Farrier
Encyclopedia
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
hooves
Horse hoof
A horse hoof is a structure surrounding the distal phalanx of the 3rd digit of each of the four limbs of Equus species, which is covered by complex soft tissue and keratinised structures...
and the placing of shoes
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
on their hooves. A farrier combines some blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
's skills (fabricating, adapting, and adjusting metal shoes) with some veterinarian
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
's skills (knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the lower limb) to care for horses' feet.
History
Historically, the jobs of farrier and blacksmith were practically synonymous, shown by the etymology of the word: farrier comes from Middle FrenchMiddle French
Middle French is a historical division of the French language that covers the period from 1340 to 1611. It is a period of transition during which:...
: ferrier (blacksmith), from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word ferrum (iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
). A farrier's work in colonial America
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
or pre-Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
Europe would have included horseshoeing, as well as the fabrication and repair of tools, the forging of architectural pieces, etc. 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.
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
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, training or "cosmetic" purposes. Horses with certain diseases or injuries may need remedial procedures for their hooves, or need special shoes.
Qualifications
In the United Kingdom, it is illegal for people other than registered farriers to call themselves a farrier or to carry out any farriery work under the Farriers (Registration) 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".In the United States, however, farriery is generally not regulated and consumers must inform themselves of a farrier's qualifications. Three organizations, the American Farrier's Association (AFA), the Guild of Professional Farriers (GPF), and the Brotherhood of Working Farriers (BWFA) maintain voluntary certification programs for U.S. 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.
The Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association (BWFA) offers four levels of certification:
1. BWFA Apprentice II Certification
2. BWFA Journeyman I Certification
3. BWFA Journeyman II Certification
4. BWFA Master Farrier Certification
The American Farriers Association (AFA) offers four levels of certification:
1. AFA Farrier Classification
2. Certified Farrier (AFA CF)
3. Certified Tradesman Farrier (AFA CTF
4. Certified Journeyman Farrier (AFA CJF)
The Guild of Professional Farriers offer three levels of registration:
1. Registered Farrier
2. Registered Journeyman
3. Full Time Farrier
Many farriers who have received a certificate of completion for attending a farrier school or course will represent themselves as being "certified".
See also
- Equine anatomy
- Equine forelimb anatomyEquine forelimb anatomyThe equine forelimb of the horse is attached to the trunk of the animal by purely muscular connections...
- Natural hoof careNatural hoof careNatural hoof care is the practice of keeping horses so that their hooves are worn down naturally and so do not suffer overgrowth, splitting and other disorders...
- RaspRaspA rasp is a tool used for shaping wood or other material. It consists of a point or the tip, then a long steel bar or the belly, then the heel or bottom, then the tang. The tang is joined to a handle, usually made of plastic or wood. The bar has sharp teeth...
- Worshipful Company of FarriersWorshipful Company of FarriersThe 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 1674. Over the years, the Company has evolved from a trade association for horseshoe makers into an...
External links
- On The Horse's Foot, Shoes and Shoeing
- Museum of Horse Shoeing Tools
- Understanding Farrier Certifications
- Organizations