My Journey to Center of Balance Horseshoeing

On the plane ride home from horseshoeing school back in 1988, I unknowingly started myself on the journey to Ross Smith Center of Balance Horseshoeing. I set a goal to become the best farrier I could be and do everything I could to help horses. I didn't know at the time where this journey would lead me. Over the next several years I gathered as much knowledge and experience as I could. I never avoided a challenge even when I didn't know what to do. I just used my head and figured it out. I wasn't afraid to make mistakes, (and I made a lot of them) but I learned from them. I have always been very critical of myself and am always looking for a better way. I think outside the box. I have always challenged the norm, pushed the limits, did what "they" say is wrong just to see if it is really wrong, and a lot of the time, I found "they" are wrong. I go against tradition. I'm old school and a bit traditional, but too much tradition can be a bad thing. We need to change as the demands on our horses change.

I have dedicated my life to helping horses. I shod as many horses as I was able and learned as much as I could over the years. Through the years, I have built a reputation for helping horses with problems, and it was all good till age started catching up with me and I couldn't shoe as many horses as I used to or wanted to. Since I needed to slow down my own shoeing business, I have been training a few younger guys, some of who are now very good farriers.

I invented the COBIT, so that I could do a better job of helping horses. I made it for myself and never intended to sell it. I balked at the idea for several years. I'm a simple guy. Horses are my life. After 40 years of shoeing and continuing on my journey, I am still happy, just trying to help as many many horses as I can.