Sierra Rash, a 14-year-old licensed farrier, trims a hoof on one of her horses. PHOTO BY DAVID LOWE Sierra Rash guides her horse out of the rain and under a covering, collects her tools and begins scraping the bottom of one of the animal’s hooves. Not quite 15 years old, Miss Rash — one of the youngest farriers in Lampasas County in recent memory — already acts like a veteran.

A longtime horse lover, Miss Rash, who provides trimming and shoeing services for nearly 25 clients, earned her farrier license in 2008 from the Texas Horseshoeing School in Scurry, southeast of Dallas. She is the school’s youngest graduate ever.

Her training included instruction in equine anatomy, foot biomechanics, hoof trimming, horseshoe shaping and the techniques of designing corrective shoes for horses that need gait modification. During most days of her two-week course, Miss Rash received about a half-hour of textbook instruction and then went outdoors for hours of practical work, sometimes at horse owners’ ranches.

John Burgin, Texas Horseshoeing School founder and instructor, recognizes Sierra Rash’s graduation from the school by presenting her with her horseshoeing license and certification. Her father, Jeff Rash, also a farrier, attended the horseshoeing school with his daughter.

“I was excited to learn something that would help me work with horses, do something I love, and be with my dad,” Miss Rash said.

Miss Rash’s parents have encouraged her and helped her build a list of regular clients. The young farrier’s skills have enabled her to reduce the cost of caring for her three horses and to save money for vehicle and college expenses.

She travels with her father nearly every weekend to horseshoeing jobs and, because of her training and a shortage of equine professionals — her father estimates only about 10 farriers work in Lampasas and Burnet counties — she can make several times more per hour than most teenagers earn at their jobs.

Along with regular income, Miss Rash’s work also offers her challenges. Holding up a horse’s feet and making an animal feel comfortable while its hooves are trimmed or shod require self-control, patience and a gentle touch. Sometimes, Miss Rash must restrain, lay down or hobble a horse, or use a sling that elevates one of the animal’s legs so she can work.

In addition to the horses she treats, Miss Rash trims a donkey’s hooves every six months and has learned that those animals often resist more than horses do. Although the miniature donkey she works with is relatively manageable because of its size, Miss Rash and her father had to hobble a large donkey she worked on in Burnet County.

“When you’re doing donkeys, you pretty much have to have a rope — or several,” her father said.

Communication with animal owners is important, Miss Rash said, especially when she anticipates having to restrain a horse. By informing owners in advance of how she plans to manage animals while trimming or shoeing, the teen tries to prevent misunderstandings and frustration. Occasionally, however, Miss Rash turns down a trimming job if an animal has not been treated properly and is too difficult for her to handle.

“She knows her limitations, and she’s quick to tell people, ‘Hey, I can’t do that,’” said Miss Rash’s mother, Tracy Rash.

As she learns, Miss Rash is not afraid to attempt difficult tasks, though. She has worked with a partially blind horse, and her parents said she is willing to manage stubborn animals that other farriers might decline to handle. That patience enables her to maintain her poise when caring for difficult horses, which can take an hour and a half to trim.

Because of her love of horses, Miss Rash relishes the challenges of her work.

“It’s an easy job,” she said. “I like doing it, so it’s easy to do.”

Customers who use their horses primarily for trail riding typically need only trimming services and not horseshoes for their animals. By trimming hooves every six to eight weeks, Miss Rash helps animals maintain proper circulation through their lower limbs and also prevents pain and excessive growth in the “frogs” — sensitive parts of the feet.

Before trimming a horse’s hooves, Miss Rash pets the animal and runs a hand down the leg she plans to pick up to let the horse know she is preparing to work on its hoof. Then the farrier removes dirt from the foot with a hoof pick or screwdriver. Next, she cleans the sole with a hoof knife. This ensures the sole does not become too thick, as walking can be painful for an animal if the bottom of its hoof is not thinned properly.

Miss Rash then uses nippers to trim off the hoof walls, and she rasps the horse’s heels to ensure the horse displays the correct balance and stance for its intended work.

Horses ridden heavily or on concrete, as well as those often used in events or competitions, need horseshoes, which Miss Rash fashions using equipment in her pickup truck. When shoeing a horse, she measures each hoof, as sizes vary not just from animal to animal but also from one leg to another. Miss Rash purchases many shoes in advance so she has plenty in stock to shape when a customer needs her to shoe a horse.

With a growing list of clients, including one horse owner near Rumley whose horse Miss Rash rides and grooms regularly, the young farrier stays busy. An incoming Lampasas High School freshman, Miss Rash balances her farrier work with an extracurricular schedule that includes volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, pole vaulting and regular trail rides with the Lampasas Riding Club. She also plans to participate in FFA and Texas High School Rodeo Association events, show a steer and join the horse judging team at the high school.

“She’s setting herself up for success when she gets older,” Rash said of his daughter’s equine work. “With this, it helps her learn how to gain independence and learn how to use it responsibly.”

Much of that independence will come — none too soon, Miss Rash’s parents joke — when she earns her driver’s license next year.

“Right now I’m her chauffeur,” Rash said. “After November of next year I’ll be through. I won’t have to drive her around.”

That should be just fine, because Miss Rash continues to develop her own competitive drive. As Texas Horseshoeing School founder and instructor John Burgin told Rash when complimenting his daughter, Miss Rash has set a new standard for future aspiring farriers.

“Now all he tells them is you have to be 13 years old and 100 pounds and want to do it,” Rash said.

For his daughter, the combination of youth and perseverance has been perfect. When working under horses, she’s already starting to look like a time-tested professional.