Victoria Protasenko brings specialized farriery expertise to Virginia Tech
By Andrew Mann
At the podiatry barn of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Virginia Tech, the sharp, metallic "clang, clang" of rhythmic hammer on steel tells a story of precision and centuries-old craftsmanship.
For Victoria Protasenko, these sounds represent the intersection of art and science that defines modern farriery.
"I would see farriers working and just be so interested in it," said Protasenko, who joined the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine as associate farrier in the large animal clinical sciences department a few months ago. "I would constantly pick their brain, ask them questions, pester them until one day I said, 'I want to try this.'"
That curiosity led her to master one of veterinary medicine's most specialized crafts: combining ancient metalworking techniques with cutting-edge biomechanical science to keep horses sound and performing at their best.
Forging fires
Protasenko's path to farriery wasn't conventional. Originally from Louisa, Virginia — a town of fewer than 2,000 people — she was pursuing a degree in science education when her frequent work at training barns exposed her to the world of horseshoeing.
"I didn't have money for farrier school at the time, so basically, I just went and found the first apprenticeship I could. This was the start of COVID. I dropped out of college. Terrible move. Don't do that," she said with a laugh.
But that decision launched an intensive four-year apprenticeship with a multi-farrier practice in Pennsylvania specializing in three-day event horses — some of the most demanding equine athletes in the sport.
"I would go all up and down the East Coast: Aiken, Florida; Wellington, Pennsylvania," Protasenko said. "It was an incredible experience."
This high-level exposure taught her that farriery extends far beyond simply nailing shoes to hooves — it's a precision-based trade that can make the difference between an athlete's success and career-ending injury.
The farrier community's culture of mentorship was crucial to her development. Ross Kanner, whose skilled work she observed at Hidden Meadows Farm in Hanover County, first sparked her interest in the craft. "Watching him shoe horses is what initially piqued my interest in pursuing horseshoeing as a career," she said.
John Kern became a mentor, introducing her to the American Farrier's Association and guiding her through the its certification process. During her four-year apprenticeship with Dan Martzall at Red Oak Equine Associates, both mentors became integral to her development.
"Becoming involved in the American Farrier's Association and local contesting plus World Championship Blacksmiths organization, it has opened so many doors," Protasenko said. "In fact, that is how I came to know [Virginia Tech farrier] Travis Burns. Countless farriers have opened their shops to me in order to give guidance and critique my work. I am incredibly grateful for them."
Seizing an opportunity
What drew Protasenko to Virginia Tech was the opportunity to combine her craft with cutting-edge research and education.
"Working within a university environment, being surrounded by vets and research, and getting to see everything on the forefront of both farrier and the vet world, it creates so many opportunities" she said. "You're constantly surrounded by people who know so much more than you, and you just want to participate in any way you can and learn from them."
This curiosity drives her approach to farriery. "The more anatomy you know, the better you become as a farrier because you're able to apply that in your day-to-day work."
Teaching the next generation
A significant portion of Protasenko's work involves educating fourth-year veterinary students during their podiatry rotations — a responsibility she approaches with characteristic patience and understanding.
"Don't be worried. Don't be scared of the horses," she said. "You will be sore. Expect that you'll be sore for the coming two weeks, probably, and that is normal."
Many students arrive feeling intimidated by the physical demands of farriery, but Protasenko said struggle is part of the learning process.
"A lot of students come in, and they are embarrassed and apologizing profusely because they're struggling," she said. "I always have to reassure them it is OK. Everybody struggles with this. I struggled when I first started."
Beyond basic skills like removing horseshoes, students gain a practical understanding of how shoeing prescriptions translate to real-world applications, including owner finances and treatment practicality.
Focused on problem-solving
Protasenko is equally passionate about advancing farriery through research. Her primary interest lies in white line disease, a bacterial and fungal infection affecting the hoof wall.
"That's something that is of interest to me because I see a lot of horses on the East Coast have it. There has been a lot of research done on it, but we still don't have the full picture," she said.
This focus exemplifies her research approach: identifying common problems encountered in practice and applying scientific rigor to find better solutions.
Building a practice
As Burns transitions into his new administrative role as administrator of the college’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Protasenko is taking on expanded responsibilities within the program. She currently services all Virginia Tech horses — from the riding program and teaching horses to broodmares and foals — while building her own clientele.
"I've taken over about 50 percent but once his transition to his new role is complete, I'd like to take on more and maybe get new clients," she said.
Her client base grows naturally through the seasonal rhythms of university life and horse ownership. "Beginning of spring, beginning of summer, and also in the fall when students come — those are kind of the bigger times where people will call and say, 'Hey, I have a horse I'm bringing to Tech,' or 'Winter is over, I'm looking to get back into riding. Can you put shoes on my horse?'"
Always learning, always improving
Protasenko's commitment to excellence extends beyond her daily responsibilities. She recently obtained her journeyman certification, a significantly more challenging examination requiring the creation of four handmade shoes and their application to a horse within just two hours.
"You start with a straight piece of steel," she said. "And you have to, in those two hours, make all four shoes, have them nailed on, have everything finished. Two hours sounds like a long time, but for that, it's not."
She regularly competes in farriery contests and attends clinics nationwide, continually seeking to refine her skills and learn from other practitioners.
Protasenko recently became a Certified Journeyman Farrier with the American Farriers Association after passing an exam hosted by the Maryland Farriers Association.
Finding a home in the mountains
Having settled in Blacksburg, Protasenko has found her ideal environment for both professional growth and personal fulfillment.
"I love it. I love the mountains. I go hiking a lot," she said. "It's always been my dream to live in the mountains."
She's also expanding the program's community outreach, hosting clinics for local farriers that combine education with hands-on learning.
Looking ahead, Protasenko plans to complete her degree while continuing to advance in her farriery career, with the ultimate goal of earning therapeutic endorsement certification for handling the most complex cases.
"I'm trying to get as much done as I can, as many letters behind my name," she said with a laugh, acknowledging both her ambition and commitment to professional excellence.