The very words suggest what these people were doing. To throw the horse off his feet to make him a gelding; was not an easy feat. Besides unusual strength, a farrier should have a unique, inherent relationship with animals, combining both love and ruthlessness. A strange, at first glance and uncommon combination! But this was a hidden secret of a not very honourable horse doctor craft. That is honourable, as honourable as any other trade. But by temperament, some people cannot safely withstand the spectacle of slaughter and flaying ram (although they slurp soup with great pleasure). Some would-be cattle breeders, especially in our time, rather than help a cow calve, run away aimlessly...
Horse doctors treated animals. But their first duty, of course, was the neutering of stallions, bulls, rams and hogs because not-neutered males were dangerous and restless. "Running around," they do not fatten. A horse doctor, if he respects himself, was able to reduce fungus with special herbs and ointments, eliminate intestinal parasites, make lotions, wash and chop off the hoof, puncture the animal's belly to release the accumulated gas, insert the ring into the nostrils of bulls, sawed off the horns of aggressive cows, and etc.
Dogs and cats did not interest the farrier. Owners themselves treated them, sometimes in quite a silly way. It is still unknown what and why some cut off the tip of the cat's tail. It was assumed that such a cat is a better mouser. A good farrier walked from village to village with an assistant or two. They were known far around, always addressed by name and patronymic. Flayers and butchers, who occasionally appeared here and there under the guise of horse doctors, did not enjoy the confidence of the peasants.
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