The Unsung Heroes of WWI: 6,000 Farriers and Half a Million Hooves
When we think of World War I, we picture muddy trenches, machine guns, and early tanks grinding across shattered landscapes. But much of the war still ran on four legs. Behind every artillery haul and supply line, horses and mules kept the front moving—and it was the job of the farrier to keep them standing.
A War Fought on Hooves
Though WWI marked the rise of mechanized warfare, armies still relied heavily on animals. The U.S. military deployed more than 500,000 horses and mules to the front lines, where they pulled cannons, wagons, ambulances, and supply carts through rain, mud, and chaos.
These animals were not luxuries—they were logistical lifelines. But they faced brutal conditions. Of the half-million horses and mules the U.S. sent overseas, only about 60,000–70,000 survived the war. Fewer than 500 were brought back home. The rest perished from exhaustion, disease, starvation, or were lost to enemy fire.
In total, over 8 million horses and mules died during WWI worldwide.
The Farrier’s Frontline Duty
To keep this massive animal force in working order, the U.S. Army deployed over 6,000 trained farriers—skilled specialists who shod hooves, treated injuries, and often worked dangerously close to the action.
These weren’t backline blacksmiths—they were combat-adjacent craftsmen, maintaining mobile forges near the trenches. A single thrown shoe could cost a supply wagon hours of delay. A lame artillery horse could stall an entire battery.
Farriers worked in mud, blood, and smoke, often under shellfire. Some were killed in the line of duty. Though exact numbers aren’t recorded, estimates suggest up to 150 farriers may have died during their wartime service.
🧲 Gritty Fact:
During the Battle of Verdun, it’s estimated that 7,000 horses were killed in a single day—many while hauling supplies and artillery through fire zones. Farriers nearby had to continue working under the same barrages.
Forging Through Fire
These men weren’t just hammering iron—they were keeping the wheels of war turning. They treated abscesses, splints, and hoof rot. They fit shoes in rain, snow, and ankle-deep mud. And they did it knowing that most of the horses they worked on wouldn’t live to see peace.
In some cases, farriers also trained soldiers to spot early signs of lameness, a skill that helped prevent collapse under pressure. Their work, while rarely remembered, was mission-critical.
Legacy in Steel and Sacrifice
Though largely forgotten today, the farriers of World War I left a legacy written in iron, hoofprints, and grit. Their role underscores how much of the war—though shaped by machines—still depended on animal strength and human craftsmanship.
Their service continues to inspire farriers, ranchers, and military veterinarians to this day.
Final Thought
World War I was a clash of empires and machines—but in many ways, it was still a war of horses. And behind every hoofprint in the mud was a farrier’s hammer keeping the world moving—one shoe at a time.