ANCIENT TRADES UL MARASCÀLC: THE BLACKSMITH

In the past, the means of transport for people and goods were horses, mules, donkeys, oxen, and sometimes even cows.

These draft animals needed special “maintenance” for their hooves.

The artisan, an expert in this particular “pedicure,” was the blacksmith uI marascàlch.

The trade was usually not carried out “at home,” but it became so during the period when breeders prepared to take the cows to the mountain pastures.

Before “going up” to the pastures, it was necessary to trim the nails of all the animals from the shoulders, as it became too inconvenient to move them.

The work began with the artisan wearing a leather apron.

The animal to be “treated” was tied with a heavy chain to a ring set into the wall.

Equipment:

- to trim the cows' nails, the following were needed: nippers, pliers, and special knives.

- to make “shoes” for horses, donkeys, and mules, the following were needed: file, hammer, pliers, nails, and the “famous” horseshoes that the artisan attached under the hoof of the equine, after careful filing of the nail. The shoe was fixed to the foot with large nails.

- for oxen, flat shoes with a hook were used because their feet are divided into two large hooves.

A kind contribution from Mariella of UILDM Sondrio: memories collected from her parents