Credentials

Ada Gates Patton

Credentials & Achievements

The record,
plainly stated.

Most farriers have a career. Ada Gates Patton has a place in the history of the trade — a first that opened a door, and fifty years of walking through it.

1978 First female farrier licensed to shoe Thoroughbred racehorses in the United States and Canada
50+ Years shoeing racehorses, hunter jumpers, cow horses — and the horse tied to the tree behind the barn
1984 Farrier liaison, Los Angeles Olympic Games
3 Racetracks at the top of the sport — Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Del Mar
4 National television programs, from Letterman to the Today Show

Honors & Recognition

Awarded by the trade itself.

American Farriers Hall of Fame

Inducted in recognition of a career at the top of the trade and of the door opened for every farrier who followed.

Edward Martin Humanitarian Award, 2008

The American Farrier’s Association award for humanitarian service — given for what the work did for horses, not for reputation.

International Union of Journeyman Horseshoers

Member. The union credential behind fifty years of racetrack and performance work.

Licensed, 1978

The first female farrier in the United States and Canada licensed to shoe Thoroughbred racehorses — a license, not a novelty.

Service & Office

Where the trade
asked her to stand.

01

Farrier liaison, 1984 Olympic Games

Responsible for farriery at the Los Angeles Games — the horses of the world, and whoever was going to keep them shod.
02

Official horseshoe inspector, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade

Every shoe on every horse in the parade, checked before it went down Colorado Boulevard.
03

President, California Thoroughbred Foundation Board of Directors

Governance and welfare work on behalf of California’s Thoroughbred industry.
04

Farrier committee, World Equestrian Games

Setting the standard for farriery at the sport’s highest international meeting.
05

Consulting farrier to Monty Roberts

“I thought I had good farriers until I hired Ada Gates.” — read the full account.

Television & Press

A ‘first’ makes news.
Fifty years makes a legacy.

Being the first female farrier licensed to shoe Thoroughbreds brought the cameras. What kept Ada in front of them was everything that came afterwards.

  • Late Night with David Letterman
  • The Today Show
  • What’s My Line
  • To Tell The Truth

See the archive

Fifty years of judgment,
made transferable.

The credentials matter because of what they buy you: an opinion you can rely on, and a method you can learn.

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