Sure, you know what it means to be a farrier. You spend most of your career bent at the waist, hoping the position doesn’t become permanent. But just to be sure your back isn’t getting off easier than your knees, you hoist the anvil a few times every day.

And with courage that would make a lion-tamer applaud, you crawl under very large, often testy beasts, then pick up and pound on their feet.

During the winter, you freeze. You thaw out just in time to sweat your way through summer. But you keep moving.

Payment too often comes with a lecture from a horse owner who questions your judgement and wants you to learn all about the latest and greatest in hoof care that she just read about at horsesarecute.com.

But admit it. You love almost every minute of it all.

For better or worse, you’re your own boss. You know the satisfaction of leaving the horses better than you found them. You have the knowledge and skill to shape iron. You keep studying your craft.

You pity the folks who look at the same four walls every day and don’t know whether it’s sunny or raining outside. You know freedom.

You’re able, tough and independent. And too down to earth to sing your own praises. So American Farriers Journal is again sponsoring National Farriers Week. We’ll spread the word about the invaluable work of horseshoers.