HOLE 3: THE LUCKY HORSESHOE

VICTORIAN FARRIERS:

Victorian farriers were skilled craftsmen responsible for caring for horses’ hooves, primarily by trimming hooves and shoeing horses. In the 19th to early 20th century, farriery was a crucial and highly respected profession in Britain due to the heavy reliance on horses for transportation, agriculture, military, and industry.

Farriers were trained through apprenticeships and learned on the job for several years. Their work combined manual labour, craftsmanship, and practical veterinary knowledge.

Key Aspects of Victorian Farriers:

• Hoof care: Cleaning, trimming, and balancing horse hooves.
• Blacksmithing: Forging iron horseshoes by hand and fitting them to the horse’s hooves.
• Medical knowledge: Treating hoof diseases and injuries; farriers often acted as early veterinarians for hoof and leg problems.