About Us

  
In 1975, Doug Buck graduated at the top of his class from the Farrier Service Program at Olds Vocational College in Alberta. Based on the proven British/European system of training under a Master as an apprentice, Doug began building a multi-farrier practice.

Doug’s practice has grown though many years of learning and mastering the basics, resulting in the knowledge required to handle corrective, therapeutic, and other custom shoeing techniques. Doug’s practice had proudly seen 10 apprentices develop into first-class farriers.

Buck Farrier and Forge places a specific focus on European and Thoroughbred sport horses; however, this does not preclude his practice from catering to clients with other types (minis, light horses, draft horses). If you have four hooves, we are able to assist!

As professional farriers, we believe that a comprehensive understanding of both the physiology and biomechanics of the equine hoof is essential in order to meet our goals, whether corrective in nature, or a simple trim. We believe this knowledge is fundamental to the art of farriery. We also believe that every equine is an individual, and all decisions are based on the need of that particular equine. We are able to offer a highly customized service, since we have mastered old-furling techniques to customize shoes, and make orthotics. One of our other specialties is our ability to offer many variants of the traditional shoe that boxed shoes cannot offer. These services are available to clients, and other farriers.

Over the years of practice, we have had the privilege to shoe for many notable riders and trainers, and work in conjunction with their top vets. It is core to our practice that we partner with trainers, riders, and vets, in order to insure that the respective horse receives the most integrative care possible.

We have been fortunate to shoe some influential mounts, such as Rio Grande, Cagney (Eric Lamaze), many notable driving horses that attended the World’s, and even long-distance horses that went to the Pan Am games. Our goal is to provide you with outstanding service through knowledge, by combining old world techniques with new world technologies.