Final Approach With Chris Gregory

Mitch and I have known each other since the late 90s.  He is a father, grandfather, preacher, pilot, business owner, and cowboy who is kind to all and has a heart to help wherever he sees the need.  Just the sort of great man that you would want in politics.  We have a great talk about this wonderful world we live in.  Thanks for joining me.  We are cleared for takeoff.

In this episode I get to interview an interesting and multifaceted cowboy/game warden, Scott Brown.  Scott shares some of his tricks for starting colts, riding horses, raising kids, surviving a law-enforcement career and navigating this tricky world we live in.  He is a down-to-earth and humble man that has a lot of great stories and insights, and you are going to want to know him better after this interview.  We are cleared for takeoff.

This is an interesting conversation with Mike Norris. Mike is a farrier with over 30 years of experience, having started his career in Colorado at the Colorado School of Trades in 1993 while I was still running that school. His specialty is the long-footed horse, and we get to talk about shoeing in that world. He is colorful character, to put it mildly, and hides nothing as he tells stories of a wild ride through life. Mike hides nothing as he talks about losing his son, scrapes with the law, and dealing with truck-defacing peacocks. This conversation took over two hours...

Bud and Hannah met when they attended Heartland Horseshoeing School, where they return every year to play a part in the lives of the incoming new students.  I sat them down to discuss their paths to becoming farriers, challenges faced, and their future aspirations. Hannah details her transition from a medical secretary in Alaska to becoming a farrier, while Bud shares his experience working on a dairy farm and as an arborist before deciding to pursue farriery. They emphasize the importance of hard work, passion, and good client communication. We talk about their business, injury experiences, and the importance o...

Renowned farrier Jace Ellis shares decades of experiences from his life and career.  He attended horseshoeing school in 1984 and has been shoeing horses ever since. Farriery has allowed Jace to do anything he has ever wanted to do in this life. 

Jace recounts various aspects of his career including his first marriage, his son following in his footsteps, and the challenges of maintaining both personal relationships and business standards over the decades. His insights delve into the technical and business sides of being a farrier, alongside memorable stories of dealing with bad horses and complex shoeing techniques. Be...

I get the honor or introducing you to expert farrier, horseman, pickup-man, and longtime friend, Robert McClaran.  This episode is filled with personal stories, professional insights, and a deep appreciation for the craft and community of farriery.  We talk about the cold plunge routine and its benefits, Robert's experiences with picking up broncs at rodeos, and the profound impact of community and mentorship in his life. The best seat in the house at a rodeo is on a horse in the middle of the arena, but right now, it is wherever you are sitting to enjoy our little visit.  We a...

This episode is about Shearer Wludyka, a Heartlander from Anderson, South Carolina, who attended Heartland Horseshoeing School in 2013. Shearer reflects on her journey, detailing her challenging childhood in foster care and how she pursued higher education, eventually earning a degree in graphic design. Despite working corporate jobs, she found her passion in horseshoeing. Shearer shares her experiences building a successful farrier business, her approach to therapeutic shoeing, and her aspirations to start a horseshoeing school. She emphasizes the importance of hard work, people skills, and ongoing learning in her career. You are going to get a lot out of...

Chris Gregory sits down with his son Cody Gregory, FWCF with honors, to discuss Cody's journey in the industry, their shared history, and insights into successful parenting and goal-setting. They talk about how Cody started as a young farrier, his experiences growing up around horseshoeing, and his journey to achieving his Fellowship with honors from the Worshipful Company of Farriers. The discussion also covers Cody's experiences starting a tool company, improving manufacturing processes, and his approach to homeschooling and raising children. The conversation emphasizes the importance of perseverance, goal-setting, and continuous learning, whether in their craft, personal development, or...

In this episode of 'Final Approach with Chris Gregory,' Chris interviews Ross Zeiger, a technically skilled and knowledgeable guest discovered through YouTube. Ross shares his background, growing up in Washington State, attending the University of Washington, and joining the Marine Corps. He discusses his experiences in flight school, a stint as an Air Support Control Officer, and deployments in Okinawa, Thailand, Philippines, and Korea, where he met his wife. The discussion covers a variety of topics including their stay in Mexico City, his adventurous eating habits, and travel experiences in Nepal. He now runs https://www.descriptmastery.com...

I call this episode The Hoofsmith’s Path.  From losing his dad as a toddler and being raised in the city by a single mom to becoming a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers Examiner, Mark Trussler’s life reads like a classic heroes journey to get where he is now.  His is an inspirational story of grit and I had a great time getting to know him.  You will too.  We are cleared for takeoff.

Brought to you by:  Heartland Horseshoeing School

I can’t believe it’s been thirty years. ...

There are few things better than seeing your kids grow and succeed in life, and Kelly and I are proud of what ours have accomplished.  It is such an honor to sit down with Jacquelyn and talk about where she is in life and her passion of raising good protein to keep her family healthy and help other people who want to eat superior and nutritious food.  Raising kids, cattle, pigs and chickens while taking care of several hundred acres, a farrier practice, and staying in front of the marketing that goes with being an entrepreneur in this day an...

The title of this episode is Foot Soldier to Foot Fixer where I have the privilege of sitting down with combat Vietnam Veteran and Certified Journeyman Farrier Jerry Franklin.  Jerry has over 70 years of horse experience, coming from a Texas farm and ranch background.  He is still an active farrier and enjoys sharing his knowledge with the young farriers that come through Five Star Horseshoeing School, his son Dusty’s business in Oklahoma.  Jerry served in the thick of the fighting in Vietnam, seeing and surviving the horrors of war.  I get him to tell a few of those storie...

