Farriers

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Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. This year National Farriers Week runs from July 4th up through today July 10th. So in honor of that I thought I’d focus this post on farriers.

At first glance, the job of a farrier may appear as a straightforward task of trimming hooves and fitting horseshoes. However, beneath the surface lies an interesting blend of science and skill. Farriers possess a deep understanding of equine anatomy, biomechanics, as well as the importance of proper hoof care. Through their precise craftsmanship, they create custom-made horseshoes tailored to each horse’s unique needs. Their artistry not only ensures the horse’s comfort but also enhances their overall performance and soundness.

One of the most intriguing aspects of farriery is the bond farriers develop with horses. Spending countless hours working with these gentle giants, farriers establish a connection built on trust and mutual respect. By providing regular hoof care, farriers contribute to a horse’s well-being and become instrumental in maintaining their health. Through their patient and understanding approach, farriers become an integral part of a horse’s support system, forging a special human-equine connection.

While hoof care remains the core focus of the farrier, their responsibilities extend beyond shoeing. Farriers often collaborate closely with veterinarians and other equine professionals, working as a team to identify and address various equine issues. With their sharp eye for detail, farriers can spot signs of lameness or hoof-related problems, offering valuable insights and recommendations for optimal care. Their expertise and knowledge make them an invaluable resource in maintaining a horse’s overall health and soundness.

Here are a few bits of trivia relating to farriers

  1. The term “farrier” is derived from the Latin word “ferrarius,” meaning “blacksmith.”
  2. Farriery is considered one of the oldest professions, dating back thousands of years.
  3. In ancient times, farriers were often considered to possess mystical powers due to their ability to heal horses.
  4. The skill of farriery was traditionally passed down through apprenticeships, with knowledge being shared within families or between master and apprentice.
  5. Horseshoes were originally made from rawhide, leather, or plant fibers before the introduction of metal shoes.
  6. The majority of modern-day farriers use steel as the primary material for horseshoes due to its durability and strength.
  7. Horseshoes are usually changed every four to six weeks to accommodate hoof growth and wear patterns.
  8. Farriers often work in physically demanding conditions, requiring strength, agility, and the ability to handle unpredictable horses.
  9. There are various specialized shoeing techniques, including hot shoeing (heating the shoe to shape it), cold shoeing (shaping the shoe without heat), and corrective shoeing (addressing specific hoof or leg abnormalities).
  10. The International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame in Kentucky, United States, honors outstanding farriers who have made significant contributions to the field.
  11. Farriers may choose to specialize in specific disciplines, such as racehorses, show horses, or sport horses, depending on their interests and expertise.

Do you have any experience with encountering or working with a farrier? Is there anything you’d like to add to or comment on this post?

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Winnie Griggs is the author of Historical (and occasionally Contemporary) romances that focus on Small Towns, Big Hearts, Amazing Grace. She is also a list maker, a lover of dragonflies and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination.
Three of Winnie’s books have been nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and one of those nominations resulted in a win.
Winnie loves to hear from readers. You can connect with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

44 thoughts on “Farriers”

  3. I’ve only seen a farrier work with horses once (while I was a volunteer as a sidewalker for an equine therapy school here in town,) but I found it fascinating to watch! I could see the bond between horse & man that you mentioned, even as a casual observer!

  4. No experience at all but I am amazed that horses are seen by farriers so frequently. I just thought it was more like every 6 months or something. But I have little exposure to horses and their actual needs. No fiction has ever been detailed about actual health and care of horses other than in passing or to move along a plotline.

  5. I counted on my farrier to keep my horses’ feet in good shape but he gave me a lot of practical advise about general horse care as well.

  6. I’ve never met a farrier that I know of! It’s a very important job, and doesn’t seem to have changed as much as other jobs have through the many years (and centuries!) it’s been around!

  7. I have never been around a farrier although I am from KY but I am never around horses. I have never been to the horse races that are around here. I know that is pretty sad.

  8. as a child our farrier was extremely talented and shod everything from racing standardbreds to tennessee walkers was what he had at home – I had a small pony that wore weighted shoes to show and he was the only one that could get him fit right – see the shoes were the same every year, just getting them fit to the hoof was where the experience came in! My big paint, Tank at home hates the farrier, but the haflinger Sam loves him!

