Articles
The hoof's structure and the horse's biomechanicsHorse knowledge · 8 minA review of hoof anatomy and horse leg positioning — the professional foundation that enables the farrier to correctly assess trim and shoe.Fittings: from hot to cold workShoeing · 7 minA practical walkthrough of the hoof-shoeing workflow — from removal of the old shoe and trimming to fitting and nailing of the new shoe.The smithing work behind the fittingBlacksmith craftsmanship · 6 minAn introduction to the pure blacksmith craft in the farrier trade — work at the forge and anvil, where shoes and metalwork are shaped and fitted in hot iron.Common hoof diseases and their signsHorse knowledge · 8 minAn overview of common hoof conditions the farrier encounters — from contracted feet and thrush to hoof abscesses — with a focus on recognizing the signs and collaborating with a veterinarian.Hoof balance and measurementShoeing · 7 minA review of hoof balance — what medio-lateral and dorso-palmar balance means how to assess it and why systematic measuring and documentation is valuable.Special shoes and therapeutic shoeingShoeing · 6 minAn introduction to specialized metalwork — the types and principles the farrier uses when ordinary work is not enough, often in collaboration with a veterinarian.Animal welfare and responsibility in farrier work.Animal welfare. · 8 minThe farrier works with living animals and bears a responsibility that is both professional and legally determined. This article looks at animal welfare law the boundary between craftsmanship and veterinary work and what the responsibility means in practice with the horse.Exterior, stance and movement.Horse knowledge · 8 minA hoof does not stand alone — it carries an entire horse. This article is about assessing leg positioning and movement so trimming and shoeing are tailored to the horse's overall structure not just the hoof's appearance.Safety, ergonomics and hygiene in horse workWork environment · 7 minFarrier work is hard on the body and takes place close to a large animal that can react unpredictably. This article brings together the most important considerations for personal safety ergonomics and hygiene in daily work.The farrier's history: three thousand years of iron under the hoofHistory · 11 minFarrier work is as old as humanity's dependence on the horse. This article follows the profession from the first attempts to protect hooves through the medieval nailed horseshoe and the close connection to the blacksmith guilds to the modern profession where craft horse knowledge and veterinary collaboration meet.Material choice: iron steel aluminium plastic and artificial hornMaterials · 8 minThe farrier does not just choose a shoe — he chooses a material. Steel aluminium plastic and artificial horn behave very differently under the horse and the training regulation requires that you can make the correct material choice for each task. The article reviews the materials' properties typical uses and the trade-offs that determine the choice.Steel types and heat treatment: normalizing, hardening and temperingMaterials · 8 minIn the trade Basic Blacksmithing, the apprentice must understand the effect of heating on steel, and be able to apply annealing, tempering and hardening as well as forge welding. The article explains the three heat treatments, the role of carbon and the difference between gas and coal forges — the metallurgical foundation under all blacksmith work.Nail insertion, nail pressure and bruised nailDiseases · 8 minThree classic situations where nails cause problems: nail puncture in ice-shoeing nail pressure developing over days and foreign objects horse steps in. Decree requires horseshoe blacksmith can apply knowledge of nail puncture and nail pressure including diagnosis and treatment and can handle stepped nail — article covers signs examination and boundary to veterinarianLaminitis: the farrier's role in laminitisDiseases · 9 minLaminitis (laminitis) is one of the most serious hoof diseases of all: the suspension apparatus between the coffin bone and hoof wall fails and the coffin bone can rotate or sink. The regulation requires that the farrier in collaboration with a veterinarian can perform acute treatment and shoeing for laminitis as well as follow-up shoeing for chronic laminitis. The article reviews the disease, the classic signs and the farrier's tools.Foal trimming and correction of limb positionsHorse knowledge · 8 minIn foals, deviant leg conformation can be corrected while the bones' growth lines are still open — but the window closes as the foal grows. The training includes a dedicated subject on tendon and leg conformation disorders in foals, and the article covers the importance of growth lines, the main deviations, and the correction techniques farriers require: trimming in the shoe, extensions, artificial horn, and glue-on shoes.Barefoot, boots and the limits of shoeingTechnique · 7 minThe barefoot concept and modern hoof boots are a permanent part of horse life, and the curriculum requires that the farrier has knowledge of both the barefoot concept and the most commonly used boots. The article examines when barefoot works, how the transition from shoes is managed, what boots can and cannot do — and why the rules about horse keeping apply regardless of whether the horse is shod or not.Your own blacksmith business: prices journal and operationsCareer · 8 minMost blacksmiths end up self-employed with their car as a workshop. The course subject Business Management requires that the apprentice can keep records of clients and horses, calculate prices and margins, know relevant insurance for the industry and plan work efficiently. The article translates the learning objectives into practice: pricing, route planning, documentation and the pitfalls that overturn new self-employed people.The education to blacksmith: from basic course to journeyman certificate.Career · 8 minFarrier is a vocational training with one school location in the country: HANSENBERG in Kolding. The main course lasts 3½ years with 21 school weeks and combines blacksmithing anatomy pathology and business management with training with a practicing farrier. The article covers the structure school subjects practice goal progression and the competency objectives the regulation sets for the finished journeyman.