Blacksmithing Cowboy

Mark Hogno has been around horses for over thirty years, they are his passion,
they are his love. Growing up in the small country town of Glen Inness, Mark
received his first horse, Al, as a gift from his father when he was six. Mark spent
all of his spare time with Al, he was even known to sleep in the paddock with him.
Mark worked at the local stables cleaning them out morning and night to pay
for horse feed. He attended pony club when a teenager, and participated in
bull riding at the local show.

From these humble beginnings came a lifetime of commitment. In his teens
Mark acquired several more horses and became an A grade polo X player,
playing for 6 years , he also participated in tent pegging for two years, and
in 1990 his tent pegging team defeated the Queens horseman at the Royal
Adelaide show and he won the Australian individual championship.

In his early twenties Mark started his family and his apprenticeship as a farrier.
He also started his horse family, buying a colt by Lethal Lena out of a Broomfield
mare. Lena’s Pistol is still in the family today. Although times were tough on an
apprenticeship wage, with a wife, two children, mortgage and horses, Mark
was passionate and finished his Apprenticeship.

Mark worked as a dedicated farrier, with the idea you can always learn more.
 In his first few years, Mark spent 2 to 3 days a month travelling with champion
 farrier Craig Jones, learning additional skills. He also attended farrier
clinics held by visiting international farriers. Mark believes that a lifetime, is not
enough time, to learn all that is required. In 2006 Mark decided to open, The
Sunshine Coast Farrier Blacksmith Academy.  The curriculum at the academy
is based on a thorough research of many of the best farrier schools in America,
adapting learning to the Australian industry, emphasizing mastery of the basics.
In America there are about 50 public and private farrier schools offering intensive
training in the art of horseshoeing, Mark realised the need for a farrier school in
Australia, the school features traditional blacksmithing,
specialising in hand made shoes.

It’s not just students that want to become professional farriers that come to
Mark’s farrier school, students that would like to correctly care for the feet of the
 horses on their own properties, students that wish to further their knowledge
of the horse industry, and students who wish to possess additional skills to
enhance employment opportunities also attend farrier training. 

If you have a passion for horses, high commitment levels, and a belief in
life-long learning, then becoming a successful farrier is an extremely
rewarding career.

During the Equine Influenza crisis at the end of 2007, Mark saw the need
 for horse owners to gain some skills in hoof care as farrier’s were unable
to travel. This led to the production of a DVD, Hoof Trimming, 8 steps to
Simple Balanced trimming for the Horse Owner. The DVD includes basic
anatomy, tools, safety, shoe removal, trimming front feet, trimming back
feet and identifying correct balance.

Now that his children are teenagers, and the work commitments have
settled, Mark is getting back into his horse sports. He decided on Rodeo
as his next adventure. He has started competing in the NRA, bulldogging
and one of his daughters is into the barrels. With the dedication and
passion Mark puts into all his endeavours, we are sure to see him
exceed in this field as well.

Terry Stapelton and Mark competing in pair of swords.

 Mark Bulldogging with hazer Willie Mc Auliffe.

Mark forging a shoe 



Mark at Noosa North Shore on Triggerview Galant Ghost