People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.” This quote by English writer Samuel Johnson is the heart behind this article. The majority of readers have a functional grasp of forging as it relates to shoeing horses. However, when a skill is not honed with the intent of understanding, small details often can be overlooked or forgotten along the way.

Consider this quote by Emmert Wolf, “A man is only as good as his tools.” With the addition of a few key words; the saying becomes, “A craftsman is only as good as his knowledge of his tools.” A seasoned farrier can do a better job with lesser quality tools than a green farrier can with the highest quality of tools. While there is no debating that high quality tools will make a job easier and more efficient, it is the knowledge of how the tool works and the technique with which the tool is used that ultimately makes the job easier and more efficient. Knowledge of this magnitude only comes from hours of practice and…