I call this one: A Tale of Two Farriers.  I sit down with farrier, father, husband, creator and fellow podcaster, Caleb Erickson.  We just happen to share a multitude of beliefs, as I discovered through our conversation, and I get to reflect a little on this trade of farriery that I love.  Caleb produces The Dying Breed podcast and has a very active YouTube channel with lots of content for those that like horses and their hooves.  I really enjoyed being a part of this one.  We are cleared for takeoff.

The Heart of a Farrier.  In this podcast I have the pleasure of interviewing Eric Nygaard.  Eric started shoeing in the early 80s, and he became a mainstay in the industry, especially in the American Farrier’s Association.  Playing pivotal leadership roles throughout the decades, Eric hasn’t missed a convention since he started, despite devastating health problems that would have sidelined most.  The heart of a farrier is the perfect name for this episode, and you are going to like getting to see another side of Eric Nygaard.  We are cleared for takeoff.

Stunt rider, racehorse trainer, farrier apprentice and son of a true Bedouin, Sultan Al Ameri has quite a trail behind him for such a young man.  Sultan works for Alex Mercer in the UK, and Cody and I were doing a little forging alongside Sultan.  Between heats I got the chance to visit with Sultan and knew that you would all love to hear his story.  So here it is.  We are cleared for takeoff.

In this interview I get the priveledge of sitting down with Shannon Rollins, the creator of the YouTube channel, Cowboy Kent Rollins.  At over 3 million subscribers, Shannon is The Genius Behind the Legend.  I hired her to do a little clinic in the Heartland, and it was a wonderful opportunity to get some first-hand direct education on doing what I'm trying to learn how to do better.  You are really going to enjoy getting to know Shannon, so sit back and enjoy this inspiring epidsode.  We are cleared for takeoff.  

I am honored to bring a small part of Paul Jones’s story to you through this podcast.  Soldier warrior, soldier farrier, natural born leader, entrepreneur, and family man, Paul rings the bell in every aspect of his life.  Patriotism brought him to the military and a wartime injury in Afghanistan brought him to farriery.  Even though this one is super short, you will be inspired by Paul’s determination and ability to rise above it all.  We are cleared for takeoff.

I would love to introduce you all to an amazingly generous and talented farrier from the UK named Alex Mercer.  Alex has extended the use of his shop to numerous farriers from around the world that come to the UK to advance their skills.  We got to visiting, and I found out that this man has a great story to tell.  Sit back and enjoy getting to know my friend, Alex Mercer.  We are cleared for takeoff.

I am thrilled to get a chance to introduce all of you to Simon Kalas. Simon is the owner of Almat Flying Academy at the Coventry Airport in Coventry, England. I had some time to kill at Stoneleigh in 2023 and decided to rent a plane and get a different view of the beautiful English countryside. That led me to Simon. Simon had a plane to rent and an instructor I could hire to go up with me. 

As I got to know this mechanic turned pilot turned flight school owner, I found another interesting story to tell.

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 49 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 48 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Dusty Franklin. Well, he's back. I'm so happy to be sitting here with my friend of almost 30 years, famous farrier and school owner, Dusty Franklin.  Dusty has had a life-changing year, and he is back out in the world for one of his first times in six months to work a certification in the Heartland.  The Heartland is almost home for Dusty, and it made me smile to see his incredible smile as he walked around today and shared his wisdom and insights with dozens of farriers on their journey through the certification process. 

I asked Dusty to...

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 47 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 46 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 45 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 44 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 43 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 42 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 41 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

JT Timmons is the owner of Palmetto Forge Farrier from Abbeville, South Carolina.  He came to the Heartland to work toward some higher level goals in farriery, and as I got to know him, I discovered a couple of things.  Those things were that JT is a natural born storyteller, and… he has quite the story to tell.  You are going to be amazed as you get to know a little more about JT through this interview, so sit back and enjoy.  We are cleared for takeoff.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

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Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 40 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 39 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 38 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 37 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 36 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 35 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 34 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

Segev Lazarovitz, Israeli soldier and farrier, with his Canadian wife Julia Lazarovitz, are a couple of Heartlanders who found each other here when they attended school in 2021. Their world has seen some drastic changes as they took their newlywed lives to Israel, just a couple of weeks before Hamas attacked on October 7th, 2023. They are back in the Heartland for a week as they work on some advanced skills, and I talked them into sitting down with me for this interview. Segev is a man of few words, but hearing it straight from an Israeli soldier who is still...

Please enjoy an excerpt from the book written by Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF. Here is Chapter 33 from For the Want of a Shoe the Horse Was Lost.

For more information about Chris Gregory CJF ASF FWCF:

https://chrisgregoryauthor.com/

https://www.heartlandhorseshoeing.com/

 If you are in any part of the farrier industry, you know John Hershbarger, of Well-Shod in Amarillo, Texas. He is a problem solver like few others, and this has led to a successful marriage, a successful business partnership, and a thriving farrier supply. You won't find a more likable man who has time for everyone. He puts people first and it shows in the success that is Well-Shod.  He has grown more than one business and even found time in there to learn how to forge at a level where he can compete in farrier contests. Even though hi...