February March 2018 by Seguin Gazette

A u t h e n t i c

T e x a s

l i v i n g

February|march 2018

if the shoe Fits Horseshoeing expert discusses the craft

Gift & Gourmet’s ashley hopper Shows us what’s in her closet

Using essential Oils To soothe the body

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Join us for the forth annual fundraising event. There will be music, dinner, wine, margaritas, great entertainment, and a pick of the litter bead raffle. Bras for a Cause is an uplifting experience to benefit Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation Cancer Assistance Fund combining elaborate decorated bras, fantastic food, and local first responders strutting their stuff on the runway to help our community in the fight against cancer.

Tickets are $50 and are available at Keepers Interiors, 615 N. Austin Street & Seguin Gazette, 1012 Schriewer Table Sponsors & Sponsorship available For more information call 830-305-5858 Sponsored by:

Vol. 4, No. 5 Seguin magazine is published six times a year by the Seguin Gazette. PUBLISHER

Jeff Fowler CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Hannah Ruiz EDITOR

Travis Webb GRAPHIC DESIGN

Becca Harrison WRITERS

Felicia Frazar Valerie Bustamante Stephanie Agnew Priscilla Aguirre Kati R. Waxler

ore is better, right? That’s actually a matter of perspective, and frankly a matter of matter. That is, it depends on what we’re talking about. Sometimes more isn’t better, it’s just more. Generally speaking, however, more is better than less. So where am I going with this? More awesome content in your magazine! Definitely better. At least that’s the way we feel about it. You may have noticed that our last issue had a little more heft to it. That’s because we’ve taken Seguin magazine from 52 pages to 60. We’ve come a long way since that first 32-page quarterly issue of Sizzle back in the summer of 2014. We’ve added more content, and some new and different features. In coming issues, we’re going to change things up even more as we put some items that have run their course for now on hold, and introduce some new ones. Among the new things to look forward to will be our day tripper pieces, which will focus on unique places to visit within a couple hours’ drive of Seguin. We’re blessed to live in such a great location, so why not take advantage of it? Another new feature will focus on the people that are hard at work when most of us are asleep. The biggest change that you’re going to see in the coming months is the coming months themselves. We’ve already gone from a quarterly publication to every other month, and beginning in June, Seguin magazine will become a monthly publication. With all the support we’ve received from our readers and advertisers, there’s simply too much to be contained in just a bimonthly format, even with the additional pages. But enough of what’s coming down the pike. The issue you hold in your hand is full of all kinds of good stuff. As always, we hope there’s something for everyone. So what are you waiting for? Turn the page and come on in!

Jeff Fowler

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An inside look from our WRITERS... “My article explains a different route to massage therapy. It’s not your typical deep tissue massage. But it’s about how certain oils can help release some stress in your life. When you read it, you will see how massage therapist Cristina Rivera goes through a process to help alleviate any pain in your body. It’s honestly mind-blowing.” — Priscilla Aguirre “Megan Reiley was the sweetest person to work with. I enjoyed getting to hear her story and how she developed Reiley+Rose from the ground up. Her story was very relatable, but so inspiring. It also brought back a lot of memories since my own grandmother use to be in the floral design industry.” — Valerie Bustamante “Airplanes have always intrigued me. So getting the opportunity to get an up close in person look at a tri-plane was an incredible experience. Additionally, I got an in depth tour of the Pioneer Flight Museum by the volunteers who take care of the planes and store history. This group of people have an incredible knowledge of airplanes, and I’m glad they allowed me a take a trip into their world.” - Felicia Frazar

SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

THE

COVER

Photo by Felicia Frazar Ashley doesn’t have a traditional closet, so she chose to show off her fabulous wardrobe in her second home, Gift & Gourmet.

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THE HOTTEST SPOT

16 Features

Around Town

In Each Issue

34 Found Art

10 Imbibe

8 Sizzlin’ Five

38 TLU Theatre

14 Under the Hood

26 Favorite Finds

42 Reiley + ROse

16 Closet Close-up

28 Fashion

48 Farrier

20 Culinary Creations

54 Faces of Seguin

22 Be you – be well

Seguin ~ Authentic Texas living

Proudly serving Seguin, New Braunfels, Lake McQueeney and the surrounding lake and river communities

Debbie Freeman Brown

Jay Crowell

Tamandra Elliott

Don Ennis

Julie Ennis

Fanny Harkins

Eve Hiner

Kenneth Holder

Ken Kiel

Cynthia Leos

Karen McMillan

Brannon Monkerud

Cynde Parker

Lea Phelps

Kelley Rose

Celina Ross

Carol Sewell

Matt Skinner

Mike Stevens

Trey Thompson

Willie Velรกsquez

James Walker

Jordan Lippe Walker

Lynn Zarr, Sr.

Susan Schmidt Office Manager

Stephanie Besett Ryan Sales Manager

Not pictured from Seguin: Cindy Olvera

SEGUIN

808 E. Court St.

Seguin, TX 78155

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SIZZLINFIVE

Five events you don’t want to miss

nd February 22 sHOWCase seGuin

Showcase Seguin is the premiere business trade show produced by the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce. Each year local businesses and organizations gather to show what they offer the community. This year’s theme Seguin’s Got Talent is set for 5 to 8 p.m. at the Seguin Events Complex. Admission is $25. The Show Day offers an action-packed day of interaction, games and door prizes from noon to 5 p.m., admission is free. The event also includes a job fair from 9 to noon.

February 24th

Denim & DiamOnDs

The Seguin Education Foundation is hosting its largest fundraiser of the year from 6 to 11 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Seguin Events Complex. This year’s event will feature various games and dinner from food trucks served up by students.

st March 1 GuaDaluPe COunty Bras FOr a Cause

Bras For A Cause benefits the Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation’s Cancer Assistance fund as local first responders strut their stuff on the runway modeling elaborately decorated bras to help the community’s fight against cancer. The event is slated to start at 6 p.m. on March 1 at the Seguin Events Complex and will include heavy hor d’oeuvres and a pick of the litter raffle.

March 3rd

artsFest

The Seguin Arts Fest is looking to highlight the artistic talents of the community with a day full of events on March 3 in downtown Seguin. This year’s event will include a very colorful run, an Art Market with displays, poetry readings and more.

