The horse shoe may be a good luck charm, but it takes skill to keep a horse in good shoes. Hoof health is essential to both horse and rider, and farrier Ernie Gaouette of Middleboro sees to it that his shoes fit like a glove. Here he looks over a horseshoe he crafted for a mare at Briggs Stable in Hanover. Gaouette fits each shoe to each hoof by hand.

Click here to see the video interview of Ernie as he shows off his craft. (Patriot Ledger, March 17, 2009)