New Member

New Member Spotlight On June 18, 2009, we received a call at the BWFA Headquarters from a farrier, C. J. Ward, of Tulsa, Oklahoma. At age 62, and shoeing for 23 years, C. J. has had a very colorful life. He achieved his basic AFA in 1986 and his Journeyman in 1988. He is heavily involved in jumpers, dressage, navicular, and specializes in all hand made shoes. He won many shoeing contests in Oklahoma with farriers like Reggie Kester and David Goodson. C. J. called and said, “I’d like to join the BWFA and get some of these farriers out here signed up into a new group, host clinics, and encourage continuing education.” 

Here is his story in his own words . . .

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s life was very different than today; you fixed your own car, flats, repaired inner tubes. Many things were handmade, usually by you; old habits are hard to break.

I had worked with, and usually owned horses since about 16. After the service I worked as a transmission lineman for a few years; then, I started plumbing. Things were still done by hand. I was a master plumber when I went to the Oklahoma Farriers College; I installed the plumbing in the new school.

I had about 20 horses and farriers were hard to find, so I would do it myself. Bud Beaston and I had been friends, but after starting school we became closer. He appreciated my mechanical skills and began working with me personally. I really enjoyed the school and decided to shoe horses as much as possible. By the 80’s there were construction jobs starting in Kentucky and Florida, I did not want to go, so, I let my crews go and began shoeing full time.

As always, I was eager to compare my skills to everyone else and began shoeing competitions. Bud helped me with my business and paid me “well: to give classes at the school on forge welding with propane. Coal forges were still widely used and I used both at my truck, preferring coal even when welding aluminum. Coke was better for aluminum because it burned cleaner.

I was doing cutting horses in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. I did dressage, hunters, and jumpers, in the Oklahoma City area, Arkansas and around Tulsa. I was also doing quite a few navicular horses for several vet clinics, if you can wipe lead, you can weld aluminum. I made all my own shoes, so I didn’t have to practice for the shoeing competitions. I only had to buy nails occasionally, but I was prepared to make those if I had to. One of the veterinarians I did work for, jokingly told me about electricity and that I would like it; electricity was a big disappointment, however now I have a radio and I do have a grinder at home.

I started drain cleaning in the early 90’s and had been shoeing less and less ‘till about 1995 when I married Maria. The plumbing business was doing well but I was still shoeing horses in my dreams and I would wake up with bruises and sore legs.

About 5 years ago, I began helping a friend who rides trails, shoe his horses. I bought more tools and it grew rapidly. I have completely shut down the plumbing business now, and I’m once more a full time farrier.I still make my own shoes, and I work many of the horse shows here in Tulsa.

I was the official farrier for the 2009 Breeders Invitational Cutting Horse Show; we had 1500 of the top cutting horses, here in Tulsa for that show. We just finished  the holiday circuit. I still get grief from some of the other farriers about making my own shoes. At a recent demonstration I was giving, on the second day they brought out a draft horse. I had some 3/8’s steel on my rig and she got shod. How many of them would have had shoes for that horse. This is how I do it.

Thank you.

C. J. Ward,

BWFA Master Farrier TESTER

Tulsa, Oklahoma

This is a fine  sampling of his hand made shoes. He would like to share his knowledge with local farriers who want to learn more to better their business and shoeing techniques. C. J. Ward (918) 742-6194

Feel free to call him personally.

We welcome you into the BWFA!