March 24th

10tH annual CaJun JamBOree

The Irma Lewis Seguin Outdoor Learning Center looks to put a little cajun spice into life with the 10th annual Cajun Jamboree, 6 to 9 p.m. March 24 at the center. The event brings a crawfish, shrimp and sausage boil to the area with Zydeco music, as well as live and silent auctions as a fundraising venture. 8

SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

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2018 Fun Run, Vendors, Kids Crafts, Art Show, Live Music, Poetry Readings. Performance by Seguin’s own Dottsy at the Historic Texas Theatre.

www.visitseguin.com Authentic Texas living ~ Seguin

Champagne Pink Lemonade With a pair of much-celebrated holidays on the way, it’s an excellent time to line up some adult beverages. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner on Feb. 14, red and pink are in vogue – and our first drink is no exception. This light, slightly sweet drink is perfect for a romantic evening with significant other. After all, Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love — and when it comes to celebrating, nothing quite does the job like champagne. Just don’t offer one to Cupid — despite the fruity flavor of this drink, this lovely lady packs quite a punch. We wouldn’t want to throw his aim off.

Champagne Pink Lemonade

12 oz. container of Frozen Pink Lemonade 2 oz (60ml) Raspberry Vodka 1 cup fresh Raspberries 1 bottle (750ml) Champagne 3 oz (90ml) Lemon Lime Soda Prep: 1. In a big pitcher, squeeze in the frozen pink lemonade and add raspberry vodka. Stir well. 2. Drop in raspberries and add champagne. 3. Top with lemon lime soda and stir well!

r e t a W d i a m r e M

Our second drink celebrates a different saint altogether: St. Patrick. The Irish-themed holiday falls on March 17 and will see millions of people (Irish and otherwise) celebrating the unique culture of the Emerald Isle. While there’s no Guinness or Irish Whiskey in this offering, you’ll find the color is just the thing for a festive St. Paddy’s Day celebration. But don’t let the green tint fool you, this is one tasty concoction — the tart citrus flavors of the juice blend well with the heavier tones of the rum for a drink that’s not only easy on the eyes, but on the palette as well.

Mermaid Water

1 1/2 oz (45ml) Spiced Rum 1 1/2 oz (45ml) Coconut Rum 6oz (180ml) Pineapple Juice 1 oz (30ml) Fresh Lime Juice 1/2 oz (15ml) Blue Curacao Lime Wheels Prep: 1. In a large mason jar add lime wheels, ice, spiced rum, coconut rum, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, and Blue Curacao. Shake. 2. Garnish with lime wheels.

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AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 13

1917 Fokker Dr.I (Dreidecker — “triplane” in German) Replica Claim to fame — the plane the Red Barron ﬂew when he was shot down. This replica is on display at the Pioneer Flight Museum at the Old Kingsbury Aerodrome, 190 Pershing Ln.

14 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

Engine — a LeRhône 80 horsepower Rotary Engine Top Wingspan — 23-feet 4-inches Middle Wingspan — 20-feet 5-inches Lower Wingspan — 18-feet 8-inches Length — 18-feet 11-inches Height — 9-feet 8-inches Range — 186 miles Crew — one (pilot)

Closet Close-Up: Ashley Hopper

By Valerie Bustamante

rom the weenie dog enamel pin on her blush pink coat to the Disney print leggings — Gift & Gourmet’s manager Ashley Hopper describes her sense of fashion as quirky and childlike, with a classic twist to it. An admirer of the primary colors — blue, red and yellow — Ashley enjoys wearing dresses or her statement black leggings, she said. Blue jeans don’t even exist in her wardrobe. “I like that I work in such a classy place that I can wear my heels and my fun clothes. It doesn’t affect me too much because I don’t really wear anything super casual,” she said. “I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that. All of my friends wear blue jeans, but I don’t even own a pair of blue jeans. I probably got rid of all of my blue jeans finally about five 16 Seguin ~ Authentic Texas living

years ago when I started working at Gift and Gourmet because all through college I never wore them.” With five years of working in a small business, Ashley said she enjoys shopping small any chance she can get. “I have some really fun pieces from Bling, Serenity Boutique,” Ashley said. “I’m so excited that Pure Enry is back. I also just bought a super cute sweater from Southern Good. So I love shopping small. There’s also a store in New Braunfels that I like called River Rose that I shop at a lot.” However, she does make an exception for a few select big box stores: Anthropology, Old Navy, Target and Altered State, Ashley said. Some of her favorites pieces from her closet include her Disney character print leggings and her Mickey Mouse flats. “I’m a big Disney fan, I’m a Disney kid,” Ashley said. “If I

could shop in the little girl section I would. I always seem to find clothing in the children’s section that I like more than what I find in the adult section.” For her jewelry collection, Kendra Scott is Ashley’s “go-to” brand. “I mostly wear Kendra Scott because we sell it here at the store and also I just love it,” she said. “I’ve been at Gift and Gourmet for five years and shortly after that we started selling Kendra Scott. Each piece offers a look into my past.” “So one kind of fun thing about my jewelry is it’s almost like history of me being here. I can look at the seasonal pieces and I’m think ‘Oh my gosh, this was winter of 2014,’” she said “It’s like memories that are connected to these pieces of jewelry. I know it sounds really corny, but I cherish them because of that. I can remember the different years they came out.”

When it comes to shoes, Ashley said she doesn’t mind splurging. “Comfort is key. I use to wear really cheap shoes in college and I just can’t do it anymore,” she said. “I almost damaged my feet. So I think it’s so important to have good shoes especially when you’re in retail or something where you’re moving around a lot. I like FRYE brand boots. They’re expensive, but they’re going to last you forever. It’s not a boot that you’re going to wear for a year or two and then replace. I’ve had my FRYE boots for like three years now and they’re totally going strong. That is one thing that I will splurge on.” With an art degree from Texas Lutheran University, Ashley’s style and her art background always mix especially when it comes to her love for makeup. Whether it’s Too Faced, Kat Von D, Colourpop or Maybelline — Ashley said she loves Authentic Texas living ~ Seguin 17

makeup no matter if its a high end or drugstore product. “I love makeup. It’s almost a little embarrassing how much makeup I have,” Ashley said. “I don’t have any type of like training in makeup. I just love it. I seriously call it ‘painting my face.’” Throughout college Ashley said she was always painting on canvas or drawing on paper, but now as a full time worker she doesn’t always have the opportunity to do it anymore. “I don’t get to paint on canvas often anymore,” she said. “So I literally paint my face and I just kind of have fun. My mom laughs at me so much because I have about 5,000 eyeshadow palettes. I’ve only gotten into eyeshadow maybe like two years ago. I use to just do a winged eyeliner and then play with different 18 Seguin ~ Authentic Texas living

lipsticks. But I’ve really gotten into eyeshadow because you get to use all the fun different brushes. And the brushes that you use with makeup are very similar to the brushes you use when you’re painting. I mean there’s different angles, densities. It really makes a difference.” When looking for fashion inspiration, Ashley doesn’t open a magazine, she looks toward the women in her life.“I’m surrounded by awesome women. My mom is my best friend and I have so many people at Gift and Gourmet that are super great,” Ashley said. “Mary Reiley is just (amazing). So is my sister-in-law. I’m a very feminine dresser and I think it’s because I’m surrounded by women all day.”

