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Owner & Director
Diego Almeida, CJF, EE, TE, FE, AWCF
Growing up near Recife, Brazil, Diego began riding horses at age 10. He graduated from the Midwest Horseshoeing School with a farriery certificate & went on to work as an apprentice at Middlefork Forge for 4 years. Since then, he has been a farrier instructor at Midwest Horseshoeing School, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, & currently Montana State University. He specializes in performance horse soundness & is committed to excellence & raising the bar of the farriery profession through continuing education, constant practice, & leading by example.

Associate Farrier
Madison Ulaki
Maddie is our associate farrier. She graduated from Montana State University Farrier School in the fall of 2023 and joined the team shortly thereafter. She is passionate about farriery and leads many classes and clinics for BackPunch.

Associate Farrier
Grace Vejvoda, CF
Grace is an associate farrier who graduated from Montana State University Farrier School in the spring of 2024 and joined the team shortly thereafter. With a lifelong passion for horses and an affinity for working with her hands, she decided to pursue a career in farriery alongside her work in graphic design.
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