The knowledge base of farriers spans centuries (there is some evidence for nailed horseshoes from as early as the 5th century AD). Originally, 'farrier' may have referred to a general blacksmith ('iron' in Latin is ferrum) who made weapons, household objects and also made and fitted horseshoes.

Today we draw on these centuries of accumulated knowledge. A modern farrier, however, is much more than a blacksmith, employing highly specialized forging techniques and a broad and detailed knowledge of horse behavior, conformation and biomechanics. A horse's performance is based on healthy, functional feet ('no foot, no horse, no fun'), and to keep your horse comfortable, sound, and performing correctly, a thorough understanding of anatomy, medical issues and the latest hoof-management techniques is required.