Farrier

Career path and progression

With experience you may be able to take higher level qualifications, for example a Diploma in Higher Education or a degree in farriery.

You may be able to work with larger stables, horse breeders or mounted regiments in the police or army.

You could also work in equine hospitals, with vets or in the farriery suppliers business.

You could become an Approved Training Farrier (ATF) and employ and train apprentice farriers.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with your hands
• excellent verbal communication skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to work on your own
• the ability to operate and control equipment
• customer service skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Design and Technology - Farriers work with tools, materials, and hands-on techniques every day – shaping metal on an anvil, using hammers and forges, and crafting horseshoes by hand or machine. Understanding how to work with materials, use workshop equipment safely, and solve practical design problems is central to the job.
• Biology - Farriers need to understand the anatomy of a horse's legs, feet, and hooves to check for problems and ensure the horse is properly balanced. Knowledge of how bones, joints, and tissues work helps them spot health issues and choose the right approach for each horse.
• Physics - Farriers apply principles of force, balance, and materials science when shaping metal in a forge and fitting shoes to ensure a horse moves correctly. Understanding how heat affects metals and how weight distribution works is essential for making shoes that support the horse properly.
• Engineering - Farriers are skilled metalworkers who heat, shape, and forge steel into precisely fitted horseshoes. Understanding engineering processes like forging, material properties, and the use of specialist equipment is at the core of their craft.

Also relevant

• Physical Education - Farriers do physically demanding work – lifting horses' legs, hammering metal, and working on their feet for long periods in all weather conditions. A good level of fitness, stamina, and body awareness helps them manage the physical demands of the job safely.
• Chemistry - Farriers work with metals at high temperatures in a forge, so understanding how materials behave when heated and cooled is useful. Knowledge of the properties of different metal alloys helps them select and work with the right materials for different types of horseshoe.
• Business - Farriers are often self-employed, managing their own client base, scheduling visits to farms and stables, and handling invoicing and pricing. Understanding how to run a small business, build customer relationships, and manage finances is important for a successful career.
• Mathematics - Farriers use measurement and calculation when assessing hoof dimensions, ensuring balance, and shaping shoes to the correct size. They also need maths for running their business – pricing jobs, managing costs, and keeping accounts.