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S A R G I D R MA E K A C G N I K By FeliCia FraZar

The History of King Cake From the Feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6 to Fat Tuesday, celebrators of Mardi Gras partake in at least one tasty tradition — eating a slice of King Cake. The sweet treat is a ring-shaped, cinnamon bun-style dough served up during Mardi Gras for a number of reasons. Typically, inside the cake is a bean or plastic baby. The cake is coated in sweet frosting and decorated in gold, purple and green — the colors of Mardi Gras. Exactly why this is a part of the celebration can depend on who is telling the story. Some say the King Cake honors the Magi who visited Jesus on the twelfth night following His birth. In this version of the tradition, the baby represents baby Jesus and whoever finds the baby in their slice of cake hosts the next King Cake celebration. However, another tradition claims that the baby is not the Messiah, but a trinket of good luck and prosperity. The catch is that the cake can only be eaten during the Carnival Season — Jan. 6 the feast of Epiphany through Mardi Gras Day (also known as Fat Tuesday) the day before Ash Wednesday.

CAKE 3 1/2cups all-purpose flour 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) Rapid Rise yeast 1cup milk 1/4 cup sugar 1tsp salt 2 eggs 6 tbsps unsalted butter, softened, cut into 12 pieces

ICING 1 cup powdered sugar 1 tbsp milk 1/2 tsp vanilla Decoration Dark green, purple, and yellow or gold sugars, if desired Miniature plastic baby, if desired

CINNAMON FILLING 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 4 tbsps unsalted butter, softened Recipe from.http://www.goldmedalﬂour.com 1.

Mix 2 1/2 cups flour and yeast in mixing bowl of stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, on low for about 30 seconds.

2. Heat milk, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and milk is between 120°F to 130°F. 3. With mixer on low, pour in liquids and mix until incorporated. Add eggs one at a time. Continue mixing until a shaggy dough forms. Clean off paddle and switch to dough hook. Mix in the remaining 1 cup flour a little at a time, adding more or less flour as needed to make a soft dough. Add the softened butter, a piece at a time, kneading until each piece of butter is absorbed. 4. Knead for eight minutes on low. The dough should completely clear the sides of the bowl. If it is too sticky, add additional flour 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing in thoroughly before determining if more flour is needed. If the dough seems too dry, spritz with water from a spray bottle a couple of times, mixing in thoroughly before determining if more water is needed. Every 2 minutes, stop the machine, scrape the dough off the hook, and then continue kneading. 5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times by hand to be sure it’s smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a ball. Place dough into a greased bowl. Turn once so greased surface is on top. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. 6. While the dough is chilling, make cinna-

mon filling. In small bowl, combine the brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Combine butter with cinnamon mixture and mix well. 7. Roll the chilled dough into a 10 x 20 inch rectangle. Spread the filling on half of the long side of the dough. Fold the dough in half covering the filling. Pat dough down firmly so the dough will stick together. Cut dough into three long strips. Press the tops of the strips together and braid the strips. Press the ends together at the bottom. Gently stretch the braid so that it measures 20 inches again. Shape it into a circle/oval and press the edges together. 8. Transfer the ring to a parchment lined or greased baking sheet. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rise until doubled, about 1 hour. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 350º. Bake the cake until it is golden brown, 20 – 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes on baking sheet and then place it on a cooling rack to cool completely before icing. To hide the baby in the cake, if desired, make a small slit in the bottom of the cake and put the miniature plastic baby in after the cake has cooled. 9. Icing: In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth (add additional milk if mixture is too thick or powdered sugar if too thin). 10. Spoon icing over top of the cake. Immediately sprinkle on colored sugar, alternating between the three colors.

BE YOU • BE WELL

Massage Therapy By PrisCilla aGuirre

Essential Oils help alleviate pain, emotionally and physically

o you ever find yourself having a sharp pain in your body and you don’t understand where it came from? Or taking medicine to help reduce the discomfort, only to find that the pills or steroids don’t alleviate it? Well, you are in luck. Licensed massage therapist Cristina Rivera at the Hair Haus, at 315 N. Austin St., provides several unique techniques to help heal the problems your body may have. She will do so in a therapeutic way that can teach you more about yourself and your life. After a session with her, you will more than likely leave recharged, refreshed and renewed. When you book an appointment with Cristina, it is not a typical massage. While you are there, you find yourself learning about how the mind, body and soul all connect. You see how your emotions affect your body. Once she makes the mind and body connection, she not only gives you a deep-tissue massage but also will infuses doTerra essential oils – which have natural chemical compounds within them. “When you come see me, someone can expect to experience a mind-body restoration and a healing of the spirit and emotions,” Cristina said. “It’s just a deep, deep healing and it’s just an opportunity or the chance to have a reboot in your life. I love for more people to consider this as not a luxury because self-care is not a luxury. It’s a divine 22 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

responsibility that each person needs to take. Healing is a process, but it’s beautiful work that can affect every part of your life. When you come here, you can leave feeling more whole and complete, and without pain.” What is doTerra? According to their website (www.doTerra.com), doTerra was built on the mission of sharing therapeutic-grade essential oils with the world. “So the oils are naturally occurring aromatic compounds that are found in the seeds, the bark, the roots of flowers and other parts of the plant,” Cristina said. “The doTerra difference is that our growers are from all over the world and our oils are taken care of. They are from the land they are originally from. So the community, the villages and the families have taken care of these plants and have done so

