Marc Setzer and his equestrian daughter, Emmalee, at the Ohio State Fair
World-class
Farrier: An Interview With Marc Setzer
by Gina McKnight
Archived from the December 2024 Issue of Florida Equine Athlete
No Duplication Without Permission
A
little over a year ago, my cherished mare, Zubedia, was in great distress,
struggling to walk. The situation seemed dire until the arrival of esteemed
farrier and blacksmith, Marc Setzer. Living in Langsville, Ohio, with his
equestrian family, Marc came highly recommended by a friend. With his expert
care and attention over the ensuing months, Zubedia’s condition significantly
improved, and I owe her newfound soundness entirely to Marc’s unparalleled
skills.
Marc Setzer is not just a local hero but a celebrated figure in southeastern Ohio, renowned for his mastery in metalsmithing and farriery. His impressive résumé includes two appearances on the History Channel’s "Forged in Fire," which further attests to his exceptional abilities at the forge. As the proprietor of Setzer Forge, Marc embodies expertise and dedication in his craft, making him a true artisan of our times.
I am profoundly grateful that Marc serves as my farrier. His genuine love for horses and his remarkable proficiency in resolving hoof-related issues have made a world of difference for Zubedia and me. Marc’s commitment and talent ensure that our equine companions receive the best possible care.
Welcome, Marc!
GM:
When did you meet your first horse?
MS:
That’s hard to say. I was more or less raised by my grandfather who was a
depression era farmer who used to farm with teams of drafts. I don’t recall him
ever NOT having a horse. My first horse was a Shetland pony that “Santa”
brought me on Christmas morning when I was four years old. I found out much
later in life that grandpa, the town barber, traded $25 and a haircut for that
pony and my mom, uncle and grandpa brought him home in the back of an old cargo
van because we didn’t have a horse trailer yet.
GM:
At what stage in your life did you realize you wanted to become a
farrier?
MS:
In 2005 I was a night shift grill operator at a Waffle House in a college town
when I knew I had to make a serious career change. I bombed out of BGSU and the
University of Toledo because I couldn’t learn in a large lecture hall
environment. I’ve always been a hands on learner. A close friend of mine told
me about Hocking college in Nelsonville Ohio’s horse program and I decided I
had to check it out. My grandpa had given me some farrier instruction and I was
doing some trimming on the side for pizza money and I thought it would be
something I could see myself doing. I didn’t have a car at the time so I hopped
on my motorcycle and made the 4+ hour drive from NW Ohio to SE Ohio to go on a
college tour. At the time, the farrier department had some absolutely
incredible instructors in their program and it took no time at all for me to
realize I had to be a farrier.
GM:
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
MS:
My grandpa of course was a big influence but he did things the old farm boy
way. It was functional enough but not necessarily pretty. I was so fortunate to
come to Hocking when I did. Lance Booth and Heath Harter were incredible
instructors that developed an intense curriculum that was both challenging and
educational. Later I got the opportunity to meet and apprentice under Kirk
Underschultz who filled in the gaps in my knowledge and trained my eyes to look
at the whole horse and not just the foot. The 3 of them taught me a golden rule
that all farriers should try to live by in their businesses: first and
foremost, do no harm.
I also need to mention a man named Doug Lockhart. He’s a blacksmith, artist and instructor as well as being an incredible guy. He might not be a farrier but what he’s taught me about hammer technique and the general mindset of being a true craftsman is worth its weight in gold.
GM:
As a farrier, what is the most important topic your clients should know
about hoof care?
MS:
There is no silver bullet. No trimming technique or special shoe can instantly
fix a horse and farriers, no matter their reputation, carry no magic wand in
their toolboxes. It takes communication and teamwork from the veterinarian,
owner and farrier to get the most out of a horse.
GM:
Take us through a typical day in your life as a farrier...
MS:
I’ll exclude the multiple coffee and snack stops lol. I try not to schedule any
stops before 9am so I can have a moment with my wife and daughters first thing
in the morning. I like to know what sort of mischief they have planned before I
leave for work. I try to fit in around 12 horses a day five days a week. On
days where I have multiple shoeings and less trims, that number is way lower. I
also try to group my clients into regional loops so I’m not traipsing all over
southern Ohio in the same day. Parkersburg one day, Athens, Logan or Jackson on
separate days. Invariably there’s always an emergency, especially during prime
show and trail riding season that I’ll fit in between barns. My days aren’t
really work. Sure it’s physical but I don’t shoe or trim for anyone that I
don’t respect and that makes it a joy to go to work.
