The people behind the horses, literally.
Adam Degenstein and Kelly MacIntosh are the owners of Pilot Farm & Forge, previously known as Horse Drawn Okanagan, which was established in 2017. Both Adam and Kelly have spent their lives around horses, but it was their shared love of Clydesdales that ultimately inspired them to create the business. What began as a passion for these remarkable horses grew into an opportunity to build something together and spend more time doing what they love.
Adam grew up on his family’s farm in Saskatchewan, where he discovered early on that he wanted to build a life working with horses. He pursued that passion by becoming a Certified Journeyman Farrier and now works full time trimming and shoeing horses. Adam is a Canadian Horse Shoeing Champion, a six-time member of Team Canada, and a respected clinician who specializes in draft horse shoeing. His love of Clydesdales began 14 years ago when he purchased two beautiful horses, Luke and Ray. Those first two soon became four, and before long that grew in to a small herd. Adam has trained and driven his own six-horse hitch and has shown at both the World Clydesdale Show in Canada and the Royal Highland Show in Scotland. Despite the excitement of the show ring, what Adam loves most is plowing. Every spring and fall you can find him in the fields, carefully placing furrows and perfecting his crowns, behind a walking plow and his Clydesdale horses.
Kelly grew up in southern Ontario and began riding at a local stable near her grandparents’ hobby farm. After moving to British Columbia, she spent nearly all of her spare time around horses. With a background in Pony Club and eventing—and later coaching and judging—she became interested in learning to drive horses. These days, Kelly especially enjoys trail riding, driving Clydesdales and riding Dressage, and has also participated in combined driving. She loves spending time with Adam and the Clydesdales at horse shows, community events, and weddings, while also taking the reins on the marketing and events side of Pilot Farm & Forge. With an extensive background in marketing, events, and fundraising for not-for-profit organizations, Kelly brings a fresh perspective to engaging the public and creating memorable experiences around the horses.
Behind the Name
The name Pilot Farm & Forge was chosen for two meaningful reasons.
First, it honours the wonderful memories Kelly created growing up at her grandparents’ farm, Pilot Farms, located in Fenwick, Ontario. It was a small hobby farm with chickens, geese, Black Angus cattle, and two horses named Joe and Roxy. Kelly’s grandfather, Captain “Jack” MacIntosh, was a pilot who spent his career navigating ships through the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Her grandmother, Jean MacIntosh, was born and raised on a farm and had a lifelong passion for horses. Kelly’s strong bond with her grandparents inspired both her love of horses and her dream of one day owning a farm of her own. Together with Adam, that dream became a reality in 2025.
The second part of the name reflects Adam’s profession. A forge is a blacksmith’s workshop, sometimes called a smithy. To forge something, in simple terms, is to shape metal by heating it in fire and forming it with a hammer over an anvil. As a farrier, Adam works in his forge every day making horseshoes and tools for his trade. What makes Adam unique is that he hand-forges every horseshoe he uses, a practice that is uncommon today. With the additional space and opportunities that come with owning a farm, Adam plans to expand his work to include farrier and blacksmithing clinics and seminars. In a way, Adam hopes to help pilot new farriers into a profession that has brought him great success and accomplishment.
Together, the name Pilot Farm & Forge reflects both Kelly and Adam’s passions and professions, and represents the beginning of a new chapter at their beautiful 164-acre farm in Forest Grove, British Columbia.
