How to recognize an experienced farrier

24.07.2013 11:00

The concept of a "farrier" primarily means a professional blacksmith who deals knowingly with shoeing of horses and making horseshoes. An unskilled and untrained farrier with no information about the structure of the hoof and not able to cut hoofs properly, probably, will bring a horse more harm than good.

An experienced farrier, working with the horse, will never hurt an animal. Work with the hooves of a horse reminds people’s manicures and pedicures but on a much larger scale. Before a farrier puts a new horseshoe on, he has to remove the old one using tongs. Then cuts the hoof with clippers or pliers to the desired length. If a hoof is cut, this will cause extra strain on the legs of the animal.

A horseshoe is shaped on an anvil, other necessary items are added later. A farrier can create a horseshoe by cold forging. Hot forging requires more time and special conditions but gives better results. It allows a farrier making a horseshoe that will be better suited to the animal's hoof anatomy. A farrier has to remember that one should not take too long to keep a hot horseshoe on the hooves of the horse because molten metal can damage them.

When a hot horseshoe is ready, it is dipped in cold water. Nails that secure a horseshoe on the hoof should not reach the sensitivity zone when a horse moves. Hooves of the horses are formed in such a way that the lower part of them is not sensitive. A farrier cuts off the sharp ends of nails and then uses a special tool - a carrier that allows fixing of a horseshoe on the hoof securely and painlessly for a horse. The horseshoe edges which contact with the hoof get smooth with a rasp.

An experienced farrier follows a number of requirements:

A competent farrier makes sure a horseshoe fits the hoof, not the other way round. A new horseshoe must firmly sit on the hoof, have a minimum protrusion to the outside.

A farrier takes great care of a hoof, does not cut it more than necessary (though everyone can make a mistake). A good farrier will always explain what he is doing, feel free to ask questions.

He selects high-quality materials (horseshoes, nails), selects horseshoes of the required size instead of customizing the first one he got. When fixing, nails are at the height of the one third of the hoof. Openings are closed up neatly.

Source - Mir Kovki 

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