The Staff

Chris Gregory

Kelly Gregory

A professional horseshoer since 1987, Chris Gregory is one of the most trusted names in farriery and hoof-care education. Through his commitment to improve equine footcare, over 1000 students have graduated from his horseshoeing programs, many times that have attended his clinics and lectures and thousands of hoof-care practitioners around the world have read his various articles and guides.

Chris holds several academic degrees, including a master’s degree in human resource development, two bachelor’s degrees (with a minor) and an associate’s degree.

An American Farrier’s Association Certified Journeyman Farrier, Chris has successfully passed this certification several times since first doing so in 1991. The AFA has recognized Chris with its Jim Linzy Outstanding Clinician Award twice, and Outstanding Farrier Educator Award 3 times.

Chris earned the title of Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (FWCF) at the age of 30. The Worshipful Company of Farriers, (WCF) is a group founded in London in 1356 and regarded by many as stewards of horseshoeing’s highest standards. Only 35 farriers currently hold this distinction, four of those Americans. In 2010, the Company named Chris an examiner, becoming the first American to work as an examiner for a WCF exam.

A sought-after educator, clinician and lecturer, Chris has appeared at farrier and equine footcare events across the United States and around the globe. He has presented numerous times at the American Farrier’s Association Annual Convention and the International Hoof-Care Summit. Chris judged the first certification for the South African Farrier Association and wrote the certification exam for the Association of Brazilian Farriers.

Chris’s writings has appeared in American Farriers Journal, Anvil Magazine, Rural Heritage, Loose Shoe, and Western Horseman, to name a few.
In 2008 at the age of 39, Chris was inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame, joining nearly 120 accomplished members.

A farrier school operator since 1991, Chris and his wife Kelly opened the Heartland Horseshoeing School in 1995. Their graduates have gone on to shoe every discipline of horses and develop noteworthy practices. Several of these students have been named “Rising Shoe Stars,” an annual award presented at the International Hoof-Care Summit to recognize the accomplishments of farriers who have graduated from a shoeing school 3 years prior.

Chris and Kelly Gregory are the proud parents of two children, Cody and Jacquelyn. In his free time, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, horseshoeing contests, writing, and running his farm outside Lamar, Missouri.


Thoughts on Staff:
When you chose a school, perhaps the very most important part of that choice concerns who the teachers at that school are.  At HHS, you will not be stuck with students teaching students.  You will not find that the people running the school are just graduates from the last class that wanted to stay around.  When you are at this school, you will be taught by the Gregory family.  This school has stayed small so that it could provide an unrivaled education.  The Gregorys will teach you to become a first-class, expert farrier, if you decide to spend some time with them, and dedicate yourself to working hard towards that goal.

Besides being Chris’s better half, Kelly Gregory is co-owner and an instructor of the Heartland Horseshoeing School.  Kelly’s experience with farriery began during her freshman year of college when she used to help Chris shoe in 1987.  Other than a 4-year hiatus spent at home raising the couple’s two children, Kelly has spent her professional life shoeing horses and educating students at the school.

Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in home economics (with a minor) and an associate’s degree.

An American Farrier’s Association Certified Farrier, Kelly has also participated and won several buckles in horseshoeing contests.  She was even the top finisher on their 4-man draft shoeing team at the World Championship Blacksmiths Competition during Calgary Stampede.

Cody Gregory

A fixture at the shop since he could walk, Cody now is an instructor at the Heartland Horseshoeing School.  Cody trimmed his first pony and made his first shoe when he was 4.
 
As a small child, when most children are committed to cartoons, Cody began working toward his goal of being the youngest American Farrier’s Association Certified Farrier, which he reached at 14. Not complacent with that mark, Cody passed the American Farrier’s Association Certified Journeyman Farrier exam at 15, shattering the previous record for the youngest to reach that mark.  The record had been 19.

In 2009, at the age of 17, Cody received a Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers.

Cody has vied in shoeing competitions throughout the U.S. and international destinations, earning his first buckle at the age of 6.

A dedicated educator, Cody became the youngest clinician when he did a clinic for the Iowa Farriers Association in 2008.  Cody also served as an examiner for the first certification for the Association of Brazilian Farriers, and was a judge for the South African Farrier’s Association national contest in 2008.

He has written for American Farrier’s Journal and has had his photography appear in the magazine.  He even had one of his photos appear as the cover of the American Farrier’s Journal.

Mature beyond his years, Cody provides keen insight that young shoers find easy to relate to and learn from.  Former students have commented how Cody’s input has accelerated their understanding of farrier theory.

In his free time, Cody enjoys spending time with horseshoeing competitions, working on his farm, and travelling to teach farriery.