With a rounding hammer, farrier Sean Losee of Mount Airy shapes a heated horseshoe on his anvil for a custom fit. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
Farrier Sean Losee of Mount Airy uses the "hot shoe" method to fit horseshoes, traveling to stables with a truck outfitted with a gas forge, 100-lb. anvil, grinding wheel, and the tools and supplies of the trade. He volunteered his time to shoe two arabber's horses at the Carlton Street Stables in West Baltimore. The stables, used by arabbers since 1912, date back to the 19th century and are a designated Baltimore City Landmark. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
Sean Losee cleans and then files a hoof with a farrier's rasp after removing the old horseshoe. Made of keratin, the hoof has no nerves and filing or nailing a new horseshoe does not cause the horse any pain. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
Farrier Sean Losee files the front hoof of MIchelle, an eight-year old horse who responds by resting her head on his back. Michelle belongs to arabber Keith "Twin" Chesley. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
Farrier Sean Losee of Mount Airy looks at horseshoes heating up inside a gas forge mounted inside his truck. Losee is a member of the Maryland Farriers Association. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
Farrier Sean Losee removes a heated horseshoe from a portable gas forge mounted on his truck. The forge interior reaches 200 degrees. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
With a rounding hammer, farrier Sean Losee of Mount Airy shapes a heated horseshoe on his anvil for a custom fit. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
Farrier Sean Losee of Mount Airy can eyeball the best horseshoe shape for a custom fit, but uses a caliper to get the exact size needed for each hoof. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
Michelle, an arabber's horse kept at Carlton Street Stables in West Baltimore, appears to be watching farrier Sean Losee of Mount Airy as he shapes and marks her new horseshoes on an anvil. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
Farrier Sean Losee of Mount Airy volunteers his time to shoe two arabber's horses at the Carlton Street Stables in West Baltimore using the "hot shoe" method. After the horseshoe is heated in the forge, it is placed briefly on the hoof to sear the path where the shoe will lie, releasing a singed-hair smell. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
Farrier Sean Losee of Mount Airy applies Borium, a chalky white composite rod material that is welded onto the bottom surface of the horseshoe to provide traction on pavement or slippery surfaces. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
The mascot at the Carlton Street Stables, a goat named Jill, watches the activity as farrier Sean Losee of Mount Airy volunteers his time to shoe two arabber's horses at the stables, located in an alley between Pratt and Lombard Streets. (Amy Davis)
Picturing Maryland - Horse shoe-in
Arabber LeVar Mullen watches farrier Sean Losee of Mount Airy nail a new horseshoe on Michelle, a horse belonging to another arabber, Keith "Twin" Chesley. (Amy Davis)