About the Author

Ryan Ridgway: Ryan Ridgway, DVM, grew up on a family farm about an hour south of Regina, Saskatchewan, where he started blacksmithing to make repairs around the farm. During his university years in Saskatoon, he began selling his ironwork online and at local craft fairs to help pay for his degree. During this time, he also took a blacksmithing course offered by his local museum and began volunteering there, which gave him the opportunity to learn from the other blacksmiths and, in turn, teach other new smiths. After receiving his veterinary degree, he began writing blacksmithing articles and has been published in magazines such as Hobby Farms, Carving Magazine, Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine, and Rural Roots. He also writes veterinary articles for various magazines and has a pet-care column in numerous community newspapers in western Canada.