GM:
As an award-winning blacksmith, you've gained accolades both locally and nationally
and competed professionally on the TV Show Forged in Fire twice!
What a great accomplishment! What did you learn from this experience and will
you be on the show again?
MS:
I love blacksmithing. As a kid I would go to craft shows and sit in front of
the blacksmiths for hours. I got a seasonal job at the Toledo Metroparks after
high school taking people down a restored section of the Miami and Eerie canal
on a boat pulled by draft mules. On rainy days guests didn’t want to ride the
boat so I went into the working water powered lumber mill and help/learn from
the resident blacksmith. Blacksmithing became my hobby very quickly. I began by
making camping items. My whole family loved being outdoors so I made items for
around the campfires like tripods and hooks. Then I got into knife making. Even
the ugliest handmade knife will outperform the most expensive junk from the
sporting goods store so I started making knives. I gave my brother in law Matt
a knife I had made for his birthday, right around the time history channel
aired the first season of Forged in Fire. He immediately started bugging me
about going on the show. Every time I saw him he’d ask, “Did you apply for the
show yet?” This went on for months. Finally at thanksgiving I had enough of his
hounding so I got up from the dinner table and got on the computer. Within
minutes I had found the application online, applied, printed off my application
confirmation notice and threw it in his mashed potatoes. “There!” I said, “now
I’ve applied, get off my back!”
I
never expected to be contacted. Just before Christmas I got a call, “Hello, I’m
the casting producer for Forged in Fire and we’re interested in having you on
the show.”
I
got a free trip to Connecticut, a nice hotel room, great food and all I had to
do was make a fool of myself on National Television. I’m not a blacksmith by
trade, it’s a hobby that sort of pays for itself. I knew immediately that I was
outclassed but it didn’t matter. I had a blast, learned so much and made some
incredible friends. Including the judges. They are 10Xs cooler in person than
they are on TV. The reason they’re on the show is because they are masters in
their crafts.
When my episode aired I was overwhelmed by the support and recognition I got from Athens county and really Ohio in general. People would stop me in public and tell me they saw me on TV. I got contacted by craft shows, festivals and town functions to come and demonstrate blacksmithing. I was even approached by the Bob Evans farm festival to be their resident blacksmith to which I immediately accepted.
I’ve learned so much from the experience and have been blessed by so many opportunities. I’m always going to be in debt to the history channel for the opportunity.
GM:
A great story, Marc! We are all proud to know you and celebrate your accolades!
Do you have advice for new riders looking for their first horse?
MS:
You absolutely, positively must have a connection with your horse. Looks, color
and breed don’t mean a thing if you don’t have that connection. Trust your gut.
You’ll know when it’s the right match.
GM:
What does horsemanship mean to you?
MS:
Horsemanship means horse sense. You can be a 10X consecutive 1D barrel rider
but if you don’t know your horse inside and out you’re not a horseman. My
grandpa had a firebrand of an Arab. I never saw that thing take a walking step.
He pranced everywhere he went. Grandpa always looked like a king on parade even
though all we ever did was trail ride. We were at a 4-H function at Harry
Hughes youth equestrian center in the Toledo Ohio area. There happened to be an
open contesting show going on and most of our club were contesters. We started
ribbing grandpa about his “desert donkey” and betting him he couldn’t whip us
in the down and back. With a knowing grin he made the bet that if he won we had
to do the camp dishes for the weekend. Of course we accepted. Little did we
know that every day he worked with his gelding. Every day he was in the barn
with a hand on that horse. They had such a connection that we didn’t with our
mounts. Even though he never showed a day in his life they beat the tar out of
us. That’s the key to horsemanship. Not the amount you think you know but how
good of a connection you can have with your horse. I’m not a great farrier. I’m
not as well versed on all the new products and techniques as I should be. I
definitely need more time studying. But I try to make a connection, to really
know the horses I work with. All the knowledge of conformation and anatomy
won’t replace being a good horseman and that’s what I strive for.
Connect
with Marc…
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