Farriers inspect, trim and shape horses' hooves and make, fit and nail horseshoes or, in the case of racehorses, racing plates.
Farriers observe horses' legs and hooves while the animal is stationary as well as in motion to check for irregularities, interference, peculiarities in gait or abnormalities in the size and shape of hooves. They consult with horse owners or trainers to decide on the type of shoe required, then remove worn or faulty shoes and note wear patterns and any foreign bodies, bruising, infections or deformities. They examine, clean, trim and shape hooves using knives, hoof cutters and rasps. Then then measure hooves, make a template of each hoof on a piece of cardboard and estimate the length of metal required for the shoes. Metal is selected and cut according to the type, size and weight of the shoes and use of the horse, and suitable nails chosen.
They hold shoes against hooves to find out the amount of shaping required, and then heat shoes in a forge, shape them on anvils and hammer them to size. Once a shoe is ready it is placed and nailed to the hoof and checked carefully so that clips and clenched nails are smooth and lined up with the walls of each hoof.
Farriers may remove steel shoes from horses before they race and replace them with light aluminium shoes or 'tips' and after the race replace these again with the steel shoes. Some farriers work in the areas of corrective or surgical shoeing.
Farriers spend a great deal of time travelling to attend to horses, mainly in country or outer metropolitan areas. Weekend and after-hours work is often necessary. Farriers must work very quickly and have the ability to handle horses, as they may be unpredictable or agitated. Farriers usually wear some form of protective equipment.
Satisfying Aspects
- opportunity to become self-employed
- working with horses
- working with your hands
- working outdoors
Demanding aspects
- possibility of injury on the job, for example being kicked by a horse
- working in all kinds of weather conditions
- physically taxing work
Requirements
- physical fitness and strength
- good eyesight and hearing
- ability to handle horses
- awareness of personal and industrial safety
- good eye-hand coordination
School Subjects
Grade 9 Certificate.
Some employers prefer higher qualifications.
Compulsory Subjects: None
Recommended Subjects: Mechanical Technology, Mathematics
Training
There are three ways to qualify as a registered artisan:
1. An apprenticeship is a 4-year contract between company and apprentice, comprising a 12-week theoretical training, which includes 4 subjects at national exam level.
2. A learnership is a structured learning programme that leads to a qualification in a certain field. The learnership programme includes a theoretical and a practical component. It usually takes about a year to complete. The training takes place on-site (on the premises of the organisation). This has the advantage that the learner gets on-the-job experience whilst training.
3. FET colleges offer theoretical training to prospective artisans via the new National Certificate Vocational (NCV). During this 3-year programme (levels 2 to 4), learners complete a school-leaving certificate (this NCV) similar to the
new National Senior Certificate (NSC) in schools. They are also exposed to a practical workshop component.
All learners are required to complete a practical internship under the supervision of an experienced artisan. As an alternative to doing the full qualification, a learner can apply to do a skills programme at a FET College. Skills programmes are short practical hands-on courses.
For more information about qualifications and skills programmes, contact your nearest FET College. FET Colleges are accredited and funded by a SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) such as MERSETA or CHIETA. They also receive bursary funding through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for the NCV programme.
Employer
- iron and steel manufacturers
- railways
- mining industries
- machinery manufacturers
- such organizations as Mittal Steel, Sasol, Eskom
- small repair shops
- stud farms, horse trainers, race track stables and horse owners
- self-employment