for generations.” Cristina used a pineapple as an example to explain the doTerra difference. “Would you rather have a pineapple that was grown in Idaho — I’m sure it’s going to taste like a pineapple — or would you rather have one from Hawaii where the pineapple is originally from,” she said. “The pineapple from Hawaii is going to have a completely different flavor profile where it will be juicy, more robust and deeper in color because that is where they are grown. So that really is the doTerra difference.” With the purity and potency, the oils help facilitate a great deal of healing within the body, Cristina added. Understanding how the emotions connect to the body Cristina practices traditional Chinese medicine theory. One of the principles of Chinese medicine is that every organ stores different emotions and every single part of the body holds different emotions and has several messages. According to Chinese medicine, the lungs store sadness and grief, the liver stores anger, the kidneys store fear, our stomachs are weakened by stress and worry, and the gallbladder stores the emotion of bitterness. She said she found this principle to be true when she was attending a holistic school in Utah. While there, she developed bronchitis and asthma for the first time in her life. She tried the traditional allopathic route but the medications she was given didn’t alleviate the pain. Four months passed by and Cristina was still sick. It wasn’t until she went to see her instructor where she learned that she was homesick. “I hadn’t acknowledged until that moment that I was so homesick,” she said. “So my lungs had carried my sadness. He had me listen to my lungs and I could hear the raspy mess within me. Then he had someone practice a neuro-emotional technique on me and in within minutes my lungs were clear.” From that experience, Cristina learned that how we feel emotionally affects how we feel physically. Meaning your emotions can weaken your organs. She said if you are lacking support in some areas in your life, then your back is probably going to hurt. If you are stressed or hold a terrible amount of anxiety, then a stomach ulcer might develop in your body.

AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 23

Applying the principle to her sessions Before she uses her oils and tries to connect the pain in a patient’s body to their emotions, Cristina will first use her iTOVi tool. She places the tool in the hand of her client and it will run a scan on that person to find out what oils that person’s body needs the most. Once the scan is over, Cristina will then look at the list and go through it with her client. She provides several books and pages that show them some of the emotions they might be feeling and also lets them know the benefits the oils can give them. “The iTOVi has the similar technology to what a Fitbit has except it reads different things,” Cristina said. “The report it gives me lets me know which essential oils that will be the most beneficial to you that day. It captures a snapshot.” Client example Cristina’s youngest client is an infant who was born with Torticollis (an illness that cause a baby’s neck to be stiff making it painful to move the neck side-toside). Cristina said she used the iTOVi on the infant and the list that came up were things the baby had absorbed from his mother/ parent such as worries, fears and postpartum depression. To prevent the child from absorbing negative energy, Cristina recommends shielding. Shielding is done when a parent uses two oils —Melaleuca and OnGuard— on themselves to protect the child. “The first few times I scanned the baby, an oil came up that means your completely dissatisfied with your job and the mother said to me that she was exactly feeling that way,” 24 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

Cristina said. “So I taught her how to shield and now the infant only scans for things the baby might have that day. It’s amazing that this tool speaks for the baby. With the oils and some reflexology, the problem the baby was having is almost all gone. The oils the infant used helped heal his Torticollis.” Cristina will use the list of oils that come up and apply them to her client in the order it scans. She said she prefers to apply oils on the spine because the spine is connected to all the nerves, which are connected to all the organs, muscles and ligaments. “That really is the meat of the session, to have the oils applied in a layer fashion that the body needs its support in,” she said. “I use massage to help work out the tension or the emotion that is still hiding in your body. I do deep tissue, but when you are here that is not the goal. The goal is to try to heal the physical and emotional part.” Client feedback Cristina said she knows when her clients show a visible change. She explained that she can see that the oils helped address their pain on a physical and emotional level. “The look on their faces after the oils have been applied and after they have received nourishment, is amazing to me,” she said. “They feel like the burdens they have been carrying were totaling lifted off their shoulders. Although their circumstances haven’t changed a bit, they feel more encouraged, equipped and renewed. That radiance in their eyes to me signifies that the spirit is doing some work within that person. The Lord is doing some kind of ministry. I know that the Lord does the healing, but these oils really help facilitate that.”

Client example An older gentleman went to go see Cristina after he fell off a ladder backwards and broke his back. He received different medications, but none of it helped him. When he came into the Hair Haus, he could barely walk, Cristina said. Cristina then went through the process of finding the possible roots of his pain. Since he was having lower back issues, she asked him some questions about his life. He then revealed he was having a painful relationship with one of his children. That emotion weakened his back, causing it to break. she said. “I did a scan and out of the four that came up was an oil that means the person is way beyond their natural hold of pain on an emotional and physical level,” Cristina said. “When I applied his oils, I know he felt a big sense of relief and he was able to walk out of here without a problem.” The day after seeing Cristina, she said she received an email from the man saying he had no pain at all and can twist and turn his back. “I don’t doubt in the oils, but you just never know because

every person is different,” she said. “Like he actually fractured a vertebrae. I can’t fix bones, massage therapy can’t fix the bone. I can’t say the oils fix the bone but they helped repair all that emotional healing he had.” Overall thoughts Self-care is a process and not a one-time event. The oils are powerful, and help support the body’s system. They have their own unique emotional intelligence to them, Cristina said. Cristina recommends coming in if you are open to having access to your best self, to self-discovery and feeling physically and emotionally renewed. If you are a person that is open to learning about themselves and are on a path of being open to natural forms of healing the body, then Cristina said to come and see her. “I recognize that I’m not the best fit for everybody,” Cristina said. “But if somebody is having pains and not knowing where they came from or why, and are open to healing on a really deep level, I would love to get to see if I can help them.” AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 25

favorite finds this issue’s Favorite Finds are presented by elizabeth engelhardt, seguin magazine Advertising director.

i may have been born and raised in dallas, but guadalupe County is where i call home, and anything 78155 makes me happy. this cutting board from southern good has the zip code burned into it by a local, $24.99.

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26 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

i Love sushi! it reminds me of dinners with my dad and i am so happy that seguin now has a sit down sushi restaurant. my favorites are the Alaska roll and the spicy tuna available at sakura sushi & steakhouse. bonus, this lunch special is only $9.75 (dine in only)!

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A Night on the Town Location: Amount Saloon Photographer: Lizz Pumphrey Clothes: Rue 21 Models: Ashley Loewe, Ross Loewe, Kristina Avalos, Eric Avalos, Lynae Moody, Jason Moody

Ashley is wearing a gold biker jacket, $34.99, black shiney top, $16.99, pencil skirt $16.99, black sequined booties, $39.98 from Rue 21.

Ross is wearing a black and burgundy button down sweater, $29.99, with a white longer length tee underneath$14.99. Both from Rue 21 and his own jeans and boots.

30 Seguin ~ Authentic Texas living

Kristina has a gray tunic, $12.99, burgundy duster, $24.99, floral print velvet leggings, $14.99 and black canvas flats $14.99 on from Rue 21.

