Photos by Ali Hamed Haghdoust, Mehr News Agency

Following photos by Ali Hamed Haghdoust show a horseshoer working in his workshop in the city of Tabriz in northwestern Iran. The profession of horseshoeing is one of the traditional professions people are still engaged in at meidan kaah (Kaah square) in Tabriz. But as the times passes, fewer people are choosing this profession.

A horseshoe is a U-shaped item made of metal or of modern synthetic materials, nailed or glued to the hooves of horses and some other draught animals. Like a shoe on a human, it is used to protect the animal's feet from wear and tear. Professional horseshoers, also called farriers or blacksmiths, attach horseshoes on the palmar surface of the hoof, usually by nailing through the insensitive hoof wall, which is anatomically similar to the human toenail, though much larger and thicker.

Tabriz, the capital city of Iran's East Azerbaijan province, sits at altitude of 1,350 meters above sea level at the junction of the Ghuri Chay and Aji Chay rivers. It has been the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s and one of its former capitals and residence of the crown prince under the Qajar dynasty. The city has proven extremely influential in the country's recent history. With a population of about 1,600,000 [2007 census], Tabriz is Iran's Fourth largest city.

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