Ellen Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 "There is another saying that goes like this. Most farriers make good blacksmiths but not all blacksmiths make good farriers." Great horseshoe Mike. I have smithed a few years and also have the privlege of owning horses. I have a cabin in NM which is kinda remote, so if I am up there for a few weeks in the summer and my horse loses a shoe, I have no choice but to put one on or trailer him a goodly distance to have it done, so I have learned to put one on. I can assure you that every time "I put one on" I bless my farrier in town and envy his skill. I have made a few (very plain) horseshoes just for the fun of it, and that is easy compared to: A: holding the hoof to work on B. triming the hoof without laming your horse c. nailing the new shoe on (fitting is easy) I can also say that to have to tools to do this will set you back a lot more than you pay your farrier for several shoeings (not counting the forge and anvil). So, farriers should be appreciated more by blacksmiths, and we should have a great appreciation of those "jack of all trades" smiths from yesteryear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Turner Posted January 3, 2007 Author Share Posted January 3, 2007 Hi Ellen, I was going to post that little saying about farriers, but did not know how the smiths here would take to me stroking my ego a bit. Farrier work is tough work and can be very dangerous. The cost of tools would almost bankrupt you, my shoeing box alone has $1200.00 you can get cheaper tools but I can't stand tools that will not hold up. If you have a good shoer keep him happy. I know the main 2 reasons I fire a customers is bad horses or bad paying customers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Mike, your a blacksmith with a specialty :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_sandy_creek_forge Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Shoes and horses. I apologize if I implied in an earlier post that farriers are not blacksmiths. As far as I am concerned they are every bit a blacksmith as any of the rest of us (like Glenn said the have a "specialty"). I also have a profound respect for any one that goes near a horse. I've been near a horse three times in my life. Once I got knocked over, once my shoelaces must have look like a mid-afternoon snack, and the third time I fell off of the pony. Horses and I have an agreement: I stay away from them and they leave me alone To actually stand behind a horse with it's leg between yours is beyond me. -Aaron @ the SCF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Farriers help me out here if I missed anything. Farriers are that blacksmithing specialty that requires being able to work with their head down, hold their work clamped between their own legs while using both hands do work, have the strength to stop a kick in progress (while the foot is being worked on) and support a 1500 pound animal as it shifts position. They don't just bend metal into a half circle and then nail it on to (in to) a large animals foot, but they should understand the structure of the animals foot, the way that foot will be used, and to apply the proper shoe in a proper manner. The shoe size differs with the size of the animal from small shoes for a miniature pony less than 3 feet tall at the shoulder, to a shoe the size of a dinner plate or larger for a draft horse. They should be able to diagnose a foot problem and make a corrective shoe that will fix the problem. Each shoe may be required to be custom made for each animal, and may be required to be custom made for each foot. Their equipment must be mobile and they are required to carry ALL the equipment and materials necessary to each job site. The equipment must be strong enough to survive a direct attack from any beast so inclined as to try to destroy it. They must be able to read the mood of an animal, and be quick and agile enough to get out of the way if that mood changes. The job site, well not always the cleanest of conditions, and they work by turning their head and placing their backside into a position to be bitten by the client they are trying to serve. They have my respect as a specialist ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellen Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Not counting forge and anvil, the basic shoeing tools of good quality will set you back around $500. Hoof nippers will set you back $150 or more. If you want to keep your farrier you will work with your horse(s) every day; pick up their feet, pick the hoofs, put the foot in shoeing position while you are working on each one, make sure to hold each foot up around 2 to 3 minutes. You will also be there when your horse is shod, generally holding the lead rope, and doing whatever necessary to keep your horse well behaved. It helps if you make a few items now and then for small gifts for your farrier. And pay him on completion of the job. Cash is nice. Take good care of your horses (farriers generally have a soft spot in their hearts for the well being of horses), keep the area clean. Have the horse groomed and fly sprayed before the farrier arrives. Small things that make a big difference. And they are also the right things to do for your horse. If you're not willing to care for them, don't have 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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