Eric is wearing a green thermal long sleeve shirt, $16.99, black satin bomber jacket, $34.99, Carbon flex relaxed straight jeans, $24.99 and black mens boots, $39.99 from Rue 21.

Authentic Texas living ~ Seguin 31

Lynae has a black and white striped jumpsuit, $26.99, with a black tie front cover up, 16.99, with black patent pumps, $24.99 from Rue 21.

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32 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

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AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 33

One man's trash is one woman's

ART

By Valerie Bustamante

"It’s just fun. It’s like playing with toys. I think it’s interesting because the objects are not going to do anything but deteriorate and so I just like to piddle around.” ~ Elaine Geisber

hey always say one man's trash is another man's treasure. In this case, one man's trash is one woman's art. Instead of watching left behind items and trash pile up in the creek behind her home, longtime resident Elaine Geisber goes down about once a week to clean it up — something she started doing almost five years ago. Many times people visiting the business next to the creek just toss unwanted trash, she said. When Elaine began visiting the creek, she said she discovered items such as old bicycle seats, horseshoes, iron parts that she believed could be reused in some way. So Elaine began spray painting her discoveries, and incorporating them as "found art" pieces in the front and backyard of her home. “It’s just fun. It’s like playing with toys. I think it’s interesting because the objects are not going to do anything but deteriorate and so I just like to piddle around,” she said. “It’s piddling around more than doing anything.” Within the past five years, Elaine has recycled and kept about 50 items from the creek. “I find a lot of horseshoes down in the creek and so I just

pick them up and hang them,” she said. “I've found a lot of stove parts, bicycle seats, stove legs. I've pulled out sacks and sacks of garbage and things that I want to keep.” Some of the things Elaine takes into account when salvaging objects is shape, texture and patterns. After picking the items she finds most interesting, Elaine sometimes pairs two objects together, making them into something new or she leaves the object as is. Sometimes she changes their color by using spray paint or leaves them with their original rusted texture. “I started making everything red and my husband said ‘you’ve got too much red.,” Elaine said. “So I started making everything blue. The blue bamboo was the first blue items I did because he liked blue." Elaine has also taken to placing googly eyes on some objects that resemble insects and animals. “I think it makes them come alive,” she said. Elaine said her “found art” makes her garden more interesting. “I just think it’s a shame to throw it all away when it could be interesting to someone else,” she said. However, not all the pieces in her garden have come AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 35

from the creek. For example the “fairy house” once was a Kleenex box, came from the Silver Center when it was a resale shop, while others are her grandchildren's old toys, Elaine said. “Toys make good pieces too if you like yard art,” she said. “There's a dinosaur that use to be my grandson’s. When he lost the controls that made it move and growl and stuff I thought ‘ooo, how fun, and stuck him in my yard. So he’s one of my favorites.” While away on vacation, Elaine brings back new additions. “I like to pick up rocks when they are an interesting shape or color,” she said. “I also like to pick up pieces of wood because I like the shape and I think the grain of them is so pretty.” However, while on a trip to the LBJ (Lyndon B. Johnson) Ranch it wasn't a new item Elaine brought back, but instead some inspiration. “When I went to Johnson's Farm in Johnson City, he had a bunch of beer bottles lined up along the sidewalk,” Elaine said. “So when I came back I put some of my bottles along my own sidewalk because I didn't know where to put them. I have found some interesting bottles down in the creek. While looking I found Coke bottles and Crush bottles that were made in Seguin.” Elaine's treasures are always a hit when people visit her home, she said. “I tell them that I’m not crazy, but that I just like this stuff," Elaine said. "I know it’s not art, but it’s crafty. It is unique though because you’re not going to find these items or their shapes somewhere else.” 36 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

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Authentic Texas living ~ Seguin 37

All the World's a Stage TLU Preps students for careers in media By Kati Waxler

ince its creation in 1891, Texas Lutheran University has developed a tradition of providing students with diverse opportunities for educational advancement through their academic programs. One of those is the Dramatic Media Program, led by department chair David Legore. “Theater activities and performances have been around since the earliest days of the university,” said David. “A theater major was added in the mid-1990s, while the Dramatic Media major has been the official degree plan since 2003.” The shift from a theater major to a dramatic media major is significant, as the latter encompasses multiple means of media production. Assistant professor Shannon Ivey said that the difference is monumental. “Studying theater is wonderful, but it can also be a bit limiting,” she said. “This program focuses on all aspects of media that is used to tell a story. We have zero interest in creating starving artists, so they learn skills about stage performance and video design and anything else that can help them with the skills needed to pursue a career in media.” “I think the public would be surprised to learn about the extent

OTHELLO by William Shakespeare

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TheatreXpress.” of our filmmaking efforts,” David said. “Our curriculum Their upcoming production of William Shakespeare’s is quite unique in this regard. It’s a hybrid of theater, film “Othello” opens on Feb. 16 and is a testament to the array and new media. We use the study of text, performance, of skills the students hone. design and technology. In addition, we also emphasize “Like many of our shows, this project blends live perforand develop the many skills that are associated within and mance with multimedia, allowing our students to study in a beyond these fields: collaboration, creativity, communicahybrid setting,” David said. tion, discipline, entrepreneurship, problem-solving, critical “We’re approaching this entire production with diversity,” thinking and others — traits that are transferable to a variShannon said. “Diverse cast, diverse forms of media. We ety of other vocations.” have a film within the production that the students have The program is chiefly focused on preparing students for careers in the fields of theater, film and digital media by been working on, so it’s going to be a unique experience.” Both Shannon and David agree this upcoming producgarnering their engagement in productions. “In addition to collaborations that involve faculty production, along with others that are in the works, would not be tions, the students are also heavily invested in creating their feasible without the new Performing Arts Center, which own productions,” David said. “Departmental productions was recently gifted to TLU. David expressed that it is often difficult for college programs to garner attention from are produced through our program, and student producthe community and that it has been exacerbated by the tions are often produced through an organization called Authentic Texas living ~ Seguin 39

