Duties
The United States Department of Agriculture has estimated there are nearly 10,000,000 horses in the United States today. Responsible for the care and treatment of the feet and lower legs of these horses, the image of the “Village Blacksmith” plying his trade under the spreading chestnut tree has drastically changed over the years.

Most of the people in our country who shoe horses and mules, known variously as farriers, horseshoers, platers and blacksmiths, have changed this trade from a stationary “bring your horses to me” operation to a highly mobile one. A few farriers still have traditional blacksmith shops where horses are brought for work.

Some do hand forging and fabrication of horseshoes from metal bar stock, shaping and welding in coal or gas fired forges with hand tools. Others reshape and apply machine-made or “keg” shoes which are available in a myriad of sizes, styles, weights, material and intended purposes.

The spacing to fit the foot may be done either with the shoe completely cold, or by heating it for easier or more drastic alteration.

In treating injured, diseased or deformed horses, known as “corrective” or “pathological” shoeing, an appropriate appliance must sometimes be completely handmade. Tailormade horseshoes are usually required on the highly animated or gaited horses, since each individual may require slightly different weights and balances.

Besides his basic blacksmithing skills in use of the forge and its tools, the farrier must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the horse, especially the feet and lower legs. He must be able to recognize and differentiate between cause and effect of any imbalance in the way a horse is going, or the probable results of any shoeing or trimming contemplated or done.

The farrier must possess much common “horse sense” and an ability to handle the horse well, as well as work amiably with the horse owners. He often may work at or under the direction of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in treatment of a particular malaise, or may consult a DVM in pursuing his course of diagnosis and treatment.

He must be able to read and understand radiographs, and be familiar with medical terminology in order to communicate effectively with the DVM.

The farrier uses a wide assortment of tools in his work. Most are manually operated; some may be mechanized. While the hand tools are relatively simple, much skill is needed for their proper use. Of necessity, he may occasionally have to fabricate a replacement, or design and make a specific tool for a specific job.

In making his tools or special horseshoes, he uses measuring devices such as calipers, dividers, and scales. He heats the metal to the desired temperature in a coal, oil, or gas fired furnace, by controlling the amount of fuel or the force of air over the fuel. He usually judges the temperature of the metal by the color in the fire, but may use a pyrometer.

He uses tongs to remove the object from the forge and holds it in position on the anvil while he shapes it with a hammer or rasp. A wide variety of tools may be used in the shaping process, such as the hardy, pritchel, flatter, swedge block, and forepunch. A bench vise may also be used in holding the material.

After shaping the shoe to the foot of the animal, it may be hardened by tempering in air, oil, or water. Horseshoe borium may be applied by using an acetylene torch to harden the wearing surface of the shoe. Final finishing may be done with rasps and files by hand, or by a power grinder.

Working Conditions
Farriers generally work out-of-doors in or near stables or corrals where horses are kept. Flying insects, odors, dust, and extremes of heat or cold are often encountered. Ground surfaces may be uneven, dusty or muddy. Working in confined spaces, such as a stall, small corral, or pen may pose hazards to the farrier as he works around the animal.

Some horseowners may have a temperature-controlled barn, wherein shoeing may be done. Others may provide a shed or shelter from inclement weather. Seldom, unless work is performed inside a regular blacksmith shop, will the farrier enjoy what could be considered “good” surroundings in which to work.

There are almost always other animals, people, dogs, automobiles, etc., in the vicinity which may distract the farrier and/or animal. The temperament of the animal may constitute an additional hazard to the farrier, who may often have to work alone. He must know and understand methods of humane restraint of the animal.

Injuries such as cuts, bruises, burns, mashed fingers, or from being jerked down, stepped on, bitten, or kicked by an animal are common. Safety devices are not readily available to protect from these injuries, although a leather apron is worn, and goggles and steel-toed shoes may be worn. The nature of the work generally prevents wearing gloves or other protection.

The farrier stoops or “crouches” while performing the bulk of his work. In addition to holding and using his hand tools and working simultaneously with both hands, he must bend, twist, reach, grip, lift, carry, and handle a sometimes recalcitrant animal.

Personal Qualifications
Average physical strength, coupled with a well-conditioned body, good eyesight, hand-eye coordination, hand and finger dexterity, agility, a good sense of balance and angles related to the conformation and way of going of the animal, and inventiveness are desirable attributes of an aspiring farrier.

Some skills will develop through practice and experience. A basic “feel” for animals is an absolute essential, and is generally not automatically acquired. The farrier must be willing and able to work hard, under trying conditions, for long periods of time.

