Collection : musée Fragonard de l'École nationale vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort / Photo Olivier Jourdanet / MCC

Farrier's hoof knife, late 19th century

The farrier's hoof knife is a long blade held by a strong handle, which is used to prepare horse's feet. This is the ancestor of sole knife, which replaced it in the 20th century with the advent of English shoeing. The use of this tool was especially dangerous for the person holding the horse's foot off the ground.