outdated venue the program had been working with. “There has been a wonderful amount of support throughout the years,” David said. “But with the new Weston Center for the Performing Arts, we are seeing the tangible evidence of that support. We have certainly been blessed to have a loyal following of community members, but this new addition will be very helpful in providing a venue to develop and serve our community audience.” “It really makes a difference because it’s multi-functional,” Shannon. “It’s a theater, it has lots of performance space and it’s a film studio. It serves so many different needs of the program.” The instructors aren’t the only ones excited about the Weston Center. Students are seeing the palpable benefits of the new building. “It is providing them with a longneeded place to call home on campus. It is also allowing students in the performing arts to co-mingle in the same location on campus,” David said. “The Weston Center is reuniting students of music and drama after many years of separation. Many generations, and hundreds of students before our current group helped to generate the momentum that led us to this point in our history.” Through all of the changes, David and Shannon both maintain that community support has been integral to the success of the Dramatic Media program. “I can’t think of a single need we’ve had from the community that they haven’t provided,” Shannon said. “They’re always there for us. That’s the nice thing about being in such a small town like Seguin.” “We really appreciate the support of the local community,” David said. “We want the public to know that they are welcome at TLU.” Follow the Dramatic Media program on Facebook @tludramaticmedia, or on their website at www.tludramaticmedia.com for information on upcoming productions and ticket information. 40 Seguin ~ Authentic Texas living

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Flowers Story Tell a

ore than four years ago, Megan Reiley’s love for floral design bloomed, although it is not the path she expected to take. “I went to Seguin High School and when I graduated in 2011 I went to A&M really thinking I was going to be a physical therapist, but I learned really quickly that that was just not for me,” Megan said. While walking through campus, and contemplating her major, Megan said she came across horticulture building. “There was this big sign on the wall that said ‘Benz School of Floral Design’ and I almost kind of laughed because I was like ‘wait that’s a real thing. You can get a degree in floral design?’” she said. “I didn’t even know it was a real thing at the time, but the more I thought about it, it sounded really cool.” Megan said she’s always had a creative side having been involved in both Gifted and Talented and Destination Imagination programs in Seguin ISD. So she had no doubt she could succeed in the major if she made the switch. “I was at this stump in the road, so I started researching it,” she said. “I had two weeks to change my major or I was going to have to sign up for physical therapy classes. I changed my major to college of AG and chose to focus on floral design. It honestly was the best thing that’s ever 42 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

By Valerie Bustamante

happened to me. It was a total God move walking into that building.” The Crossroads After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Horticulture in 2015 from Texas A&M, Megan jumped right into the wedding industry and worked at the Orange Poppy in Marion as a floral designer for a year. However, when the owners chose to sell the shop, Megan was left with the question a lot of post-graduates face: “what do I do next?” “When that was starting to happen I was just deciding what I wanted to do. I prayed about it a lot and I was like ‘you know what? I think I can start my own business,’” she said. “It all has just really fallen into place. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Luckily, I have my dad who runs his business, so I’ve seen him do it. My aunt Mary (Reiley) with Gift and Gourmet also has been an incredible help. Even when I was just thinking about it, she was the one who told me to just do it.” So the Aggie graduate developed Reiley+Rose — a wedding and floral design company — which recently celebrated its first anniversary. But starting from the ground up wasn’t easy, Megan said. “Being as young as I am … I mean I have a minor in

business, but I still felt so unprepared to start my own business. The Seguin EDC and Larry New from the UTSA Small Business Development Center really helped,” she said. “I had all these questions and he (New) was so helpful and just guided me. I also hired a CPA in town. I’ve really bought into the idea of asking for help when I can get it because that’s been the biggest blessing. I don’t know how I would have done it.” Developing a floral design business was not a part of the plan she initially had in mind after graduation, Megan said. “I thought once I graduated I would really be going into the Houston area, working for a big event company there,” she said. “I had some friends who did that and I think I just realized real quickly that that was not the life for me. I think I could have done it for a few years, but being back in Seguin made me realize,

this was home. I can’t imagine doing this job in Houston. There’s no way I would have been successful in Houston because a lot of my first weddings were just people here in Seguin who knew me or my family.” Owning Reiley+Rose is something Megan said she could never have imagined happening especially at the age of 24. “If you would have told me this in school I probably would have laughed … there are still some days that I look at it and I’m like ‘how am I doing this?’ It’s very hard to believe,” Megan said. “It’s been unbelievable. I don’t know how to explain it other than God has really blessed me. I was at a really low point when I was deciding what I wanted to do after leaving the Orange Poppy.”

“I thought it would be really cool to have that Reiley name with me.”

AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 43

Along with building a network of clients and One Year relationships, Reiley+Rose also has allowed Megan to build During the first year, Reiley+Rose has accomplished a professional portfolio — something she didn’t quite have many things Megan didn’t think was possible. when starting out. “When I set up a list of 2017 goals I looked at them and “I did have one, but it was the stuff I did in school,” she thought I’m probably not going to meet all of them,” she said. “When some of my first brides came to me I just said. “I was looking at them recently and there were two told them ‘you’ve got to just trust me, honestly.’ Because I goals I haven’t met. If you were to ask me last January, I would have said I’d probably meet only five of them. There could show them my work, but I didn’t have a 36 wedding were goals that could have been 3 year goals and I did them portfolio to show them at the time. A lot of brides at first were hesitant because I had five weddings to show them. It in the first year.” just takes time. There were a lot of style shoots I just had Some of the goals that Reiley+Rose accomplished to invest in to put my work out there so people could see. included making the 2018 “Best of Weddings” for The That’s been really helpful too.” Knot and designing 24 weddings in one year. The business well surpassed that goal, designing 36 The Namesake weddings. When Megan was deciding what to name her startup, she “It’s pretty crazy when you look at it because there are 52 knew in some way her last name had to be incorporated. weekends in a year and we’ve done 36 weddings,” Megan “My dad’s business is ‘Reiley Brothers,’ so they said. “Our goal was to do 24, which is two a month, and incorporated the Reiley and one day when I get married we’ve surpassed that.” that’s something I’m going to lose. I thought it would be Aside from crossing items off from her “goal list,” the really cool to have that Reiley name with me.” company’s first year was all about growth, Megan said. But it was not until she inherited her workspace and “Growing wise it’s been incredible. I kind of attribute it studio from the matriarch of the Reiley family, her to my brides because they refer me to a lot of their friends grandmother, that the name Reiley+Rose was born. that are getting married, but also the vendors that I work “My grandma catered for years and they built this studio with,” she said. “We’re such a close-knit group of people. I love it because it reminds me of Seguin. They’ve helped me for her, so she catered out of it for years,” Megan said. “When I was starting out I saw that it had the walk-in cooler grow in this first year.”

