My Farrier

Do you know what a farrier is?  The word, farrier comes from the Latin, ferrum, meaning ‘iron horseshoe’.  Linda Friedman has been a farrier for more than twenty years and her specialty is trimming and shoeing horses’ hooves.  Linda was at my stables recently fitting Rinze with his winter shoes and if you ever thought that it was as simple as slapping on four horseshoes, you couldn’t be more wrong.  It’s actually quite a complicated process because each shoe is custom fitted onto each hoof.  And because horses are so large and strong, there’s also a good deal of physical risk involved.  Linda explained that she spent five years as an apprentice before starting out on her own.  Fitting horseshoes properly requires vast knowledge of horse anatomy and Linda continues to educate herself by regularly attending clinics and symposiums.  As with humans, bad fitting shoes can cause all kinds of physical problems.  Linda is proud of her work and really loves her job because she just loves being around horses.

This is my farrier, Linda Friedman (posing next to Rinze)

Linda works out of the back of her truck, which contains tools, her forge, or high-heat oven, and welding supplies

The shoes are heated red-hot in the forge

She pounds them on an anvil to draw two clips, which help keep the shoes in place

Linda makes sure the clipped shoe is exactly level

Here’s Linda holding a hoof between her legs.  This requires great finesse and caution.  The old shoe has been removed and the hoof is being leveled with a rasp.

The new shoe is hot fitted to check for levelness and to help shape the hoof for the shoe clips

Linda then begins welding borium onto the bottom, creating a winter shoe

Hammering on the new shoe fitted with a sno-ball pad, which prevents snow and ice buildup

Linda is clinching or folding the nails down to secure the shoe

One hoof done – three to go!

Comments

[Walt]

Hi Martha...this reminds me of my time in West Texas. Many times you would see farriers working away on the various ranches. Someday you need to visit the BIG BEND region of Southwest Texas...so many things you would love. The scenery and wildlife are amazing as well as the specialty "Cowboy Cuisine" featured in the many resorts and restaurants. It is quite interesting to see the horses of the East Coast in contrast to the horses of the American West. You are, as always, the best.

[Dianne]

Martha, Thanks for sharing with us about your Friesians, shoeing is such an important part of keeping these larger breed horses healthy and safe during the icey New England winters. I would love for you to do a show on your Friesians, I also have a Friesian gelding and use him as model for much of my artwork, you can see on my website.
www.customdesignart.com
Dianne Dakowicz
Washington, NH

[Crystal A. Richard]

My horses do not wear shoes. I have my farrier trim and file to do a mustang roll. The rounded edge helps with spliting. Also the sole is lifted, making it concave. Only filing need for keeping the roll.
Crystal

[IceRyder]

Good job taking the pictures! It's always nice to have images to go along with a post.

My horses are barefoot; we don't have the need of shoes.

Do you shoe only in the winter?

Judy

[Gaby]

Hey, thanks for posting the farrier and additional information. For someone who doesn't have horses, it's always interesting to know all of the inside and detailed information that I otherwise wouldn't have known about.

Happy Reading !

Thanks,
Gaby

[Clarissa]

What a great entry! People often don't realize the importance of having a good farrier and they are in such huge demand. I absolutly LOVE reading about your farm and would really love to see more tips on barn and stable organization, decoration, and design.

[Emily]

Hi Martha!

Thank you for the lovely blog entry. My aunt has converted the dairy farm she, my dad, and their four brothers and sisters grew up on into a beautiful horse farm where my sisters and cousins and I spent many happy childhood hours. I still remember eagerly anticipating the days the farrier came to work; this blog brought back a little of that excitement. Beautiful photos as well.

Emily

[Shirley Y.]

I love looking over your blog page. What I think is so great, is you employ many individuals and they depend on you for their source of income. God Bless, and have a wonderful, happy & warm New Years!

