Larry Lisonbee Oral History Interview

Oral history interview by Mary Heers with Larry Lisonbee. Topics include: His work as a horseshoer, his constant seasonal job over the years of different employment; His grandfather's work as a blacksmith; Different employment, such as electrical associate, handyman, driver, slaughterer, social worker, bison ranch operator, maintenance mechanic, carpenter, pipe fitter; excavator; exterminator, and dairy farmer; Enjoying working with troubled adolescents; His higher educational pursuits: a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in range science; His interest in animal assisted therapy; Growing up on a dairy farm; Farm chores at an early age; His belief that once you understand something, it is not scary anymore; A return to Cache Valley after several years in Arizona; Having mostly rescue animals on his farm, including: hair sheep, goats, mules, horses, ducks, chickens, dogs, and cats: Horseshoeing and storytelling going hand-in-hand; The colorful vernacular that accompanies a horseshoe profession, and advice for anyone considering the horseshoe profession, especially how to handle a horse.

Mr. Larry Lisonbee lives outside of Smithfield, Utah. He's had a lifelong career of being a horseshoer. He holds a master's degree in range science and a bachelor's degree in psychology. Because shoeing horses is primarily seasonal, Mr. Lisonbee has held a host of other jobs throughout his life, including: Home Depot, social worker, bison rancher, construction, food industry, pipe fitting, carpenter, maintenance mechanic, among others. He talks about what it takes to shoe a horse, be a horseman, and also the storytelling element of his job.