Farrier

Last modified: August 04, 2010, 10:46 AM

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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.

Typical Career Progression

With this career, the typical progression is very arbitrary and depends on the skill and enthusiasm of the individual. It can be an extremely financially rewarding for a career farrier with the skills to work at the top level (eg racing stables). Financial return depends on the social demographics of the area, number of horses, distance travelled.

Typical Accountabilities and Responsibilities

You will ensure that the horse is treated with respect just as the owner would expect. You clean out their hooves, file back any over growth and reshoe if necessary. Taking pride in what you do takes precedence over everything else. Naturally because you have a love of horses, you take care of them as you would if they were your own. The last thing the owner needs is a horse that is lame and unridable. At times you will also advise the owner on preventative measures in hoof care.

Career Path Options

For the most part, farriers are self-employed. Many will start out working part-time while working another job, and only become full-time when they have developed sufficient skills and a large enough client base. Success in this field is largely dependent on experience, and so part-time work can help you gain experience until you have developed a reputation. Farriers may travel to breeding farms, riding stables, acreages, farms, stations studs, racetracks.

Farriers may choose to specialise in a particular type of horse, such as standard bred horses, show horses, or leisure horses. Career progression in this field usually comes in the form of a building up a large client base.

Here is a list of David's accomplishments to date;

Certificate 1V in Training and Assessment (TAA40104) Trade Assessor
Certificate 111 in Farriery 21677 VIC
President SA Master Farriers Association 2007-2010 Current
Member SA Master Farriers Association
Member SA Farriers & Blacksmiths Association
Member American Master Farriers Association
Member Farriers Industry Association USA
Member World Farriers Association
Accredited Master Farrier with 50 years Farriery experience
Head Farrier for 8 years at Lindsay Park Stud Angaston (1990 -1998) for the late C S Hayes.
Commenced 1993 as specialist consultant for hoof reconstruction and hoof related lameness
Video of major hoof reconstruction recorded and used for world wide distribution
Australian importer & distributor for BondNFlex hoof reconstruction material (1992 – current)
Educator and debating panellist at Equitana Asia-Pacific 2003
Educator at Equitana Asia-Pacific 2005
Educator at WA Horse Expo 2005
Private instructor for ‘David Farmilo ABC Hoof Care Courses’ across Australia - specialising in shoeing for performance and barefoot trimming, both of which are the result of understanding how to achieve a balanced hoof.
Clinician and educator USA Oct 2005, Feb 2006, Nov 2006, Jan 2008
Invented, developed and patented ‘David Farmilo’s HOOF-LINE’ – a tool for checking the correct hoof balance in the trimming & shoeing procedure.
Invited Speaker at 2006 & 2008 International Hoof Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio
2008 Made & released 3 DVD set on Hoof Care “David Farmilo’s ABC of Hoof Care”

Website established 2000 for online consultancy specialising in

Shoeing for performance
Barefoot Trimming
Hoof reconstruction
Founder Management
Seedy Toe
Bent Legs in foals
Preventative lameness shoeing
Accessible information for horse owners

Publications:

Aust Stock Horse Journal “Across the Anvil” articles contributor
Hoofbeats WA articles contributor
The Horse Report QLD articles contributor
American Farriers Journal contributor
Author of the book ‘Horses, Shoes and Tales – articles, adventures and anecdotes from Australia’s Favourite Farrier’ published October 2003.

"My concern is that the basic principles of hoof care are being lost,
that there are too many variables in hoof care and horseshoeing standards
and not enough is understood about how to achieve a correctly balanced hoof".

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.