farrier

metalworker

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

A farrier is a skilled metalworker, specifically a blacksmith, who specializes in shoeing horses. This craft involves not only shaping and fitting horseshoes but also cleaning, trimming, and shaping a horse's hooves. The term "farrier" originates from the Latin word "ferrum," meaning iron. Historically, farriers also provided general veterinary care for horses. Blacksmiths, in general, worked with iron to create a wide array of objects, from tools and weapons to household items and parts for vehicles. While blacksmithing has declined due to industrialization, farriery remains a specialized trade, though its prevalence has decreased with the reduced use of horses in transport and agriculture.12

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blacksmith
…most frequent occupation, however, was farriery. In horseshoeing, the blacksmith first cleans and shapes the sole and rim of the horse’s hoof with rasps and knives, a process painless to the animal owing to the tough, horny, and nerveless character of the hoof. He then selects a U-shaped iron shoe…
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…most frequent occupation, however, was farriery. In horseshoeing, the blacksmith first cleans and shapes the sole and rim of the horse’s hoof with rasps and knives, a process painless to the animal owing to the tough, horny, and nerveless character of the hoof. He then selects a U-shaped iron shoe…
Read More