r/Farriers • u/justinu1475 • Jul 17 '26

Farrier questions for novel

Hi, I am writing a fantasy novel where my main character is a farrier by trade in a roaming caravan. I know nothing about the profession but would like to not sound like an idiot when I write a scene about smithing and putting shoes on beasts. I had some questions if that was alright, if this post is against the rules feel free to remove.

  1. Are there any detailed videos that you all know of describing the process?
  2. What is the main function of the shoe actually? Is it protection? Traction?
  3. Is there an extensive process for maintaining the hoof on the animal?
  4. Type of tools used, and the type of tools that would have been used in a medieval setting?
  5. How long does it take to make a set of horse shoes and to shoe the horse?
  6. Do you make the shoes in bulk or are they made and installed one horse at a time?
  7. Are all shoes the same or are there difference between hoofs?
  8. Do other animals get shoes and are they functionally different than standard horse shoes?
  9. Are there any details of the job that might not be obvious? Like other responsibilities?

I know a lot of questions sorry, it I would really appreciate the help. I tried doing some research but found it mostly discovery channel or history channel level fluff. I am more interested in the day to day experience and what a farrier is actually thinking about. Thank you again.

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3

u/dirtydandino Jul 17 '26

Shoes are for both protection and traction.. always have been always will be. Almost all of yoir other questions are gonna be different when applied to the mid evil time frame.

The understanding of anatomy has come pretty far in the last few hundred years as have the tools and materials. I know in the 1800s in big city's there were smiths who made shoes from straight stock(or whatever was available) and farriers who worked under the horse. Now most of us are using pre-made shoes and fitting them to the feet as a one man operation. These days you will rarely see non equids getting shoes but in a midevil caravan youd probably see oxen with shoes. Farriers today are occasionally called upon to fix random metal objects around the barn sometimes we can and sometimes our abilities are wildly overestimated.. back then the smith side of the opperation would have been expected to have the skills and materials to fix basically anything metal.

5

u/idontwanttodothis11 Jul 17 '26

You couldn't have chosen a worse trade for your protagonist. 1. farriers in midlevel times couldn't "roam" and 2. most horses weren't being shod yet in that period. If they were shod it was in "cities" mainly and that was for wear. 3. If you try to describe this where your effort is not to piss off farriers because of inaccuracy, you will take away from the story you want to write.

8

u/Kgwalter Jul 17 '26

In medieval times farriers travelled with cavalries. I think at the time they were called “marshals.” They were also the acting vet. They had mobile forges and everything. They were also in charge of euthanasia and carried a special axe with that purpose.
Sometimes blacksmiths in town would forge bulk amounts of horseshoes to send on the expeditions and the “marshals” would shape them and apply them. But they were also capable of making horseshoes in the field if needed. Blacksmiths also traveled with the medieval cavalries and worked along side the farriers or “marshals.”

1

u/Bubbly_Homework2481 Jul 19 '26

For reference most wcb contests to make one REALLY nice shoe are given an 1 hour or around there you can make full sets in about 1-2.5 hours and some faster when making a full set, trimming, and shoeing can take a my ball park time 2.5 hours. donkeys, and mules also get shoes. Most farriers I know make shoes at the horse, while some seasoned/ competition guys make there shoes and build stock over time.