Don Baskins studied other horseshoers at work and he studied the old Cavalry and other horseshoeing manuals. He spent his time in the United States Marine Corps as the military’s horseshoer. After his discharge from the Marines, he worked in California shoeing a variety of gaited horses, harness and show ponies, perfecting his forge work along the way. He settled in Tucumcari, New Mexico, where he and his wife Oda raised their family and operated his business. He is in demand as a traveling shoer, working a five-state region and is often flying in to shoe horses for loyal clients.