Farrier

A farrier is a specialist in the care ( cutting ) and the fogging of animal hoofs with horseshoe or other materials. The horseshoes and horseshoe nails he is also traditionally in the forging process itself establish or adjust the horseshoe shape of the hoof at. The work also includes the treatment of injured and sick hooves.

In Austria and Switzerland farrier is the correct Occupation, in Germany the profession is officially called Hufbeschlagschmied.

• 2.1 in Germany
• 2.2 in Switzerland

Remit

The traditional remit of the farrier is the fitting with horseshoes, as well as the shortening and correct at Barhufgängern. This includes the preparation of the hoof for the fitting by cutting and rasping of the horn. In position errors, hoof diseases such as laminitis or cave wall, etc. The blacksmith is also therapeutically active by supporting by attaching special fittings the healing process.

In addition to fitting many farriers now offer the adaptation of hoof boots that are either permanently glued to the hoof or as a shoe for every ride will be attracted to the mount.

The dental care, which traditionally also within the reach of the farrier, is now carried out mainly by veterinarians.

His field of work includes the fitting of donkeys and mules.

Claw blacksmith

If required, counted in earlier times also the fogging of cattle ( cows, bulls, oxen ), unless they were used for transport and therefore their claws were subject to heavy wear, with so-called iron claws to its activities. There was even forging the forging itself as claws specialized and exclusively fogged cows. Hoof trimmer, there are still, but usually cattle in Germany nowadays do not fog.

Training

In Germany

In contrast to the formation of the hoof farrier in Germany is regulated by law.

The training for Hufbeschlagschmied has been completely revised. Previously completed training in metal crafts as a basis for this was necessary, to which an internship, a teaching forge stay and joined the state examination.

The following options provides the new rules:

In Switzerland

The lesson for farrier EFZ lasts 4 years. Budding farriers visit on a day the week the vocational school. The third place of learning, the inter-company courses.

Farriers learned can specialize to become a qualified farrier. The quality mark is awarded in a SMU- dressing course. A qualified farrier is committed to regular training.

A higher technical examination ( eidg. dipl. Hufschmiedemeister ) is planned.

The old law of higher vocational examination to the blacksmith - Hufschmiedmeister according to regulations from 1987 will no longer be performed because the occupations blacksmith and farrier have evolved apart.