"American Cincinnatus" by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris depicts George Washington at work at the anvil. But who is the smiling black m...

In mid-1941, the United States was still politically neutral as war erupted in Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The Atlantic wasn't saf...

"Work will make you free" promises the sign above the gate at the entrance of Auschwitz in Poland, the site of one of the worst...

It's the first Saturday in May. Theories abound about how to pick the winner of the Kentucky Derby, but there's no doubt that th...

Suds stream down the hooves of American Pharoah's legs during a bath at Belmont Park last week. How can such an extraordinary horse ru...

                             Sponsored Post from Blacksmith Buddy                                        Practice makes perfect...sense,...

In this mystery of riddles, a man lies dead in the churchyard. The blacksmith's hammer is found nearby. Surely he committed the murde...

The Calgary Stampede did not provide photos of the awards this year, so The Hoof Blog had to go hunting for some. We found a perfect ...

Best of luck to California horseshoer Judd Fisher as he waits to find out if the horse with his shoes on will make history today by beco...

Sometimes a great event gives me a chance to dig into the archives and find some lost facts that deserve to have another chance to shine.

Whenever a big race is coming up, you'll see The Hoof Blog joyfully tweeting good wishes to jockey Rosie Napravnik. She is, after all,...

The amazing horse light sculptures in the Sochi Olympics opening ceremony told the Russian legend of each day's sunrise being pulled a...

One of the world's greatest poets died on Friday. Ireland's Seamus Heaney was one of those people who bridged the past and the pr...

The Mustad family carried on the tradition of sponsoring the World Championship for farrier/blacksmiths at the Calgary Stampede in Can...

What do you say to someone who is new in the profession? Sometimes it's best to be quiet and hear what they have to say. You migh...

It's Flag Day in the USA. That seems like a cue to tell my favorite story about a flag from far away and long ago. Close your eyes ...

In this ad from the Daily Racing Form in 1931, Victory proclaims that racehorse Mate ran in the Preakness wearing the new-fangled aluminum ...

H O O F    B L O G   S P O N S O R E D   S T O R Y The Blacksmith Buddy  The Blacksmith Buddy was designed with students like the...

One of the remaining forges in Kilkenny, Ireland. This one is in Kilfane. It has three bays; the center one has a horseshoe-arch doorway...

Have you ever been to Ireland? Just click on the "play" icon and you can go there, for a half-hour or so, at least. But hang on ...