Lesson from the Anvil-Turning Problems into Opportunities

Dennis Cappel
Jun 16
2 min read

Updated: Jun 24

Clear Mental Horsemanship with Dennis Cappel

Recently, a customer brought in a horse that was visibly lame. She could barely stand on one foot while I worked on the other, and every step looked painful. Right away, I looked at her x-rays and watched her move. That gave me a starting point, a foundation to begin figuring out how to help her.

I pulled her shoes off to get a better look and to prepare for trimming. That made it even harder for her to balance. She simply couldn’t stand comfortably on one leg. So, I grabbed some Styrofoam pads, taped them to the bottom of one foot, and that gave her just enough support to stand while I worked on the other. It was a simple adjustment, but it made all the difference.

With her standing a little more comfortably, I trimmed the foot according to what I saw on the sole and the x-rays. I shaped a shoe, added a pad with some dental impression material to support her frog, and nailed it on. The change was immediate and she shifted her weight with ease and could now stand on the foot I had just shod while I worked on the next one. We repeated the process, and by the end, the horse was much more comfortable than when she arrived.

That part of the job is always rewarding, being able to take a horse in clear discomfort and giving her some relief through good shoeing, sound mechanics, and thoughtful application.

But what stuck with me most wasn’t the shoeing, it was the conversation I had with the person who owned the horse.

I asked, “What did you learn today?”

They shrugged and said, “I don’t know.”

I said, “Well, that’s the wrong answer. Your horse came in hurting, and now she’s standing comfortably. What do you think helped that happen?”

They replied, “You shod the horse.”

“Yes, I did,” I said. “But that was just the physical part. What really made the difference was the thinking that came before the doing.”

That’s what I wanted them to understand. What looked like a problem was just an opportunity. An opportunity to think, to observe and gather information. To apply what I know or seek out what I don’t yet know in a way that brings relief and support.

Every problem is simply an opportunity in disguise. If we take the time to slow down and think, there is always a path forward. Sometimes that path comes from our own experience, and

sometimes it comes from someone who’s walked through it before. Either way, the first step toward solving anything is to engage your mind and let your thoughts lead the way.

The tools in your hands don’t matter as much as the clarity in your mind.

Mindful Riding,

Dennis Cappel - Master Horseman

www.cappeltrainingandshoeng.com