[Marion]

Martha,
Reading about how hard the work is to replace shoes on a horse reminds me about the trip to my sisters 2 years ago. We both rode horses as kids and thought nothing about it. Caring for farm animals was part of daily life. I'm now in my early 50's and we were going out for a ride. Holy smokes. By the time I got done picking hooves, brushing, combing etc I was so hot & tired I was almost ready to skip the ride! The joys of youth. But the ride was fun!

[Diana Cosgrove, Groveland, MA]

Hi Martha... What a wonderful idea... having a blog and photographs of your equine world!!! You are a genius.... Nothing brings more smiles to a person than when he or she looks into the eyes of a HORSE.... your animals are beautiful.... thank you for sharing the subject of winter shoeing.... We have an appendix quarter horse..his name is Kieran... one of the nicest horses we've ever known... he not only loves 3 phase eventing, he enjoys his nice morning trailrides with his master, my daughter... Melanie... Please keep stories and subjects like this one coming? Please? Diana Cosgrove, Groveland, MA

[Stacey]

Hi Martha,

I am glad to learn that you also have a female farrier. My farrier is Stephanie, and she has taken great care of my horses hooves. Sadly in August my 31 year old AQHA Mare passed away, and I think Stephanie was just as heartbroken as I was when she received the news. She truly loves her job and the geriatric horses she works with.

Having horses for nearly 30 years and I am still amazed every 8 weeks when the farrier comes out to the barn and does "her" magic on those hooves. It's a true talent!

~Stacey

[Jewel]

My first horse was a five year old Thoroughbred mare fairly fresh from the racetrack lacking trust with anyone since she had been bought and sold so many times before me. I was eleven years old and I used my life’s savings to buy her. Her name was Time n’ Go and she was foaled in Florida at Peppermint Farm according to her Jockey Club registration papers but over the years we called her Babers. She would nod her head up and down for a treat and this was very helpful in knowing that she was okay after an injury. She spooked from dogs barking one day and on rearing up she lost her balance going over on her head. It was scary to see her with an open hole the size of a half dollar on top of her head and the nerve exposed that runs the whole way down the crest of her neck severed. With it being summertime the vet told my Mother and me if flies get in there it will be all over. Darn if that would happen, Mom sewed custom head fitted bandages from old white thick cotton sheets to keep the gauze dressings in place and clean so that the wound remained clean & covered. I dressed her at least twice daily along with giving her shots that she needed. The barn turned into a hospital. It took a while for the mare to feel better but one day she finally nodded her head slowly up and down and we knew she was going to be okay- she recovered completely. I guess she didn’t want me to forget her when she died at 25 years of age on my birthday which that year also happened to be Thanksgiving Day. I went out to the barn that evening to say hello and to make sure she and her grown up foal were okay. They were both eating and I poked my head into the mares stall to greet her. She turned her head and looked at me with her bright eyes and as usual turned back to continue to eat then I went into the house for coffee and pumpkin pie. It was only maybe an hour later when I returned to put a heavy blanket on the mare and settle them both in for the night and found that she had gone away. That was hard. Not only did I lose one of my best friends but it was also a good chunk of my growing up years that had come to an end. That night too upset to drive home to where I lived at the time as I tried to rest I heard my Dad say to my Mom that I had kept my word to that horse in keeping her for the rest of her life. I had her cremated with the halter that she came to me in. I thank her for those days of long rides after school traveling the open countryside’s of Birchrunville and I’m so lucky to have her almost 24 year old grown up girl named April who every morning and night it’s good to be cooking a nice warm mash for. She also has her apple daily to keep the Dr. away! A horse just being a horse grazing in lush grass, with the occasional loud snorts and a happy swooshing tail, is one of my favorite sights and sounds to hear.

Your horses are very beautiful and we all ( Mom, Sister, my daughter and me ) enjoy seeing your shows. My four year old daughter and I turned on the PBS Saturday cooking shows recently and she remarked oohh, I like cooking and I like Martha Stewart! Apparently my Mother and her watch your show daily in the afternoon while I’m at work.

[Amy]

What a great looking horse. Martha you should do a story on rescue horse organizations or those who can help with homes for less fortunate horses that come from abuse or neglect. I for one have room for a rescue but do not know where to start.. would be a great story for your show.

