Country Woman

50 COUNTRY WOMAN COUNTRYWOMANMAGAZINE.COMCOUNTRY AT HEARTMother-daughter team keeps horses happy with new shoes.Hooves in Good HandsAn iron-clad bond. Rachel and EliPettitt (left) forge ahead and fit shoesonto horses of all kinds, from miniponies to pro rodeo horses.Pony pedicure. Eli trims a client’shooves during a typical workday onthe ranch at her farrier business,Diamond E. Horseshoeing.``````anvil, hoof trimmers and assortedhand tools. “We service all breedsand disciplines,” Eli says, “frombeloved backyard pets and duderanch ponies to pro rodeo horsesand Olympic hopefuls.”Eli and Rachel take it in stridewhen a new customer shows upexpecting a male farrier. Their skilland speed convert any doubters.“When we start clicking as ateam, it’s amazing,” Eli says. “Wecan shoe a horse in 30 minutes, upto 70 in a week. That’s 280 hooves!”``````The perfect fitTo start each equine pedicure,Rachel pulls off old shoes and nails.Then Eli sizes and shoes the animal,trims off excess hoof and smoothsthe edges with a metal rasp. Racheldoes the finish work, meticulouslycleaning the hoof, nipping off nailtips and nailing the shoe in place.The stock at a women’s shoestore pales in comparison to thevariety Eli carries. “Our sizes fitIf your idea of a horseshoeris a burly man with ananvil,  it behooves you tomeet Eli Pettitt and herdaughter Rachel.“Female farriers like us arestill a novelty,” Eli says from herPlatteville, Colorado, ranch. Butthat hasn’t stopped clients from asfar away as Wyoming and Nebraskafrom putting their horses’ feet intothese women’s manicured hands.A lifelong horse lover, Eligraduated from farrier school andlaunched her business, Diamond E.Horseshoeing, 26 years ago. “WhenI meet first-time clients, some stillask where my husband is,” she says.Rachel was born into the business.“I was actually shoeing horses whenI went into labor,” Eli says.``````Hoofing itOver the summer and on weekends(Rachel currently attends college),the two hop into a truck hauling atrailer full of propane, a forge, an``````mini ponies to draft horses,” shesays. “We have traction shoes formountain climbing, sliders forreining horses, and racing platesmade of lightweight aluminum andtitanium for runners. What I don’thave, I handcraft on the forge soeach horse gets a custom fit.”``````Feminine touchOccasional run-ins with half-toncustomers have left Eli with brokenfingers, bruised ribs and more.But those cases are the exception.“Women have a knack for reading ahorse’s temperament and calmingthe most cantankerous animals,”she says. “We have a maternalinstinct that can be advantageous.”Far from trying to blend in withtheir male counterparts, Eli andRachel enjoy wearing bright colorswith blingy belt buckles and hot pinkfarrier aprons. “I’ve always likedstanding apart from the crowd,” Elisays. “And I absolutely love being awoman in this profession!” Q IN HIS EYES PHOTOGRAPHY