Farriers

The word farrier comes from the ancient Latin term for iron: ‘ferrum’. Simply put, a farrier is a person responsible for caring for horses’ feet and protecting their hooves from wear and tear by applying an iron shoe.

Farriers play a most important role in the horse world and, properly trained, are invaluable to the owner or trainer with the knowledge and skill they possess. It is important that all horses be shod by an experienced and qualified person. A fully trained and competent farrier can detect problems in a horse’s foot and alleviate them by correct shoeing. A farrier doesn’t just nail the horseshoe on, his or her work is primarily hoof trimming and shoeing. In ordinary cases, it is important to trim each hoof so that is sits correctly on the ground. Any irregularities on the rim of the hoof can over time cause severe damage to a horse.

A farrier combines the skills of a blacksmith – fabricating and adjusting metal shoes – with veterinarian knowledge; for example, the anatomy of a horse’s feet and the general physiology of a horse. Farrier’s tools include pincers for extracting nails, a hammer, a rasp to file away unwanted hoof material, and a hoof knife for extracting foreign objects lodged in the hoof. Proper shoeing is an investment against future damage to a horse, and insurance against expensive veterinary bills. Farriers supplies are found in many regional outlets, but also increasingly in cities, where horses are used for recreation and sport. While it may be an ancient profession, farriers are as indispensable today as they ever were in the days of ancient Rome.