General Description
This is an ideal career for logical thinkers. Farriers are specialists in equine hoof care, and are responsible for the trimming, balancing, shoeing, health and overall wellbeing of the feet of animals in their care.
You work exclusively with equines, and undertake the training of a blacksmith in order to learn methods for shaping the shoes, as well as a division of veterinary medicine in order to understand the anatomy and physiology of the animal’s lower limb.
Essentially, a farrier’s job is concerned with hoof trimming and shoeing; however, you may need to fill cracks in hoofs, spend time calming down animals prior to your work, and dress wounds around the hoof area. You use equipment and tools of the trade like a forge, anvil, sole knives, nippers, hammers, rasps, hoof testers, nail pullers,. In this position, you often work alongside each animal’s owner.
What you do every day?
Since you specialise in hoof care, most of your time will focus on hoof trimming and shoeing. You will spend a great deal of each working day travelling to each of the horses, generally in the country or outer-metropolitan areas. With each animal, you will examine their legs and hooves, both at a standstill and in motion to determine whether they have any interference or peculiarities in their stance or stride. Before you begin any work on the animal, you discuss the matter with their trainer or owner to determine the type of shoe and nails required.
When you have approval, you get to work by removing the worn out or damaged shoes. You examine these to gain an understanding of wear patterns, foreign bodies, deformities, and infections. Once the shoes are removed, you clean, trim, and shape the hooves using your tools. When doing this, you ensure that each hoof retains its correct orientation to the ground. To make the most appropriate shoes for each horse and its lifestyle, you consider its work load, the surfaces its walks and runs on, and whether it needs additional traction.
Machine made shoes are generally used but you will also need to know how to make shoes for your accreditation testing requirements. To make the shoe, you heat the metal bar stock in a forge, shape them according to the hoof of the equine, and them hammer them to temper the metal. Once they are of correct size and shape, you nail them to the hooves and ensure that clips and clenched nails are smooth.
Other tasks you may perform include applying special shoes for training, racing or for cosmetic purposes. Some horses may have injuries or diseases, so you may implement special remedial procedures.
Personality that best fits this occupation
You will need to possess a natural love for horses and be highly interested in their health and welfare. You will have great communication skills, a naturally empathetic nature and friendly disposition. Your inquisitive mind will allow you to problem solve when horses are experiencing hoof or shoe problems. You are naturally observant and great at organisation of your day to day tasks, especially with all of the travel involved in your daily work.
You will also need to have strong technical skills,. Working with tools and large animals will require physical strength, and long hours of standing and bending over will need stamina. You will need to enjoy manual labour and outdoors environments. Overall, a love for horses is essential.
Best thing about this career
You have a love of horses and are able to work with them each day. It is very rewarding to see the joy on owners’ and trainers’ faces when you finish restoring their horse’s hooves to a healthy new standard.
Worst thing about this career
You will never like seeing sick, injured or deformed horses. Some are not treated with love, and some will be bad-tempered. It can be challenging changing the shoes of a temperamental horse, especially when you need them standing docile and still while you examine their hooves. The travel can get tiresome, as can back strain for long periods, from bending over the horses hooves.
About the Author
David Farmilo, Accredited Master Farrier
David Farmilo is an Accredited Master Farrier with 52 years farriery experience. He has been teaching for 10 years and consults (at no charge) on his website (www.horsefarrier.com.au). Currently the President of the South Australian Farriers Association, David's mission is to put back into the industry what he has gained out of it. He also mentors many young farriers around Australia, while encouraging horse owners to take more of an interest in the understanding of their horse's hooves.
Did you know that horses spend more energy lying down? (And that is one reason why many horses sleep standing up.)