Forging Brains Podcast

While we were at Well-Shod for the WCB Winter Clinic, we were fortunate to sit down with someone who knows a lot of history about competing at Calgary when it was held at the Stampede grounds, Marshall Illes! There were some stories i was surprised to hear in this episode.

Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com

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www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!

www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!

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First episode for the new year of 2026! We were at Riley's shop last week and discussed what we have done over the past year with Troy Wood. Troy was Reserve World Champion in 2025 but also wrapped up and won the 2025 National Championship this winter in Ft Worth, Texas hosted by the World Championship Blacksmiths. Jam packed year with Troy and myself qualifying for the 2026 WCB Team along with teammates Stan Mullen and Mason Mileski. We talk a little about what that dynamic is going to be like in this episode. And we announce what Riley and Gavine's demo is going to be at the Winter Clinic this week on thursday! Looking forward to seeing you all there and meeting some new folks at the WCB Winter Clinic hosted at Well-Shod in Amarillo, Texas!

Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com

Our Proud Sponsors of the Show

www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!

www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!

www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)

www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Our first "across the pond" episode! This week's guest is none other than the now 6-time World Champ, Steven Beane. It was great to hear how Steven got into this trade and learn about the ambition he has had since a young age. Carving his own spot in history as one of the most decorated farriers in our industry. In this episode you'll hear how Steven prepped himself to win his first world championship up until his most recent, the 6th title, this past September at Spruce Meadows in 2025. Something i thought to be incredible is amongst all the competing Steven has done throughout the years, he maintains a full book of horses regularly and told us that number is 800 horses! Unbelievable. Thanks to Steven for getting us set up with a mic over in the UK and help show your support by checking out his tool line at www.beanietools.co.uk if you're across the world or www.wellshod.com if you're in the US!

Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com

Our Proud Sponsors of the Show

www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!

www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!

www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)

www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Travis Koons is back! Our first episode with Travis wasn't long enough so we wanted him back to continue sharing more of what Master Koonzagi has to offer! We talked a little bit about what Travis has been up to since we last spoke to him and also the business side of shoeing, shoeing horses with concave and the many benefits and side effects flat wide shoeing affects a horse's limb/hoof, and vet to farrier communications how we can be more professional as a whole amongst each other. So buckle up and enjoy this great conversation we had with Travis Koons!

Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com

Our Proud Sponsors of the Show

www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!

www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!

www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)

www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

We've had a month to reflect on what has happened in the past 30 days ish.. And I was able to compete at 3 different contests in that time, the Blacksmith World Championships at Spruce Meadows, Farriers of Washington State Fall Conference, and the Virginia State Fair World Championship Blacksmiths competition. We talked about what happened at those contests, the highs and the lows, and what was learned through those events. Riley had guest, Andrew Neilson, out to his place for an elk hunt and was able to go hunt rams in Texas as well. All in all it was a busy month and we broke down what happened as to why we haven't had a podcast out for you in a hot minute. Also, let us know who you think would be a great line-up for our 100th episode! And we've also got a cool deal that we'll post about in the near future about a "forging kit giveaway" by purchasing a Forging Brains T-shirt. So stay tuned for details about that soon.

Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com

Our Proud Sponsors of the Show

www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!

www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!

www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)

www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Another solo pod with Riley and myself! This time we're chatting about my journey to Spruce Meadows this year so far. The trials and tribulations of practice, what all the classes are at Spruce, how I have been preparing myself, and what are some of my goals for this year. We'll try and do a recap episode after Spruce to talk about how the week went for me and others as well.

Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com

Our Proud Sponsors of the Show

www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!

www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!

www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)

www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

We've got a special guest this week with Jennifer Horn. You'll hear in this episode that Jennifer had the determination from day 1 to become a successful farrier and blacksmith. She managed to build a successful business, become a Certified Journeyman Farrier and compete at farrier contests while raising a family and managing a horse farm. A lot of people have seen the great works of art she has created as a blacksmith and is always generous to donate elaborate pieces to associations auctions to help raise funds. In the northern part of Michigan she has figured out a way to manage a farrier business and operate a blacksmith shop, which I Imagine isn't very easy to do. We enjoyed talking with Jennifer on this episode and hope you enjoy the listen!

Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com

Our Proud Sponsors of the Show

www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!

www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!

www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)

www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

Mason may not be very well known yet but he is dang sure doing his best by climbing through the ranks and trying to soak up as much as he can from those who are willing to offer their knowledge to him. Mason Mileski is a Utah farrier who has been shoeing for a short period of time but has made a big impact on his career by seeking help from top farriers in the industry. He didn't attend a farrier school but with his own motivation and persistence, he convinced his father in-law to teach him how to shoe horses. Though like most great farriers we've talked to on the podcast, he signed up for the Novice division at his states (the Utah Farriers Association) annual contest and learned so much by just diving in to get his feet wet and also meet so many like minded farriers who were willing to give up their time to help another out. From there he sought out the American Farriers Association certification system and convention competition. All the while he didn't know that he was going to be introduced to Bodie Trnka and become teammates in the Two-Man Draft Class. They eventually went on to win the Draft Class at the AFA Convention! Now Mason is competing at the WCB contests and placing well enough to have a shot at making the 2025 WCB Team. And something we haven't had many guests do to us on the podcast was have a couple questions lined up to ask us, so stick around to the end where Mason surprises us with a couple insightful questions for the us hosts! Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

We were honored to sit down with a legend in the PBR Bullfighting world, Shorty Gorham! You may be wondering what bullfighting and farriery have in common and why we sat down to hear from Shorty but in the short, it's work ethic. He didn't get into bullfighting for the fame or desire to get inducted into the PBR Hall of Fame, he did it because he enjoyed fighting bulls with a passion and the ability to master his craft to become the best. Like we do in the farrier trade, Shorty found great teachers and mentors that were able to push him to the next level of his career. We got to hear some great stories about how he got into bullfighting, a Border Patrol situation where they got to chase illegals coming into this country on horseback, how he shoes his own horses and his hunting guide service Escondido Hunting. Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

This week's guest is one a lot of people know, Conrad Trow! Conrad set out to horseshoeing school when he was 18 in Kentucky, coming from South Africa, when back home for an apprenticeship for a few years before making the decision to move back to the States for good. He's living proof of the American Dream and taking advantage of every opportunity he was offered along the way! He's been on the American Farrier's Team, won the Draft Class at Convention 5 times, been the AFT's Team Manager for almost a decade, took over the Grand Circuit farrier products business, and eventually becoming partners with John Harshbarger into the Well-Shod business and Grand Circuit. He's a busy guy and we appreciate him sharing with us on the podcast!

Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.com

Our Proud Sponsors of the Show

www.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!

www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!

www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)

www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!