Cody Gregory | CJF, ASF, AWCF
Who is 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, and shod his first horse all around on his own when he was 8. He was forge welding and making everything from hoof picks to knives before he was out of grade school.
As a small child, 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.
In 2009, at the age of 17, Cody received a Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. He also achieved the amazing accomplishment of earning the Associateship of the Worshipful Company of Farriers exam at the age of 19.
Winning his fist buckle in a farrier competition at the age of 6, Cody has since competed all over the US and several international competitions. He was the alternate on the American Farrier’s Team in 2012 where he won first place at the Internationals Alternate Class in Stoneleigh. In 2013, 2014, and 2015 he earned a spot on the World Champion Blacksmith Team. Cody was the WCB National Champion in 2014 as well, and was part of that team when they won the world title at Calgary in 2015. He was also the top placing American in Calgary at the World Championship Blacksmiths Competition in 2013, and has won the Capewell Cup at the American Farrier’s Association annual convention and contest.
He did his first clinic for the Iowa Farriers Association in 2008. He has since done dozens of clinics around the world. His deep understanding of anatomy has led to him doing several whole horse dissection clinics, including one for the national convention of the American Farrier’s Association. Cody worked 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 served as a tester for the American Farrier’s Association, and has helped many people achieve their certification goals.
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. When his dad wrote Gregory’s Textbook of Farriery, Cody did many of the anatomical drawings that appear in the book.
Cody started his own manufacturing business called Cody Gregory LLC, making high quality farrier related tools. His tools are used by some of the best farriers in the world. He is in the process of completing a small factory outside of town for his tool line.
2013 marked his marriage to fellow farrier Kirsty Ryzak from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. They have two beautiful daughters named Marcy and Heidi. They live on their farm in Missouri where they raise some cows and teach at Heartland Horseshoeing School.
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. His experiences from a young age put him in a rare situation of being able to see things in shoeing that escape many others.
In his free time, Cody enjoys spending time at horseshoeing competitions, flying, working on his farm, and travelling to teach farriery.
