Farrier of the Week: Eric A. Nygaard

Dear friends, it's time for another story of the industry professional.

Meet Eric A. Nygaard!

Eric has been in the farrier industry for over 40 years. He has shod all disciplines of horses but specialized in Dressage, Eventing, Hunter/ Jumpers and Combined Driving Horses.

Eric is a Past President of the Florida State Farriers Association and the American Farriers Association. He was President of the American Farriers Association in 2010/2011, and he and his committee were responsible for organizing over one hundred farriers for the 2010 World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, Kentucky, at the Kentucky Horse Park.

From 2009 to 2011, Eric was the Executive Director of the Florida Association of Equine Practitioners. As Executive Director, Eric ran the Veterinary Association, including putting on multiple continuing education seminars and the Equine Symposiums that they still hold today.

How did I get interested in Farriery?

I got interested in the art of Farriery at a young age, my family had a good friend that was a licensed farrier in Illinois, and I was always intrigued by his rough and gruff demeanour, listening to his stories and watching him work. This, along with my love of horses, got me interested in the equine industry.

When I was a teenager, I thought I would like to pursue a career in riding and training horses.

In 1980 – 1981 I attended Meredith Manor in West Virginia, an equestrian school and took Dressage and Blacksmithing as my two majors. After graduating in 1981, I soon realized that Farriery was my real passion and what I would like to do.

Why did I like to shoe horses?

The answer to this question is pretty simple for me! You take the science of metallurgy and the art of Farriery, put the two together, and have an exciting and satisfying career. There's nothing more satisfying than to see your forged finished product. Knowing that you saw a horse walk up in need and walk away a happier horse. In my 35 + years as a farrier, I still miss this aspect of Farriery today!