Mansmann came to the Triangle in 1994 from California to do a clinical instructorship at N.C. State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The Triangle captured his heart and so a new leg of his life began. When I heard he was doing this, through my farrier, Jim Clemente, who attends them, I thought it was really cool because it is a dirty secret of the horse world that veterinarians and farriers are often at odds due to different ways of seeing. The horse client can bear the brunt of these conflicts at times. Clemente has high words of praise for Mansmann and the meetings and, despite a thriving farrier practice, makes every effort to attend.
Any subject related to the foot and shoeing is fair game.
The meetings are now in their third year, and Mansmann said a primary benefit has been camaraderie as well as bringing together different philosophies of shoeing and how different methods can be applied to specific cases. The group also talks about new concepts, and the only rule is that no one can give the name of the horses or their owners. Upon settling in North Carolina, Mansmann wasted no time in getting involved in the horse education business, above and beyond starting his practice. In 1995 and 1996, he served as the president of the North Carolina Horse Council, a statewide organization that is an advocate for all horse owners about horses to the legislature, Department of Agriculture, educational institutions and the general public. He now serves on its executive committee.