A farrier is a specialist in equine hoof care, including the trimming and
balancing of horses' hooves and the placing of shoes on their hooves, if
necessary. A farrier combines some blacksmith's skills with some
veterinarian's skills to care for horses' feet.
History and ceremonial Historically, the jobs of farrier and
blacksmith were practically synonymous, shown by the etymology of the word:
farrier comes from Middle French: ferrier, from the Latin word ferrum. A
farrier's work in colonial America or pre-Industrial Revolution Europe would
have included shoeing horses, as well as the fabrication and repair of tools, the
forging of architectural pieces, and so on. Modern day farriers usually
specialize in horseshoeing, focusing their time and effort on the care of the
horse's hoof. For this reason, farriers and blacksmiths are considered to be in
separate, albeit related, trades. In the British Army, the Household
Cavalry have farriers who march in parade in ceremonial dress, carrying
their historical axes with spikes. They are a familiar sight at the annual
Trooping the Colour. There is also a farrier on call "round the clock,
twenty-four hours a day, at Hyde Park Barracks."
In the United Kingdom, the Worshipful Company of Farriers is one of the Livery
Companies of the City of London. The Farriers, or horseshoe makers, organised
in 1356. It received a Royal Charter of incorporation in 1571. Over the years,
the Company has evolved from a trade association for horseshoe makers into an
organisation for those devoted to equine welfare, including veterinary surgeons.
Work A farrier's routine work is primarily
hoof trimming and shoeing. In ordinary cases, it is important to trim each hoof
so it retains its proper orientation to the ground. If the animal has a heavy
work load, works on abrasive footing, needs additional traction, or has
pathological changes in the hoof, then shoes may be required.
Additional tasks for the farrier include dealing with injured or diseased hooves
and application of special shoes for racing, training or "cosmetic" purposes.
Horses with certain diseases or injuries may need remedial procedures for their
hooves, or need special shoes. As a service based industry, farriers
must combine technical competence with horsemanship and the ability to deal
with clients. Self-employed farriers and those in partnerships may also require
skill in running a small business. Qualifications
In countries such as the United Kingdom, it is illegal for people other than
registered farriers to call themselves a farrier or to carry out any farriery
work Act 1975). The primary aim of the Act is to "prevent and avoid suffering
by and cruelty to horses arising from the shoeing of horses by unskilled
persons". However, in other countries, such as the
United States, farriery is not regulated, no legal certification
exists, and qualifications can vary. In the US, three organizations - the
American Farrier's Association; the Guild of Professional Farriers; and the
Brotherhood of Working Farriers maintain voluntary certification programs for
farriers. Of these, the AFA's program is the largest with approximately 2800
certified farriers. Additionally, the AFA program has a reciprocity agreement
with the Farrier Registration Council and the Worshipful Company of Farriers
in the UK. Within the certification programs
offered by the AFA and the GPF, all farrier examinations are conducted by
peer panels. The farrier examinations for both organizations are designed so
that qualified farriers may obtain a formal credential indicating they meet a
meaningful standard of professional competence as determined by technical
knowledge and practical skills examinations, length of field
experience, and other factors. Farriers who have received a certificate of
completion for attending a farrier school or course may represent
themselves as having completed a particular course of study. Sometimes,
usually for purposes of brevity, they use the term "certified" in advertising.
Where professional registration exists, on either a compulsory or voluntary
basis, there is often a requirement for continuing professional development
activity to maintain a particular license or certification. For instance,
farriers voluntarily registered with the American Association of Professional
Farriers require at least 16 hours of continuing education every year to
maintain their accreditation. See also
Equine anatomy Equine forelimb anatomy
Natural hoof care Rasp
Worshipful Company of Farriers Household Cavalry Army Farriers
References ^ "Farrier" at Etymonline.com
^ Household Cavalry Info site, Farriers section. Accessed 20 March 2012.
^ Farriers Act 1975 ^ The Horse | Finding a Farrier |
TheHorse.com ^ "The American Farriers Association".
Americanfarriers.org. 2011-04-28. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
^ Registration guidelines for The Guild of Professional Farriers
^ "AAPF Accreditation". External links
Museum of Horse Shoeing Tools Understanding Farrier Certifications
What does a farrier do? Organizations
American Association of Professional Farriers
The Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association
The Guild of Professional Farriers The Farriers Registration Council
American Farrier's Association The United Kingdom Horse Shoers Union
The Irish Farriery Authority Magazines
American Farriers Journal Anvil Magazine
Forge and Farrier Professional Farrier