  9. This is so interesting, Winnie! I love how you used the word ‘artistry’ in describing how a farrier custom fits a shoe. To an outside observer, it’d be easy to think one shoe could fit all since they’re all shaped the same, right? 🙂

    I also was surprised that the shoes were changed every 6 to 8 weeks. Who knew?

    Fun blog!

  10. The only information I have is there was a farrier in a small town we used to live near. I am only aware of this as my dad had horses and had need of one. I never met the man. They are a very necessary craftsman.

  11. Interesting post. I don’t have any experience with a farrier. I can see why they’re so important.

  12. My friend’s daughter has a lot of animals including four horses and one pony. She works long days as an equine vet tech so when her own horses need shoeing the farrier goes there and does his thing, she doesn’t even need to be there. Amazed me the first time she told me that but with horse owners, there seems to be a lot of trust and faith and help that happens between them. Off topic but we live in a fire prone area and when evacuations are ordered, a lot of volunteers with horse trailers start showing up and they move the horses to wherever they’ve been directed to take them, they do that even if the owner isn’t home. They don’t lock the gates or barns in case of emergencies, she told me there is very little theft of horses,

  13. I haven’t had personal experience with a farrier, but I’ve known of some in the community, and I admire their profession.

  15. thanks for sharing this post. farrier’s are extremely important. when I lived on the farm, mom found a mexican man who was a farrier, he was short and his mouth never stopped. mom tried him out. she had a friend come over while Chico was there. well it appeared that the first time went well. but when he left, moms friend said to never use him again. she could see that Chico did a good job this time, but she had found out from friends that many people with horses would not use him because he was unnecessarily rough and actually hurt the horses frogs in the hooves. so I only saw him once, but later I too had heard about him not being a good person. sometimes networking is a great thing. because moms friend new about Chico, she was able to suggest a farrier who many people who had horses really liked.

  16. When we were kids my dad only had a farrier come when we had a lot of ice or the one horse had a foot problem. Most of the time the horses went without shoes because we had soft dirt and they were not walking on gravel or hard top roads. My husband never had his horses shod for the same reason.

  17. I have not had any experience with farriers but I have collected horseshoes. I put my crafting skills to use and make home decor items with the horseshoes.

  19. Hi Winnie – Loved your post on farriers. We sold our place to our friend that has horses & she has a farrier visit without her being there also. Their is a trust among people who own horses. We have watched a few times & what they do is a lot of work, you have to know what you are doing & what to look for. A lot of respect for them. Enjoy your books.

  20. I’ve known quite a few farriers, all very good. My current farrier is a woman who is great with the guard donkey, Jack. Jack is a challenge to trim; he has to be done every 3 months or he gets shovel footed (hooves grow too long and the animal has difficulty walking). Watching her work her magic on the horses and Jack is an education in patience and perseverance.

  22. Our youngest daughter trained to be a farrier. I was surprised how deeply they got into horse anatomy. She enjoyed the courses and we ordered all the equipment she would need, including a small forge, anvil, and rack of horseshoes of various sizes. When she finally started working with horses, there was a problem. Her hip hurt her so much when she stayed bent over with the hoof on her knee or the horse put its weight on her, she couldn’t tolerate it. She had been pulled off a horse when working a wagon train unit at a summer camp the year prior. At the time they said her hip was bruised and sent her right back to work. Years later when her hip was still causing issues, x-rays showed she had actually broken her hip when she fell. It was a hairline break, but her continuing to ride and work the program the rest of that summer prevented it from healing properly. Even though being a farrier wasn’t in her future, our teenage son used her forge, etc. and taught himself blacksmithing. At least some of what we spent on the training didn’t go to waste. She did take care of their horses’ hooves while they had them.

  23. Thank you for spotlighting such an important job. It was interesting and I learned new things. Makes me want to go in person and see the farrier in action.

  24. I’ve seen farriers when my family visited one of those historic recreation sites. Important job but too hot for my liking. Thanks for all the neat info and for the chance to win a prize.

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