting one: “Make sure you call a good farrier when you need one, and hold on to them.”
For anyone considering the trade, Payne noted that “you can make a good career out of this.” As a reward for all his hard work, Payne said he has gotten to meet some interesting people along the way.
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My photos that I sent to you and Mickey were taken at Amazing Grace Stables & Sanctuary in Madison, Maryland. The horse’s name is Milo, and the girl’s name is MJ. She works for the stables, not for Chris. I don’t know much about Mickey’s pics, but I can find out more info if you’d like!
