Area farriers are rare breed

KINSMAN

Unless you own a horse, you’ve probably never given much thought to what’s involved in being a farrier.

Rob Mokri, a 28-year-old from west Mecca Township, has been a farrier for 10 years and said there’s a lot more to the job than many people realize. 

“For starters, it can be dangerous,” Mokri said while crouching beside a charcoal-colored mare, trimming her hooves. “You’re potentially putting yourself in harm’s way with a 1,000-pound animal, and often people don’t consider your safety. If I think a horse is going to be dangerous, I will walk away.”

Mokri said he did get injured once.

“I was hurt by a mule and hyper-extended my right knee,” he said, adding, “When I first started out, I was nervous about being injured, but I have grown comfortable because as time has passed, I have gained more knowledge and confidence.”

Mokri said his job also requires more knowledge than most people assume.

“A farrier is basically one step below a veterinarian in knowledge of a horse’s feet,” he said. “Although the craft is basically the same as it was 100 years ago, the amount of knowledge is greater now because of MRIs and x-rays.”

Mokri trained at the Kentucky Horseshoeing School University in Richmond, Ky., just outside of Lexington.

“I took a six-month course there, which was the longest I could find in the United States,” he said. “Afterward I apprenticed for six months with Jason Mackey. Now I can look at a horse’s foot and judge what it needs and what it should look like after it is trimmed.”

Mokri became interested in becoming a farrier after working at a horse farm during his teen years.

“I did not know much about horses, but I saw farriers there, and I became interested in what they were doing,” he said.

As sole proprietor, Mokri works for many private horse owners as well as area boarding stables.

He said his job is not a common one, and there are only a handful of farriers in the area.

Lawrence Pleva, 39, of Kinsman, has been a farrier for about 20 years and started at age 19.

Read more about these craftsmen and their craft in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.