Farriers

July 18, 2009

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Profile America — Saturday, July 18th. Today winds up National Farriers Week — and many are probably asking, “What is a farrier?” The origin of the term is lost, but now refers to the men and women who keep good-fitting shoes on America’s horses. Up until a hundred years ago, a farrier was also a horse doctor. But, as motorized farm equipment dramatically reduced the number of horses in the U.S., veterinarians took over that job. Most farriers opened auto repair shops, and the art of properly shoeing a horse was almost lost. Today, with the increased interest in horseback riding and horse racing, the profession has rebounded. Today, raising horses is a $1.3 billion a year industry, led by Kentucky. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 359
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 803, 805
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009edition.html