Common farrier tools include clinchers, pullers, shoeing hammers, bending hammers, nippers and files. Identify the tools of the trade with information from a professional farrier in this video on horse care.
I'm Joe Lawson, and the Farriers predominantly have a shoeing box that's full of tools, most of which are there for shoeing of horses. You'll have your clinchers for clinching the nails down, your pullers for taking the shoes of of the horse's foot, to remove them so that you can trim the foot and get it ready for a shoe to go back. You have your shoeing hammers to drive the nails. Your have your bending hammers to tweak the shoe to fit the foot. And then of course you have your basic tools that are in everyday use. And that would be your nippers for trimming the horses foot and the rasp which will finish the foot out and round it up if it does not have shoes. And your hoof knife; between the hoof knife, the nippers and the rasp, those are your hand tools that you'll carry with you in everyday trimming use, with the addition of the other ones when you need them for shoes. The other thing you'll need is an apron, which will be equipped with a knife pocket whether you're right or left handed or in some cases, just a matter of what, as an apprentice, you're allowed to use that's handed down from those that are teaching you. You'll having a shoeing box of either or aluminum. As you progress, you'll buy store bought custom made tool boxes, some with wheels that will be able to pull towards you, if the horse moves, or get out of your way if the pushes you into it. There's clinching blocks for setting your nails, there's some magnets that can be attached to your apron for holding the nails that will be pulled off to go into the shoe. There's quite a variety and it does add up to a costly proposition to have on site and ready for use.
on March 29, 2012, 3:58 am