Part of a Series on Careers involving horses: Farrier
Farriers are equine foot care professionals who work in cooperation with veterinarians. They use special tools to trim, shape and shoe horses. They need to know how to evaluate a horse’s gait and balance to make or maintain special adjustments that are crucial to a horse’s health.
Getting a degree in Equestrian Science, Studies or Education can benefit you in learning business, horse science and gaining experience with horses, although a degree is not necessary to become a farrier. At William Woods, students can take classes in anatomy and how to work with farriers for the health of the horse, but other training, often apprenticeship with an established farrier in shoeing horses is necessary.
Being a farrier is a pretty physically demanding gig; they spend most of their time on their feet, dealing with an average of 267 horses, each about seven times a year. (That’s 1,904 trimmings and/or shoeings a year!) Farriery does not have a national certification in the United States, but three organizations—the American Farrier’s Association (AFA); Guild of Professional Farriers (GPF); and the Brotherhood of Working Farriers (BWFA) offer voluntary certification programs. The AFA is the largest.
The American Farrier’s Journal survey indicates full-time farriers receive an average salary of about $92,623/year.
Other careers in horse health diagnosing/assessment and treatment:
- Nutritionist
- Veterinarian
- Artificial inseminator
- Blood typing specialist
- Drugging inspector
- Horse show vet
- Chemist
- Rehabilitation Therapist
- Soring Inspector
William Woods online masters of equestrian education offers equestrian education professionals with innovative teaching learning skills such as current issues in equestrian education, curriculum construction, and teaching in the digital landscape. Designed for current equestrian professionals, the online equestrian education program delivers an accessible way to gain field pedagogy skills to transition into the role of educator. Improve your instructional techniques and learn to construct effective curriculum by applying instructional theories and strategies.