Horses require special care both at the track and while at home, which is why the job of a blacksmith is so important. Several great blacksmiths are available
at Hoosier Park. One of them is Ron Wrobbel.
Wrobbel’s interest in horses began around the age of nine when two of his uncles purchased a few Standardbred horses and began training. He would watch his uncles train and race the horses and it was then he knew he wanted to be in the horse business.
“When my uncles got their horses, I knew right away that this was the business that I wanted to be in,” said Wrobbel. “I am very fortunate that I am able to do something that I truly enjoy.”
In 1984, Wrobbel began his career as a trainer and driver. Throughout his time driving and training, he picked up on the art of shoeing his own horses. In 1996, Wrobbel began racing at Hoosier Park, and it was around that time he began taking on the task of shoeing other horses aside from his own.
Wrobbel began to phase out of driving and concentrated more into the shoeing end of the racehorse business, eventually giving racing up all together. Now, you can find Wrobbel at Hoosier Park throughout the entire Standardbred meet in the spring and at Indiana Downs for Standardbred racing in the fall. When not working at the two Indiana tracks, Wrobbel returns to his home in Mecosta, MI, where he lives with his wife, Ann, and they own four horses.
The Wrobbels can be found in the Standardbred paddock during the races most nights. Wrobbel serves as the paddock blacksmith for the racetrack while Ann oversees their horses and the daily training rituals that go into conditioning them for the races. This is a position that Ann has held for the past 15 years.
When shoeing a horse in the blacksmith shop, it usually takes Wrobbel about an hour. When he finishes up his daily work, he heads to the paddock for race time, and can quickly perform repairs before, during, and after the races. Shoeing and working with horses is what Wrobbel loves and it shows in his work.
“I have raised my family on horses and it is the only job I have really ever had,” said Wrobbel. “The horse business has been good to me and has paid all the bills throughout the years.”
In addition to his work in several facets of shoeing, Wrobbel also opens his doors to all barn tours conducted at Hoosier Park. Numerous guests stop by each season to learn a little about Wrobbel’s profession and observe as he attaches a shoe to a horse. He also takes time with each group to field questions and to show some of the tips that goes into shoeing, especially with Standardbreds. Standardbreds have more detail into the shoeing process, including balance, different shoe types, and problem spots, such as a horse that tends to hit his knees when he accelerates into a higher speed.
Whatever the job, Wrobbel is up for the task. He’s a true advocate for the sport and is a valuable asset to the success of the harness racing program at Hoosier Park.
(Hoosier Park)