44 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

and thought it was the perfect space for me.” And grandma Rosemary Reiley agreed that the trailer was perfect for Megan. Shortly after, the two Reiley women spent a whole week rummaging through the building together. “Because it used to be her storage unit, we started cleaning things out,” Megan said. “When my grandfather died she moved a lot of his stuff just to get it out of the house. When we were in here rummaging through stuff we were just laughing because we would find stuff from my dad and his brothers when they were in high school. I tell my mom I will forever treasure that week because I feel I learned so much more about my grandmother and everyone else.” That week Megan told her mom she knew what the business was going to be called. “When I showed my parents the (logo) with the name they thought it couldn’t be more perfect,” she said. “It also works nicely because the studio is on the corner of Reiley Road and Rose Lane.” Now, when grandma Rosemary isn’t working at Gift and Gourmet with her daughter-in-law she’s in the studio

helping Megan with weddings. “My grandmother loves to come in and help sometimes,” Megan said. “She always wants to help, so she’ll make bows or tie off boutonnieres. I love it when she’s in here because this is her building. I tell her all the time when she’s helping ‘live up to your namesake.’ I give it all to her because she made me do it.” Talking Business While it is only 2018, Megan already has the names of brides scratched into her journal for 2019. “It’s kind of different for everyone,” she said. “I already have some brides booked for 2019, which is crazy because it’s over a year out, but I also have brides that contact me five to six months out. So everyone is kind of different. I’d say the average is six to eight months out we book weddings.” To get the floral business started with Reiley+Rose, brides are required to fill out a form on the company’s website with the basics — budget, colors, venue, wedding date and the number of brides and groomsmen. “Doing it this way helps me because with so many

AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 45

inquiries coming in I can look at that date and look at my calendar and know whether I’m booked or not.” she said “Some weekends we can do multiple weddings. In October, we did three in one weekend. One was huge, one was smaller on a Friday, so it’s possible.” Megan then sets ups a consultation with the potential client in her studio or at a place that is convenient to the bride, she said. “We go over every aspect of the wedding from personal flowers to centerpieces,” Megan said. “A lot of times I’ll have them bring up their Pinterest board so we can look at the style and certain flower types. One of my favorite questions to ask them is if they had to explain their wedding in three words what would they be. Some girls have the hardest time coming up with three words while others will have 10 words. I’m such a visual person that the more they give me the better it can be.” After Megan learns a little about the brides, she gets in contact with the multiple vendors she works with to come up with a quote. “I basically price everything out. I’ll know how many stems of roses I need,” Megan said. “Whatever flowers we’re going to use for that wedding I’ll know how many stems we are going to need. We then lock in prices for the season we’re working with and we’ll work up a quote and send it on. From there the brides sign a contract if they’re going to book with us. Some girls we won’t talk to for another three months where we’ll re-meet and see if there were any changes. Then a month out we’ll revisit in-house one more time to go over everything. You’ll be surprised how many times brides change their minds. So that’s why we always meet one last time before.” Once the flowers come in it’s time to rock and roll. “Flowers typically come in Monday through Wednesday the week of a wedding,” Megan said. “Depending on where the flowers are coming from a lot of them will come in on a Wednesday. When we get them in it’s an all-day process because flowers need to be processed and handled correctly. So we spend a lot of time doing that. That is something that is incredibly important to me because I’ve seen what happens when you don’t do it. Depending on 46 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

the size of the wedding we’ll start designing on Wednesday, which is the beauty of the walk-in cooler.” The week of a wedding Megan spends hours inside her studio preparing for the big day — sometimes with the assistance of three helpers; her mom, dad and grandmother. Last October, Reiley+Rose did one of its biggest weddings to date with 50 centerpieces. “She had 13 bridesmaids. That was one wedding, but I also had another wedding that day,” Megan said. “That one was in the China Grove area and the bigger one was in Gruene. That day was crazy. We delivered the first wedding with the 50 centerpieces … they weren’t small either, but big standing glass vases with huge arrangements. I worked nonstop that week. I’m lucky to have some good girls that help me out. My parents are also really awesome.” Megan can deliver the wedding pieces the day of the wedding or brides can pick them up, she said. “Some weddings we’ll come in and set up everything up,” Megan said. “Most stuff we do ahead of time, so we can just come in and place everything. Sometimes I’ll have girls that rent all the votives that we place as well. Some don’t wanna pay the delivering fee to go out to their venue, so if it’s a small wedding they will come out and pick up everything in the shop. For the larger weddings especially if they are renting our big glassware we charge them for us to come in and strike ... and tear everything down.” Staying Constant With the number of weddings she works on, Megan said it’s important to constantly learn. “I hear a lot of podcasts. Some of my favorite designers are in Washington and I stalk their social media daily,” Megan said. “So I look at stuff like that and try to implement it in what I do. When I have time I’ll try some of their techniques. I’m still constantly learning. In this industry you can’t stay stagnant because it’s forever changing. If you’re not upgrading your designs and skills then you’re just staying there.” Any chance Megan gets to attend a class she goes.

However, there are times when she has to take a step back and do what she calls “creative work on the mind.” “Pinterest helps me a lot, but I say it can be my best friend and my worst enemy,” she said. “I do a lot of creative building to be different because it can get so mundane with the same flowers and same colors. For example, the color burgundy, there’s not a lot of burgundy flowers. The ones the girls see on Pinterest are used by everyone and it’s a Burgundy Dahlia. I think I used Burgundy Dahlias all season, but it’s okay when you use a Burgundy Dahlia and pair it with three or four different flowers.” Doing color scheme searches or a search for a particular flower helps Megan when she’s in a creative rut. “A lot of the time as I’m searching I’ll see things that just spark my imagination,” Megan said “Or I’ll build off of the three words that the brides give me. One thing Megan will never do is a recreate an arrangement, she said. “Girls will bring me pictures of bouquets I’ve already done, but I tell them they are not going to look 100 percent like it because I will not remake something I’ve already done. Those photos are more of an inspiration, not guidelines.” Something Megan said sets her arrangements apart from each other is her use of different flowers. “I’m really big on using unique flowers,” she said. “I don’t stick to just roses or carnations. Most weddings when I’m building a centerpiece, I’m using anywhere from five to six different flowers in each centerpiece. When you have shades, varieties and textures you can make things different and not as similar. Texture is big for me because it can completely transform the arrangement.” A Continued Love in 2018 Since starting Reiley+Rose Megan has grown to love the relationships she has built. “At the end of the wedding I tell the bride and groom that I’m going to be sad because we’re not going to be emailing back and forth anymore,” she said. “You know when you’re emailing and calling you feel like this person is a part of your daily life and then their wedding is over and ‘you’re like ok this is it.’” But handing in the bridal bouquet is the best part, Megan said. “To me, the bouquet is the most important piece,” she said. “Everything can go wrong, but if that’s right then it’s a good day because if you mess that up the whole day is ruined.” With a new year, Megan hopes to hand a bouquet to 30 more booked brides, win the 2019 “Best of Weddings” for The Knot, participate in three bridal fairs and be published in at least two publications.