[Carol]

Hi marhta,
This is the first time I have logged onto your site, I watch your show nearly every day. I live in Australia and have 2 horses, 1 Quarter Horse named Wally and a Paint named Billy, its so warm all year round here and my boys live outside, but I bet they wouldnt mind coming inside if they had a stable like your horses do. My farrier also works out of the back of his ute and comes every 6 weeks to do my horses feet, they go barefoot and dont need shoes.
Can you please out put more photos of your horses?

[Lori Yearwood]

Hi Martha,

I have a passion for horses and their health and their care. In fact, I love them so much I have started my own, gourmet horse treat company. It's called Skode's Horse Treats Inc. We specialize in all natural low sugar treats that compliment horses' diets as opposed to deter from them.

One of those treats is called The Minty Rose Brownie and in the bake-at-home kit that has instructions, I was inpired to say: "The Martha Stewart way to make these Brownies!" This way, of course, was the fanciest, most gourmet way to make the treats -- with the brownie squares(made out of rosehip tea, beet root powder and peppermint) individually cut and topped with lemon peel :)

The other, faster ways include rolling the brownies into balls.(Just as tasty but not as elegant and Martha like!)

I had no idea you had a horse.
Anyway, good to know you have such a beautiful creature in your life. It's obvious you "treat" him well :)

Lori

[stephanie]

My dad was a farrier, and this made me miss him so acutely, but it's also a lovely tribute to what he did for a living. Thank you.

[Shannon Heidt]

Hello Martha & Friesian Friends!
It is wonderful to see your horses and barn as well as all the super people you have to help you with your equine family. I truly love it when you speak of your babies and your face lights up...the pics are awesome too. Linda truly looks to be a much loved and respected member of the family just by the way Rinze P. Ster is gazing at her.
I love your barn Martha and was wondering about the grates in front of the stalls as well as how you heat it? The stalls look to be Classic Equine?
My boys, Friesians both and fellow FHANA/FPS members, Titan Ster and Kerrick (he will go to his Keuring in 09)are truly the joys of my life...Friesian dreams come true. Currently we board at a nice facility but our dream is to have our own farm where we can ride, sleigh, drive and play.
We are close to Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake where we swim and romp in the waves regularly in the summer months. You and your boys have an open invitation should you ever want to visit...just look us up on FHANA.
Perhaps one day you will have a segment on Friesians for all those who, as yourself, have a great respect and admiration for the breed and for all those who would love to learn more...who better than you to enlighten and thrill us with your experiences and knowledge.
By the way, as our "boyz" are quite the curious and playful type I thought you may enjoy some of the toys we found...they just cannot get enough of them. www.horseplayproducts.com The huge ball and the barrels with ropes are our personal favorites!
Blessings to you and all of your gang Martha!

[Nouvisimo]

Martha: Do your dogs eat the hoof trimmings? I've never met one who didn't.

I would like to put my vote in for a better look at your barn. A combination pictorial/video blog would be awsome. PLEASE!!!!

[unamed]

Martha, Very nice to see some starts have livestock! If there is anyone looking for a good read on anything you can think of go on www.homesteadingotoday.com It has tons of fourms and is free to join and ask any questions! It is like a computer Martha Stewart!!!

[Sue Fusco]

Martha, just wanted to know if your horses are shod all winter? If possible it is great to let them go barefoot for a period of time as it makes the hooves stronger. They are beautiful animals. I own a leopard Appaloosa mare who is just wonderful. I love watching your shows and enjoy the fact that you are not afraid to get your hands dirty.

[Sue Fusco]

martha, the horses are beautiful as are all your animals. I love the fact that you are a hands on kind of person and not afraid to handle animals or get your hands dirty. I have several animals including a leopard appaloosa mare. love your show and bring the animals on more.

[Josh]

Martha,
I am a farrier as well. Looks like you farrier is taking good care of your horses. Hang on to her!

-Josh