Check Out Laura Gillespie’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Gillespie

Hi Laura , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started shoeing horses at 16 in Montana where I grew up, I had some fantastic mentors that encouraged me and helped me realize that this was the path I was going to take with horses.
I went to Montana State when I graduated high-school, and studied under Tom Wolfe in their farrier program.
I had a business in Montana shoeing, among other things from time to time, ranching, outfitting, guiding, riding young horses, etc. I had never worked in an office or indoors a day in my life
I moved to Huntsville AL in 2012 after I got divorced, and started a business again from scratch. I bartended as I was building a business in north Alabama and Tennessee. I had a full book of horses, and quit bartending in 3 years.
I have now been living here almost 13 years, I have the absolute best clients and horses I could ever ask for, that show all over east of the Mississippi mainly in show jumping, in hunters, dressage and eventing. Also some fox hunters and hunt seat (western) type horses.
I have made friends all over the world shoeing horses, and have been asked to speak at conferences on several occasions in regards to my business and therapeutic shoeing, as well as had several articles published in the American Farriers Journal.
I firmly believe in continuing my education, as I have been involved in several CE clinics and short schooling programs, Mainly with veterinarians.
I believe if you want to succeed at something and have a career, you must work for it, no matter what and sometimes have to make sacrifices.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I moved out of my parents house at 16, as my mother was impossible to live with, but found horses as always my solace. I could understand them, and they were at peace around me. Horses and cattle became my life, in every aspect. Foaling, training, riding, working cattle, outfitting in the Montana wilderness for months at a time, I have ridden and shod and been around thousands of horses at this point in my life. None of that learning was easy, and it took alot of very long days and frustration.
Being a woman in a predominantly man’s world had its own challenges, however once I proved myself, which as a female in the farrier world and the ranching world, you have to work twice as hard and keep your head down. There is no whining and complaining or quitting. I had several men help me so much in the beginning of my career, the middle, and encouraged and taught me to where I am now. They never pushed me aside, because they knew I was dedicated to learning everything I could about this craft. Sometimes working 20 hour days.
I learned to be thick skinned, and never boastful, humble and always open to learning from everyone. Even when it was what not to do at times.
When you start in this business, one of the big challenges is that you don’t start by getting good horses and clients. You start with horses no one wants to work on, the customers that no one else will deal with, but, if you’re good, and stick with it, you will get to the well behaved professionals horses and customers. It will take years if you have no one handing you a business, as I didn’t. You have to have skill and knowledge of horses and a humble attitude with sheer stubborn work ethic

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a farrier / blacksmith. I shoe horses, mainly show horses for professional trainers. I am mainly known for my therapeutic work, being able to see and help most lamenesses to the best of the horses ability , and correct faults in gaits in the disciplines I shoe.
I am most proud when a horse that’s been lame, in the way of not being able to work or do it’s job, especially in the jumping aspect, goes to a big rated show and places in the top few in a big class.
But it also makes me very proud when
an old horse who hasn’t been able to get around comfortably for a while, be able after proper shoeing and mechanics applied (which takes very precise and specific education) to walk and trot with minimal pain and see them be happy again
I own myself 3 horses, 2 professional horses with a trainer, Lee Johnson, (at the time this article is published, he is tragically deceased) 1 competing in show jumping and the other in the hunter ring. Also a retired quarter horse mare that’s 28 and living her best life in a field, after a phenomenal show career in the AQHA world.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was always outside, building forts, collecting rocks, riding horses. I worked with and went with my Dad as much as I could. He was my hero and I learned the most from him as far as personality and work ethic.
I always loved animals, I was fascinated with everything in nature, plants, trees, soil, and their old school medicinal purposes. We lived in the middle of Montana on a ranch, from the time I was 11, all thru til I left to work on a ranch and shoe horses, so there was mainly me, my sister, horses and the big sky country Prairie.