Shelby and Jared met in October 2016 after a mutual friend recommended Jared as a farrier for her horse, Chronic. From the first look, both say they were intrigued by one another. Shelby says she knew Jared was special when they were discussing a plan of treatment for Chronic. Like any other obsessive horse owner, Shelby was throwing out multiple diagnoses, suggestions, and treatment approaches. Jared simply responded, “I’m going to meet him where he’s at to start with.” She says she was immediately allured as she frequently uses this phrase with her own clients. Jared says he’ll never forget the day the met when he asked Shelby a question and she replied smirkingly, “ohhhh, I just learned it somewhere along my journey.” From that first encounter, they began to develop rapport full of playful banter. Jared teases that the second time he came out to shoe Chronic, Shelby was not dressed in her normal barn clothes.

Jared didn't just propose on just any fall morning. He chose his birthday, November 14, 2017. He disguised the proposal as a birthday ride. So, on that chilly fall morning, at the crack of dawn, the two shared warm coffee as they saddled their horses, Dunny and Chronic. As the two rode their horses through the fields of Ruffin Farms, the sun began to rise over the hill and shimmered on the pond water. Jared asked Shelby to take a selfie. Then, he directed her to look at the photo to make sure it was ok. When she examined the picture, she instantly saw something sparkly on his pinky finger. When she gasped and turned to him, he presented the ring and asked her to marry him. Completely ecstatic, she said, “Yes!”