by Paul White
I think it's wonderful how many of the old traditions such as blacksmithing survive in Transylvania.I am fortunate to be able to see Miklos (our neighbour) at work on a regular basis as he's always got a cart or two parked in front of his house, a tell tell sign that a horse has thrown a shoe or needs a full set replacing as worn. Villagers stop here with the horse and carts just like people stop for a tyre change at a garage. The big difference is that Miklos fabricates the shoes as well as replaces them. He's a genuine craftsman from the beginning to end of the process, using tradition equipment such a foot bellows.
![Blacksmith in action](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7881/46846852002_fa8969a9c5_z.jpg)
![A winters morning in Transylvania](https://live.staticflickr.com/5270/5621418015_a9f1d80bff_z.jpg)
![Miklos fitting horse shoe](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5064/5621973326_025b10f000_z.jpg)
Miklos forges the shoe for the horse. Once he's satisfied that it fits, he then nails it into position.
![Village blacksmith fitting horse shoe](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5227/5621984092_f7267bb6ea_z.jpg)
![Miklos fitting horse shoe](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5262/5621978218_5bb6f8c1a2_z.jpg)
![Smoothing down after new shoe fitted](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5264/5621401669_2db814a0be_z.jpg)
He then clips the nails and smooths them off with a file.
![Miklos preparing the next shoe](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5107/5621407391_dfeac874f1_z.jpg)
Miklos is very organised with his tray of tools, everything he needs for the job.
![Horse being harnessed after new shoes fitted](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5222/5622000000_9c84f36907_z.jpg)
When finished the villager lead his horse out of the yard and re-harnessed it to the cart.
Miklos doesn't just make and fit horseshoes. If what you need is made from iron then he will make it.
I think it's wonderful how many of the old traditions such as blacksmithing survive in Transylvania.I am fortunate to be able to see Miklos (our neighbour) at work on a regular basis as he's always got a cart or two parked in front of his house, a tell tell sign that a horse has thrown a shoe or needs a full set replacing as worn. Villagers stop here with the horse and carts just like people stop for a tyre change at a garage. The big difference is that Miklos fabricates the shoes as well as replaces them. He's a genuine craftsman from the beginning to end of the process, using tradition equipment such a foot bellows.
![Blacksmith in action](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7881/46846852002_fa8969a9c5_z.jpg)
![A winters morning in Transylvania](https://live.staticflickr.com/5270/5621418015_a9f1d80bff_z.jpg)
![Miklos fitting horse shoe](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5064/5621973326_025b10f000_z.jpg)
Miklos forges the shoe for the horse. Once he's satisfied that it fits, he then nails it into position.
![Village blacksmith fitting horse shoe](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5227/5621984092_f7267bb6ea_z.jpg)
![Miklos fitting horse shoe](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5262/5621978218_5bb6f8c1a2_z.jpg)
![Smoothing down after new shoe fitted](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5264/5621401669_2db814a0be_z.jpg)
He then clips the nails and smooths them off with a file.
![Miklos preparing the next shoe](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5107/5621407391_dfeac874f1_z.jpg)
Miklos is very organised with his tray of tools, everything he needs for the job.
![Horse being harnessed after new shoes fitted](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5222/5622000000_9c84f36907_z.jpg)
When finished the villager lead his horse out of the yard and re-harnessed it to the cart.
Miklos doesn't just make and fit horseshoes. If what you need is made from iron then he will make it.