The Art of Being a Farrier

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New to the world of horses? Well, let us introduce to the world of horseshoeing, an art in and of itself. Being a farrier and horseshoeing is the practice of putting “shoes” on horse’s hooves. Typically, the shoes are made of steel and aluminum. Sometimes they are made of other materials, but that is what you find most often for your standard shoeing.

You might be wondering, why does a horse need shoes if they don’t need them in the wild? Great question! Domesticated and trained horses often need shoes to support correct alignment in the legs and support of the hoof itself. In the wild, horses “trim” their own feet by traveling over rocky terrain and constantly being on the move. In addition, leg and foot alignment isn’t important to horses in the wild as it is for domesticated horses.

Shoeing, when done correctly, doesn’t cause any pain to the animal. Essentially, the horse’s hoof is made of keratin, which is the same material as your fingernail. Just like people, horses need their “nails” trimmed. But unlike people, hooves that are not cared for can severely injure or even “lame up” horses. When it comes time to trim and shoe the horse, there are specially trained folks that are up to the job. A farrier.

Farriers are the men and women of the horse world who keep your horse in tip, top shape! The art of horseshoeing often takes years to master and even then some farriers have a hard time grasping the concept of perfecting their craft. A quality farrier is one worth keeping around and is worth their weight in gold.

Currently, in the US there are no licenses or certifications needed to shoe horses, but it really helps when jumping into the profession from ground zero. Here are a few of the factors that go into shoeing a horse.

Assessing the correct angle of the hoof and leg
Knowing how much hoof to take off and how to shape it to an ideal shape
Knowing how to fit the shoe to fit the hoof
Properly handling the horse
Providing customer service for clients

These are just a few of the things that farriers have to be able to provide when working with horses and clients. There is so much more that goes into it, but this gives you an idea of where your farrier is coming from that it’s more than just slapping some shoes on your horse.

Jodi Erpelding

I grew up on a Midwest farm with dirt under my fingernails and the sound of wind rustling through cornfields. My childhood was all about 4H – raising pigs and horses, learning to bake and sew, and discovering the magic of transforming a garden into jars of summer sunshine. Those years taught me the value of hard work, the thrill of seeing a project through to the end, and the simple joy of creating something beautiful. A country girl with a need for speed and a thirst for adventure. Maybe that's why I love the feeling of wind in my hair – whether I'm cruising down a dusty road on my Harley or tackling a mountain trail on my trusty mountain bike. Some of my earliest memories of rodeo are watching my father compete at small local events. That's also where my love for country music comes in – long car rides listening to 8 tracks. The lyrics and melodies always spoke to my soul. These days, you'll find me cheering on the cowboys and cowgirls at rodeos, two-stepping to my favorite bands, belting out a country tune at a concert or sharing stories and laughter with friends around a bonfire. When I'm not soaking up the country life and getting my boots dirty, I'm a nurse, caring for folks in my community. Follow along for more stories from the heart of rodeo and country life!