Xaraya Fristed teaching a foal how to stand so the pony can receive her first trim.
Photo special to The R-C
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
A year after graduating Douglas High school in 2024, Xaraya Fristed found her passion in horse shoeing and returned to the Carson Valley to provide farrier services.
Horseshoeing is the craft of fitting horseshoes to a horse’s hooves to provide protection, traction, and comfort for their hooves, especially when they are used to work or travel, and a farrier is the professional who performs horseshoeing.
“In our community the horse world is very big, with our ranchers, the Mounted Posse, the Pony Express, casual riders and everyone in between,” said Fristed. “For anyone that owns a horse they know it’s important to provide protection and care for their horses’ hooves.”
Through her Farrier business, Right as Rain Farrier Services, Fristed plans to provide services in trimming, horseshoeing, and address lameness issues from Carson Valley to Reno.
“I want to help our horse community by being the farrier business that they can rely on in providing our best care to help these horses stay sound and try to avoid any lameness issues,” said Fristed.
Fristed said she did not grow up on a ranch or spend much time around horses, but she was always fond of them and as she got older that love grew stronger inspiring her desire to work with horses.
While at Douglas High School Fristed participated in the FFA program during her junior and senior years and although, the program did not provide much education on horseshoeing, she enjoyed what was offered and she said it helped her get into the school of her choice.
“I absolutely loved the program,” said Fristed. “The FFA program at Douglas didn’t focus on Horseshoeing itself, but the advisers really supported me in many ways through the program and wrote me amazing letters of recommendations.”
Also, while in high school, Fristed worked with a family friend and learned how to shoe horses and trim, which inspired her to purse the trade professionally.
“I just decided that I really loved being around horses and taking care of them like that,” she said.
Fristed researched schools where she could learn more about the trade, which led to her being accepted at the Idaho Horseshoeing School. She then applied for 25 scholarships and received 13 from; DHS Memorial, Kiwanis, Outstanding Senior Student: FFA, Yogurt Beach, Pont Express Committee Award, Anonymous Donation, Western Nevada Cattlewomen Inc., Douglas County Democratic Women, Douglas County School District, Douglas County Republican Women, Cappy Gilbert MEFIYI Foundation, Carson Valley Sertoma, and Partnership Douglas County.
At The Idaho Horseshoeing School Fristed received education in horsemanship, hoof and leg anatomy, causes of Lameness including anatomy, symptoms, and treatment; Forge work, how to start a farrier business and more, graduating from the school at the end of January 2025 as one of the top students in the class.
While at The Idaho Horseshoeing School, Fristed met her husband Benjamin Cox, who also attended the school and graduated in September 2024. They later married and started their farriering business together.
“He grew up in Southern Utah, and we grew up very different, but as we talked we learned that we have the same passions about Horseshoeing and lifestyle we want,” said Fristed.
Fristed said the business name Right as Rain Farrier Services is a combination of Cox’ name and hers.
“The name of my business came about because his name is Benjamin which means son of the right hand in Hebrew and my middle is Rain. So, we put the two together and got Right as Rain Farrier Services,” said Fristed.
Fristed said she is looking forward to growing and building her business and working with the horse community.
“As it got closer to graduation, I had little heartstrings still connected to home and I thought of all the people who helped me reach my goal and I knew I wanted to come back,” said Fristed. “We really do have an amazing community, and everyone is always willing to help each other out, and I wanted to return that same ‘pay it forward’ as I have received.”
For more information visit Right As Rain Farrier Services on Facebook.