It’s been an amazing journey for Doug Russo.
“I was a ranch hand when I shod my first horse,” Russo said.
“I hated every minute of it.”
Thirty-two years later Russo, certified journeyman farrier at the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, will enter the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame.
“I am extremely humbled by the nomination and selection,” Russo said. “I am excited to join the ranks of those I have looked up to during my career.”
Russo’s journey from novice to hall of famer began several years after his first shoeing attempt. He sought out an apprenticeship with Richard Becker, a well-known farrier who is also in the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame.
It was during this time he developed an interest in anatomy and the many other aspects of horseshoeing.
“I love that this profession incorporates so many aspects,” Russo said, “everything from the artistic ability required to create shoes to treat lameness, to the anatomy and a farrier’s influence on it, and working with horses and the horsemanship required to get the job done.”
Russo not only enjoys the physical side of horseshoeing but his interaction with Iowa State veterinary students.
“I look forward to every new clinical rotation and my time spent teaching farrier science, but more importantly, teaching how to communicate and work effectively alongside farriers,” he said. “I am proud of the difference Iowa State has made through this program.”
He is such an effective teacher that he has been named a two-time recipient of the American Farriers Association Outstanding Educator of the Year Award.
His educational impact has spread throughout the United States. Russo regularly hears from fellow farriers who tell him that they have worked with a recent Iowa State graduate.
And the students stay in touch as well with questions on cases.
Russo is only the third farrier in Iowa to be inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame and is the only living Iowa member. He will be formally inducted at the Hoof Care Summit in Cincinnati in February 2026.
December 2025
