That time at a barbecue when someone asked if I 'just nail shoes on horses'

I was at a neighborhood barbecue last weekend, and this guy I just met asked what I do. When I said I'm a farrier, he laughed and said, 'Oh, so you just nail shoes on horses all day?' At first, I was a bit offended, but then I realized he had NO idea about the skill and care involved. I spent the next ten minutes explaining how we assess hoof health, choose the right shoes, and ensure the horse is comfortable. His eyes got wide, and he said, 'Wow, I thought it was like putting tires on a car!' That moment showed me that MOST people don't get what we do, and it's up to us to share our knowledge. Now, I always take a second to explain my trade when someone asks, and it's led to some great conversations.

3 comments

3 Comments

owens.elizabeth1d ago

Ha! My buddy had a similar thing happen. Someone once asked him if it was basically like clipping a dog's nails. He ended up showing them pictures of the different tools and how a hoof is trimmed. They were shocked it was so complex.

drew1821d ago

Which part of the process shocked them the most when he showed the pictures? Like, was it the sheer amount you have to trim off, the weird angles you have to hold the tools, or just how many different blades and nippers there are?

ruby4421d ago

Read somewhere that a farrier compared their job to a mix of blacksmith, surgeon, and therapist. That tire rotation comment really shows how clueless most folks are.