Vultures, Horseshoes And Everything In-Between: A visit to Indiana farrier Tom Willoughby's shop gives insight to how practicing ornamental blacksmithing can translate to forging skills with horseshoes

摘要

More so than any predecessor, Facebook has connected people who have never met in person or likely ever will. One person who has thousands of friends, many of whom he has yet to shake hands with, is Crown Point, Ind., farrier Tom Willoughby.It isn't his hoof-care work that has earned this popularity, but his skills in ornamental blacksmithing. Pictures of his work are widely shared and amaze those who see them.Artistic blacksmithing it is somewhat of a recent pursuit for Willoughby. Although he's had a keen interest in blacksmithing since he began shoeing, it wasn't until arthritis in his back began limiting his shoeing workload several years ago that Willoughby began focusing on the artistic side of it.