I posted recently about my ancestor Elias Standen who was a sergeant farrier at the battle of Waterloo. I didn’t know very much about Farriers, so had to do some research. Farriers are skilled professionals who play an essential role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of horses. They specialize in the care and maintenance of hooves, ensuring that horses are able to move comfortably and without pain. Farriers work with a variety of tools, including hammers, rasps, and nippers, to shape and trim hooves, and they may also apply horseshoes to protect the hooves from wear and tear.
Beyond their technical skills, farriers also develop close relationships with the horses they work with. They often work closely with veterinarians and horse owners to identify and address any issues with the horse’s hooves, and they may also provide advice on nutrition and other aspects of horse care.
We are sailing in Cornwall at present, and met a friend of a friend. His name is Roger and he is a farrier. He told me that if Elias was a sergeant farrier, then he would have carried an axe. Roger told me that each horse was branded with a number on their hoof. When a horse was killed, the sergeant farrier would have to chop off the hoof so that the accounts could be verified. Roger is a member of the Worshipful Company of Farriers in London, which was established in 1356.
People shoed horses with iron shoes in Britain before the arrival of the romans. The practice originated in Eurasia, and spread from there.
I love discovering knowledge. Accuracy is very important to me in my writing of historical fiction, the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. One reviewer criticised me for mixing up hay and straw. Actually, we only discovered that hay is better fodder for horses than straw in the 20th century. I do my best to ensure historical accuracy.