Changing the Tires
Respect to the Amish farrier. His is a tough job.
Amish occupations may vary from businesses that cater to non-Amish to those that service the Amish community. The farrier keeps Amish horses running.
The typical horse needs a ‘tire change’ about once every 4 to 8 (to 12 in winter) weeks, depending on horse, climate, and season.
A typical change of shoes takes about 45 minutes to an hour for a pro. A home-job by an amateur might take up to 90.
The job itself is a back-breaker. Most of the time is spent bent over with a hoof between his legs, sweat pouring down his face, pulling or putting in nails, or filing down the hoof. Some of these guys do eight or more a day.
There’s also the off-chance of getting a kick from a jumpy horse.
Hooves grow like a fingernail. If you don’t file the hoof down, it can cause serious problems for the horse. They also grow faster in summer, just like our nails or hair.
