Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of History, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
2
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary and Agriculture, Shab.C., Islamic Azad University, Shabestar
3
Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Talegani Hospital, Laboratory Section, Kermanshah, Iran.
10.22091/ethc.2026.13600.1066
Abstract
Objective: Farriers played a crucial role in maintaining equine locomotor health, particularly in the prevention and treatment of hoof diseases, yet their contribution has received limited attention in the history of veterinary medicine. This study investigates historical Persian and Arabic sources, including Fars-nāmeh by Qayyem Nahāvandi, Kāmil al-Ṣināʿatayn, and Awsāf al-Khayl, and compares them with French and German veterinary and farriery texts, including works by Fiaschi, Moorcroft, Lafosse, and Hufbeschlag der Pferde. The study reexamines the historical status of farriers, their technical expertise, and their contribution to the evolution of veterinary medicine.
Materials and Methods: A qualitative approach was adopted using comparative historical analysis, library-based research, and scientific ethnography.
Results: The study analyzes historical terminology related to equine hoof diseases, the diagnostic role of farriers in traditional and modern veterinary practice, and the evolution of therapeutic shoeing and hoof care. The findings reveal that farriers possessed specialized empirical knowledge and played a significant role in the diagnosis and management of hoof disorders.
Conclusion: Farriery was far more than a blacksmithing craft; it represented an essential component of veterinary knowledge concerning equine locomotor disorders. Preserving the historical legacy of farriers, documenting traditional techniques and tools, and integrating this heritage into veterinary education can enhance understanding of the historical development of veterinary medicine.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)