Farrier

Farriers inspect, trim and shape the hooves of horses and make and fit horseshoes, in compliance with any regulatory requirements by the National legal authority.

Farriers typically do the following:

• talk to the horse owner about what work is required
• check the horse’s legs, feet and hooves for problems
• cut away excess hoof growth and make sure the horse is properly balanced
• choose suitable shoes for the horse’s size, foot condition and type of activity
• make horseshoes by hand or on a machine
• shape shoes, using a hammer and anvil
• fit horseshoes
• make final checks to finish

Farriers can work at a client’s business, at a riding stable or on a farm. Their working environment is physically demanding, outdoors in all weathers and they can spend nights away from home.

The following job titles also refer to farrier:

shoesmith
farriers
horse hoof trimmer
horse shoe fitter
horse pedicure specialist
pedicure specialist

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a farrier.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Farrier is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to farrier.

cattle pedicure
equine yard manager
shepherd
blacksmith
pet sitter

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of farrier. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of farrier with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

passport officer
animal hydrotherapist
animal massage therapist
alternative animal therapist
animal therapist

These skills are necessary for the role of farrier.

• Control animal movement: Direct, control or restrain some or part of an animal’s, or a group of animals’, movement.
• Prepare equid hooves: Trim and dress horse hooves using the appropriate tools and methods. Comply with the agreed footcare plan.
• Make farrier tools and supplies: Work sections of metal to produce farriery tools and horseshoes to required specifications.
• Attach horseshoes: Attach the horseshoe safely, securely and in the correct position according to plan. Take all relevant information into account. Finish the hoof according to the specification, trot up the horse to confirm its soundness. Evaluate finished job and welfare of the horse.
• Advise horse owners on farriery requirements: Discuss and agree the farriery and hoof care requirements of the equine with the responsible person.
• Carry out post hoof-trimming activities: Discuss and agree on a husbandry plan (written or verbal), which may contain information on workload, environmental conditions, devices and non-prescription topical applications being used.
• Assess the footcare requirements of the equid: Inspect the horse’s leg, foot and hoof while they are stationary as well as in motion to check for irregularities, interference, peculiarities in gait (how the horse walks) or abnormalities in size and shape of hooves and wear of shoes in discussion with the owner and given purpose and use of horse.
• Analyse animal locomotion: Analyse animal locomotion either by eye or using instrumentation for measuring body movements, body mechanics, and muscle activity.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of farrier. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Types of metal: Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.
• Forging processes: The various processes in the metalforming practices of forging, such as swaging, open-die forging, automatic hot forging, cogging, impression-die forging, roll forging, upsetting, press forging, and others.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of farrier. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
• Manage animal biosecurity: Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising potential health issues and taking appropriate action, communicating site hygiene control measures and biosecurity procedures, as well as reporting to others.
• Manage time in agricultural production: Plan and organise schedules in order to distribute and organise workload for agricultural production activities.
• Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
• Apply smithing techniques: Apply techniques and use technologies in relation to the various smithing processes, including sculpting, forging, upsetting, heat treating, and finishing.
• Work with blacksmithing power tools: Work with drills, air chisels, power hammers, hydraulic presses, grinders, and others to create (semi-)hand-made metal products by performing blacksmithing operations.
• Work with blacksmithing hand tools: Work with hammers, chisels, anvils, tongs, vises, forges, and others to create hand-made metal products by performing blacksmithing operations.
• Manage animal hygiene: Plan and use appropriate hygiene measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure an effective overall hygiene. Maintain and follow hygiene procedures and regulations when working with animals, communicate site hygiene controls and protocols to others. Manage the safe disposal of waste according to destination and local regulations.
• Understand the needs of animals: Learn and understand the needs of an animal and practice concern for its well-being, no matter how small the task.
• Shape metal over anvils: Forge pieces of metal over an anvil using the appropriate hand tools and heating equipment.
• Work independently in agriculture: Perform tasks individually in livestock and animal production services by taking decisions without help. Handle tasks and tackle with issues or problems without any outside assistance.

7221 – Blacksmiths, hammersmiths and forging press workers

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References

1. Farrier – ESCO
2. Farrier – Explore careers | National Careers Service
3. Featured image: Photo by Lena Bauermeister on Unsplash