July 8th-14th Is National Farriers Week
National Farriers Week, which occurs during the second week of July each year, was created in 1999 by American Farriers Journal as a special way for the equine community to pay respect to a very important group of hoof care professionals and recognize the contributions they make to the horse world.
“Being a farrier goes far beyond normal hoof care and it is hard, yet rewarding work,” says Frank Lessiter, editor and publisher of American Farriers Journal. “Through National Farriers Week, we want to remind the entire equine community — especially horse owners — that horseshoers do so much more than normal trimming and shoeing, all while sacrificing their bodies and often under less than ideal circumstances.
“It’s when the long shoeing days are piling up and they’ve gone weeks without a day off that farriers most need a pat on the back. We think it’s important for horse owners to understand that when farriers say they are in this ‘for the good of the horse’ they mean it. It’s much more than a slogan.”
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Farriers, commonly known as Blacksmiths, do far more than make the horseshoes, often performing a variety of duties in their daily work. Not only do farriers complete normal shoeing and hoof trimmings, they serve has consultants to horse owners; giving advice and answering questions about everything from bridles to feed, to veterinarian recommendations.
Farriers are a dedicated group of horse professionals who must effectively work in all sorts of elements, including sweltering summers and icy winters. They literally put their lives on the line for their job (as horses can be unpredictable and dangerous) and most definitely deserve some proper recognition.
If you’re horse owner who would like to thank your farrier in a special way this year, you can download a special recognition certificate HERE from the American Farriers Journal website.
Although National Farriers Week only happens once a year, there are many things horse owners can do during the other fifty-one weeks to show appreciation to their farrier. Below are just a few ideas, courtesy of HorseChannel.com:
– Providing a level, clean and well-lit work area for handling hoof-care needs.
– Having horses properly cleaned and ready prior to your farrier’s arrival.
– Having someone available to keep nervous or ill-behaved horses calm during appointments.
– Training your horses to be comfortable with having their feet handled.
– Working with your farrier to develop a regular hoof-care schedule.
– Taking the time and making the effort to say “thanks” for a job well done.