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undreds of years ago, would-be alchemists sought to change metals like iron into more precious materials such as silver and gold. Today, a handful of artisans throughout South and Central Texas practice a craft that’s far, far older, working their own kind of magic with metal. A good farrier can mean all the difference in a horse’s gait, performance and health, and a rider’s enjoyment — or success in the case of competitive riders. For the best results, it’s crucial to have a skilled professional do the work. Ask around enough with other farriers and they’ll tell you — Vaughan Henderson is, by all accounts, one of the best.

The Professional It’s a chilly, overcast day late in December, but Vaughan is working up a sweat inside the barn at Coyote Springs. Accompanied by his apprentice, Jade Feuge, Vaughan’s there with his mobile workstation. Laconic but otherwise amicable, Vaughan gets right to

work setting up his station, one of only a handful around. “There’s only two like this in Texas,” he said. That station goes with him as he shoes horses from San Antonio to Laredo, always staying busy. A certified farrier with the Texas Professional Farrier’s Association (TPFA) and the American Farrier’s Association (AFA), his clients not only include private owners and ranches but also a number of veterinarians, who seek out his expertise for therapeutic shoeing to correct various health issues in their equine patients. Vaughan, who just turned 60, keeps a busy schedule, shoeing horses at least five days a week. “I usually shoe five or six (horses) a day, with help six or better,” he said. “Six to 10 is pretty easy really if they’re all in the same location.” Looking on as he works is Barb Whitmire, Vaughan’s wife and co-owner of Coyote Springs, gently chiding him to take care with her horses. The atmosphere is light, despite the gloomy day, as the crew good-naturedly ribs one another. Authentic Texas living ~ Seguin 49

“Sarcasm is our specialty,” Vaughan jokes while heating up horseshoes. But jokes aside, Barb appreciates having a farrier in the family. “It’s nice. He sees when I’m riding or when I compete,” she said. “If there’s something off, I can work with my vet and I can work with Vaughan.” A Lifestyle With decades of experience on the job and a reputation for excellence, Vaughan’s one of the premier farriers in the region, working primarily with high-performance horses. “I’ve been doing this for about 35 years,” he said. “Roughly, I’ve never really totaled it up.” Horseshoeing runs in the family — Vaughan was introduced to the profession by an uncle. He started in college while pursuing a degree in animal science before later attending a trade school in Oklahoma to specialize in horseshoeing. In fact, equine pursuits, in general, are something of a family tradition: Barb also grew up around animals. “My mom rode until she was eight months pregnant with me,” she said. “It’s a culture, a lifestyle.” The former teacher spent years living overseas before opening Coyote Springs. She said the ranch hosted eight or nine shows last year and is looking to up that number to a dozen in 2018. In addition to hosting shows, competitions and clinics, the ranch also offers schooling, boarding and classes. That kind of training is important, not only for the health of horses but also the safety of farriers. “If you don’t have your horse trained well, that’s my husband and the father of my children that can get hurt,” Barb said. Errant nails can easily tear through

“I’ve been doing this for about 35 years,” Vaughan said. “Roughly, I’ve never really totaled it up.”

a hand or leg, and there’s always the danger of being kicked. Vaughan and Jade both have plenty of stories of injuries they’ve experienced or seen. Jade’s own trajectory as a farrier underwent something of a course correction. She had initially attended university to become a veterinarian before becoming interested in horseshoeing. “I wanted to be a big animal vet and my dad had this genius idea for me to also become a farrier,” she said. “But it’s hard to do both; I never looked back.” This is Jade’s second year working as a farrier. “I pretty much got out of college and tried to do this on my own but it’s hard to get clientele when nobody knows you,” she said. “Generally, you find a mentor, stay under them for a few years until you get on your feet.” Best Methods Horseshoeing is nearly as old as the domestication of horses themselves. The earliest forms of hoof protection were simple leather or hide wrappings, but archaeologists have discovered metal horseshoes dating as far back as 400 B.C. And while the work may not have changed much throughout the centuries, the science behind it certainly has. “Has this changed much? Well, the science has gotten a whole lot better. And that’s good. The basic work though? No, not much,” Vaughan said. “Back in the old, old days — when the science wasn’t so great — they’d have a lot of success but didn’t know why something worked. Now we know why something works.” Shoeing is as much art or science as it is a trade, a fact Vaughan said some people may not realize. “It’s a lot more complex than you would think. You have to get the angles correct, there’s a lot of geometry,” he said. Then there are the horses to think of — top quality horses have to be treated like professional athletes, requiring extreme care to consider their perfor-

mance. Additionally, shoes can come in a variety of materials — although usually steel or aluminum — and in a staggering array of styles that vary depending on the desired outcome. “They can be job specific, or to correct an issue or to enhance the performance,” Vaughan said, adding that the animal’s mass and the type of horse also affect the selection of proper shoes. Fortunately, farriers have plenty of resources to keep tabs on the latest science. The TPFA, for which Vaughan serves as the current board secretary, offers training classes, certification and clinics throughout the year — in addition to contests and other events that can help even an old pro keep their skills razor sharp. The TPFA is, in turn, recognized by the American Farrier’s Association, a registered 501(c)3 organization that began in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1971. Founded as a small of group of farriers looking to provide guidance and direction to their own, the group has grown to represent thousands of farriers across the country. Those resources come in handy as the science behind shoeing continues to evolve and improve, helping even the best farriers improve their work. Despite his reputation for excellence and extensive experience, Vaughan still attends workshops and clinics to further hone his skills. “I still go to clinics and learn new stuff. It’s an ongoing education,” he said. “If you think you know it all, you’re screwing up.” More Information For more information, contact the Texas Professional Farrier’s Association at tpfa.org/ or the American Farrier’s Association at americanfarriers.org. To contact Coyote Springs, call 210-213-8514 or visit them online at coyotespringstx.com or at facebook. com/coyotespringstx. 52 Seguin ~ Authentic Texas living

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