Jason Wilson-Maki
What is a farrier? What do they do?
A farrier is a skilled tradesman who maintains horses’ feet. Often protective devices (horseshoes) are required to allow a horse to perform his duties; a farrier builds and applies these appliances. The shoes can be as simple as a basic shoe to any apparatus imaginable to support, protect or alter flight and weight bearing in a horse’s foot.
Why does the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) need its own farrier?
My role at the CVM is multifaceted, and ancillary to many of the other equine services. I trim and maintain the horses that are used in the teaching process. I also fill shoeing prescriptions for client horses to help alleviate lameness and am often called upon to create supportive shoes and devices for post-surgical animals. I am involved in teaching laboratories which are aimed at teaching students safe handling of horses’ feet, shoe removal and other physical skills involving the hooves of horses. I am also able to bring a farrier’s perspective to discussions about specific cases and hopefully assist in fostering better veterinarian/farrier relations. The farrier position at the CVM, in my opinion, allows for a more complete educational experience for the students and provides a full service facility for client animals.
Is this a lost skill or is there still a need for farriers?
The demand and need for trained farriers continues to grow. In recent years, through the work of local associations, national organizations such as the American Farriers Association and outreach programs by the American Association of Equine Practitioners and increased communications between individual farriers, the level of knowledge and skill has increased.
What do you like most about this career?
Whats not to love? I am involved with horses and people on a daily basis. I am in a trade that demands a continual upgrading of skills and knowledge. I also get to fabricate intricate, individual animal-specific appliances from straight stock. I love the physical and mental challenges and the opportunity to help horses and horse owners. The best component of my private career was the independence the work provided. Currently, the top aspect is the interaction with and education received by working with the veterinarians and other professionals at the CVM.
What kind of training/certifications does one have to go through to become a farrier?
Wilson-Maki shoes a horse at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
In a strictly legal sense in the USA, any individual at any time may trim or shoe a horse and claim the title of farrier. However, the American Farriers Association (AFA) has a series of voluntary certification examinations. These range from an intern exam, a Certified Farrier (CF) all the way through Certified Journeyman Farrier (CJF). Testing for Specialty Endorsements is also provided. Many professional farriers attend farrier schools ranging in length from a few days to two years. The AFA examinations are stringent and exacting enough that most farriers who pursue the certifications serve some form of apprenticeship. These range from highly informal help sessions to contractually bound apprenticeships. I would guess that the farrier trade is one of the least regulated, yet complicated crafts in existence.
What equipment/techniques do you use on a daily basis?
Somewhere I saw a T-shirt with an interesting description of a farrier. Paraphrased, it stated: farriers are the masters of sharp knives, biting rasps, cutting tools, horses, hot steel and heavy hammers.
I will utilize multiple knives designed for specific detail work on a horse’s foot. I also work with many different rasps (a big fingernail file) and nippers for clipping feet. Ill use a forge for heating metal and an anvil for shaping or manufacturing various shoes. Myriad tongs for holding different stock dimensions, and more hammers than you would think one person would need. Ill sometimes use band saws, grinders, buffers, a mig welder, a jigsaw, and the list is endless.
The most important technique, in my mind, is using as much information as can be provided and thinking through your goals, options and probable outcomes before diving in: think before you do.
Is there anything that you would like to add about this special career?
Farriery is a mentally challenging, physically demanding trade which requires myriad and disparate skill sets. Knowledge of horses and multiple equine disciplines is required. The willingness to ignore aches and pains to accomplish your goals is paramount. I think communication skills are also important. In order to be successful, one must continually question what he or she is doing and accept failures as readily as successes. The willingness and ability to self-educate is invaluable. One must not only educate their mind, but master and refine their forging and trimming skills. Your hands must be able to produce what your mind dictates. This trade is not for everyone, but for the right people, it is the greatest (and one of the oldest) crafts in the world.