Training
The knowledge and skill so necessary for this profession may be self-taught or acquired over long periods of time by practice, observation, or serving as a trainee to a skilled farrier.

This usually offers excellent training in the manual skill, as well as in learning handling and restraint techniques. The more complicated theory of horseshoeing, including the anatomy and physiology, are often neglected.

Such training may also limit the trainee to a very narrow segment of the broad field of care: e.g.. only gaited horses, flat racehorses, hunters and jumpers, etc.

There are several score of “Horseshoeing Schools” that operate throughout North America. These schools purport to teach an overview of both the theory and practice of the art.

Depending upon the orientation of the school itself, a different balance between the two may be struck. So, too, may the emphasis of the school vary, depending upon breeds of animals or predominant use of the animal in the school’s area.

During formal schooling, the aspirant learns the basic skills of the trade from lecture, demonstration, and actual performance. The proper use of the several tools is taught, as is handling of animals, animal psychology, public relations, professional image, business management, and anatomy and physiology of the animal.

Completion of a school curriculum does not always produce a competent farrier, able to perform all that is expected. Much more practice is desirable and necessary. This may be acquired on the job as a trainee or by starting one’s own business.

There are drawbacks to each. In some cases, completion of a course of study will prove to the aspirant that he should forego his plan to be a farrier.

While school selection must finally be a matter of individual choice, there are several criteria against which one should evaluate the school. Important are:

Above all, one must not assume that going to a school produces a competent farrier. It is merely a foundation from which one must learn and build.

Earning And Hours
As in any other self-employment, the farrier may experience some difficulty in establishing a good practice and developing a firm clientele. Loyalties and prejudices run deep in horse ownerships, and this reflects in a reluctance to change or to accept a new farrier.

During this establishment period, earning may be low and hours long or intermittent. Once the practice is established, one may choose how much or how little work will be done.

Rates paid for farrier services may vary from as little as $5 for a normal trimming of the unshod animal, $8-$26 for normal, straightforward shoeing, $35-$75 for gaited horses where shoes are handmade, to even more, depending upon the nature of the job to be done.

Pathological or corrective shoeing is charged for at a rate commensurate with the work performed. Usually, from 6 to 10 head of horses are shod by the average farrier per day. Some may shoe as many as 16.

This depends largely on the quality of work done, the ease with which the animal is handled or allows himself to be handled, the stamina of the farrier, and the distances traveled between horses.

Overhead varies directly with current material costs, vehicle costs, and/or shop costs. One may equip himself to begin earning from $500-$1,000, exclusive of vehicle purchase cost.

Where Employed
Some farriers have central blacksmith shops where horses are brought to the practitioner. These are not necessarily in rural areas. More often, a pickup, truck, van or trailer is fitted as a mobile ship which the farrier takes to the location of the animal. This may be boarding stables, breeding farms, training stables, racetracks, farms, ranches, or to backyard pets.

Almost all are self-employed, free to choose where they work. A few are on a retainer or salary paid by a farm or stable, etc. Others devote their skills solely to racetrack plating and may follow a “circuit” as race meets move from track to track. The practitioner may or may not belong to a labor union.

Pre-career Training
Working with animals in any way is valuable to the aspiring farrier, as is working with hand tools such as files, hammers, chisels, and punches. High school or vocational school courses in hot metal working or blacksmithing is also valuable.

Physical science study, particularly anatomy, is good background, as is some public relations exposure, and basic business management.

Outlook
A dedicated, competent farrier is in demand almost everywhere in the US where there is a horse population. Equine industry experts estimate a population of in excess of 10,000,000 animals, and the number is increasing yearly. Given the fact that most animals should be trimmed or shod every 6-8 weeks, year round, there is a sizeable demand.

The successful farrier should be able to choose where he would like to work, what special kind of work he would like to do, if any, and how much time he wants to practice his art. This should not connote that a career as a farrier is an easy, get-rich-quick profession.

The heavy physical labor, constant danger, and demand for a high level of physical skill coupled with an ability to think, reason, and recall information makes the profession must demanding of an individual.

Related Careers
If the aspirant is particularly oriented towards horses, yet finds his skill does not match that required of a farrier, he may branch out into any of the multitude of farm, ranch, stable, or racetrack jobs that involve equines.
He may also consider blacksmithing and other related metalworking careers in industrial production, decorative art, or hand fabrication of specialty items such as jewelry and sculptor.