T.J. Carr, CF

“The neurosurgeon came in the room, and he said, ‘T.J., you're a miracle.’”

On a late January day about six years ago, T.J. Carr was driving in his native Mississippi, thinking he’d had a good run as a farrier but that he might want to do something else.  

Then his life changed forever. An out-of-control truck totaled his vehicle and pretty much totaled him. The doctors doubted he would ever live outside of a long-term care unit—much less meet the demands of day-to-day horseshoeing.  

But then a miracle happened. He recovered, healing enough that the doctors could perform surgery, and then healing completely. 

And he didn’t just recover his health. He remembered why he had become a farrier in the first place.  

A note to his future self 

When he arrived home, he went into his old rig, to check on the inventory. And the first thing he saw was a quote he had copied down, from a video a coach at Ole Miss had made.

It was as if he’d sent a note to his future self. 

“God gave me this platform. Don’t waste it or neglect it. Use it to impact and influence those I encounter. Always.” 

But it would take some time before T.J. would understand exactly what that phrase meant for him. 

For some weeks after he returned home, T.J. walked the pasture every day as a part of his rehabilitation. 

Then on April 13th, one of the staff at the barn told him that a mare named Hershey K had foundered and could barely walk.  

“They got her to the barn, and she was the first horse I worked on after the accident. He held her. My wife was there. My kids were there. They were keeping me on a tight leash, as I was not cleared to drive, let alone work. But I made her some clogs and took care of her. And she did good after that.”

And that reminded me that, as a farrier, I was here for the horses, and there’s really only a few important questions: Will it help the horse? Will it give them quality of life?”

Focusing on horses, connecting with humans 

These realizations have helped T.J. regain his focus. And he not only jumped back into business, but his business has thrived. 

His many loyal clients waited for him to come back, some for 8 months, and his business was soon restored.  

In fact, his business is doing better than ever. When fellow farrier David Hodges wanted to take time off for the birth of his first grandchild, he asked T.J. to fill in for him at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic Horse Show. That is where he met Colby Coltrain and Gianna Aycock of StoryBook Sport Horses in Argyle, Texas.

There, “miracles were made” as he has helped their horses—Conquer and Super Sneeks—to succeed, winning multiple competitions like the Great Southwest Equestrian Center Jumper Classic, the Haras Cup Prix, and the Welcome Stake. 

While he does what he does for the horses, he never underestimates the human connections. He has a strong relationship with all of his clients. Most of these relationships span decades. “Many of them, I’ve watched their kids grow up.”

His Texas experience shows his openness to build connections with new people, especially people such as Hodges, Coltrain, and Aycock. They share his deepest value as a farrier:  a commitment to the good of the horse. 

Q&A with TJ Carr 

T.J. maintains a 300-horse practice in Mississippi—he studied Animal Science at Mississippi State—and at Storybrook Farms in Argyle, Texas. We sat down to ask him more about his business. Here’s what he had to say:

What’s the most unexpected benefit of a strong client relationship? 

When you are not there at your scheduled time and they know something is really wrong. The day of my wreck the client called my phone until the highway patrolman finally answered it. He then came to the hospital to check on me. We never know what seeds we are planting but hopefully they are good ones.

Your horsemanship is exceptional. What’s your secret? 

I go at it as if there's not an option. You know, this is what we're going to do. I'm going to be nice to you. I'm not going to make you do it. I'll respect you. But there’s really not an option. I don't think any horse wakes up any morning and thinks, how can I be a donkey today? So, either you're approaching them the wrong way, or they're hurting. They can't talk verbally, but with their body language and their manners, they're telling us if there is a problem. If you show them a little respect, they show you respect.

What advice would you give to younger farriers?

Three things: First, don’t do it for the money. You’ll start to hurry so you can do more horses, and you’ll sell yourself short– and you’ll sell the animals short. Second, reach out to established farriers. We don't want your business. We want you to be successful. We want you to help horses. The right people who are in it for the right reasons will help you any way they can. Third, most importantly, if you screw up, own up. You’d be surprised how that builds relationships.

What Mustad products do you use?

The Delta Challenger TS8 is made of excellent materials, and I can easily modify them. For example, I can roll a toe to take some stress off the limb or widen a heel.  

I use the Mustad Equi-Librium Air on a lot of horses, especially jumpers, because they have the mechanics built into them. That saves me time and complements the horses’ own movement. I appreciate the rolled toe and the slight rolled sides. It also allows the foot to get more slide in a synthetic footing.  

Mustad Rep David York brought me some Endura Coated Mustad Combo 5 Slim Nail in June. They drive like butter. That’s important, especially in cold weather. Horses don’t like you pounding on their feet. And they’re going to stay tight. Endura’s are in a league of their own.   

Heller Legend Rasps have a better width, better quality, better finish.

On a Saturday morning, where will we find you?

If I'm not out of town, I prioritize time with my wife, Carolyn, and kids. My son, Evan, plays baseball and loves to fish. My daughter, Josie competes in precision shooting. I spend as much time as possible with them. If we’re on vacation, we’ll all be on a beach.

T.J. has increasingly seen the value of clinics and associations, as a way of sharing his love of the craft. He’s currently Treasurer of the Southern Farriers Association. You can find them on Facebook or look for T.J. at one of their events.