STEEL BENDER, EQUINE MENDER
FORGING THE BAR, THEN RAISING IT
By Stacy Strayer / Photos by Carter Photographics

Justin Frank is a blacksmith and certified welder, who loves a challenge that requires his artistic talents.

“I love any project that gets me hitting a hot piece of steel.” No higher truth could have been hammered out of Justin Frank, the owner of Knotty Pine Forge, who can morph a piece of steel to look like most anything – from roses, rocks and tree branches, to elk antlers, eagle feathers and animal sculptures. “I’m fascinated by actually changing the dimension of the steel with each forceful blow.”

Needless to say, he loves a challenge. “If it’s easy, it’s not worth doing,” insists Justin. “It’s the philosophy I’ve lived by my whole life. Shoeing horses isn’t easy, but it’s worth doing – same as blacksmithing.”

This is coming from a man that just started hand-making traditional Scottish swords out of layered steel and then acid-etching designs into them – “Renaissance-style“ – and one who cruises around on the chopper motorcycle he built for himself (for which he’s currently accepting custom orders). But he also performs normal jobs. “If someone calls to ask if I can weld their broken plow, I’m a certified welder, so I’d be happy to help out.”

But it’s those projects that harness the artistic side of his blacksmithing that fire him up. “My work is meant to be the centerpiece of someone’s facade – you can only do so much with drywall and paint, and metal work really stands out.”

CREATIVITY BLOSSOMS: These roses are an example of the intricate designs that Justin Frank forges.

Forging Your Vision
“If you have a theme in your home or office – whether it’s Medieval to Victorian to Post Contemporary – pitch an idea to me and I can create something to match it,” says Frank. Fireplace screens, doors and accessories, decorative range hoods, ornamental staircase railings and all types of gates are specialties of his, but the list doesn’t end there. Scroll through Knotty Pine Forge’s website to discover just some of the possibilities, or set up an appointment to stop by his Granby workshop.

“We can bring out blues, golds, and oranges in the metal, or we can brush bronze or paint into it, though most people like the ‘raw’ look,” he says. “The style you’re after can be carried out in whatever we create.”

NOT FOR WEEKEND WARRIORS: Journeyman Farriers don’t become professionals overnight. It takes years of perfecting the art of horseshoeing and learning to handle all types of horses to achieve this level of mastery.

Bring On the Big Footer
His dedication to shoeing horses is a natural extension of his passion for blacksmithing, but it goes beyond that – he has a gift. Justin Frank believes himself to be the only Certified Journeyman Farrier in Grand, Routt, and Jackson counties, even teaching veterinarians the fine art of horseshoeing. He named his daughter (and lucky charm) Croix, after one of the finest horseshoes on the planet, and he once landed a spot in the world championships at the Calgary Stampede. “It was fun, though there’s a time limit,” he says. “It wasn’t who built the horseshoe exactly to spec by hand the fastest, but who built it the best within the time.”

He gives the same level of care to any horse that comes his way, creating shoes with his own custom farrier tools. “Every piece is one-of-a-kind, handmade,” he says. He even takes on the big-footed horse that many other horseshoers shy away from. “On a small-footed horse, you don’t see mistakes as well,” he says. “But on the larger ones, draft horses for instance, a little mistake looks like a big mistake, so I prefer the challenge of the big horses, and unfortunately, I end up repairing many others’ shoeing attempts along the way.”  

Equine mender, bender of steel and artist at large – if this local businessman continues to tackle life while the iron is hot, his trajectory’s spark will likely inspire not just those around him, but may light a fire under a new generation following in his footsteps.

No Horseplay Allowed!
Why it’s Important to Consider a Certified Journeyman Farrier for your Equine Care
It takes thousands of hours and years of practice in order to become a certified Journeyman Farrier. They must pass challenging written, oral and practical tests to ascend to this level, expending thousands of hours of prep time, especially in the shoe-making end of it. This is not meant for your average “weekend horseshoe warrior.”

Journeyman Farriers are competent and dedicated to the craft, highly committed, and must continually educate themselves in order to stay certified, attending clinics around the country.

READ MORE STORIES FROM THIS ISSUE:
• Winter 2011 Articles