farrier
Farriers inspect, trim and shape the hooves of horses and make and fit horseshoes, in compliance with any regulatory requirements.
farrier farriers inspect, trim and shape the hooves of horses and make and fit horseshoes, in compliance with any regulatory requirements. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include control animal movement, prepare equid hooves, make farrier tools and supplies, attach horseshoes, advise horse owners on farriery requirements.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £37,058 a year for Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5212). ONS rates this estimate acceptable: it rests on a small sample, so treat it as a rough guide. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only farrier, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Psychology
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
What you'd actually do
- Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
- Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
- Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
- Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
- Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
- Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does farrier do?
Farriers inspect, trim and shape the hooves of horses and make and fit horseshoes, in compliance with any regulatory requirements.
What skills does farrier need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include control animal movement, prepare equid hooves, make farrier tools and supplies, attach horseshoes, advise horse owners on farriery requirements, carry out post hoof-trimming activities. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace farrier?
Our AI-durability model gives farrier a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.