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Forgotten Trade? Algeria's Oldest Farrier is Looking for an Apprentice

Published November 25th, 2018 - 08:37 GMT

In Algeria, riding horses is more of a hobby than a trade.

Meddah Larbi is one of Algeria's last farriers. He works at his workshop at the Chaou-Chaoua national stud farm in Tiaret, 340 kilometres southwest of Algiers. Some of the tools he still uses have barely changed since the Middle Ages, while the work of a farrier dates back more than 1,000 years.

While Larbi remains enthusiastic about his work, he has been unable to find an apprentice to whom he can pass his skills on.There is no formal training centre for farriers in Algeria.

In the past 20 years, the number of Algerian farriers has fallen. Few people willing to learn the craft, Larbi worries about its future.

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Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi installs a horseshoe onto a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi installs a horseshoe onto a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi hammers a horseshoe at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi hammers a horseshoe at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi installs a horseshoe onto a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi installs a horseshoe onto a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

A horse waits for horseshoes to be installed at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

A horse waits for horseshoes to be installed at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

A trainer works with a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

A trainer works with a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

A veterinarian performs a checkup on a newborn horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

A veterinarian performs a checkup on a newborn horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Horses are seen in a field at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Horses are seen in a field at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi installs a horseshoe onto a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi hammers a horseshoe at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi installs a horseshoe onto a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
A horse waits for horseshoes to be installed at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
A trainer works with a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
A veterinarian performs a checkup on a newborn horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses are seen in a field at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi installs a horseshoe onto a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi installs a horseshoe onto a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi hammers a horseshoe at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi hammers a horseshoe at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi installs a horseshoe onto a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Algerian farrier Meddah Larbi installs a horseshoe onto a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
A horse waits for horseshoes to be installed at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
A horse waits for horseshoes to be installed at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers, on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
A trainer works with a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
A trainer works with a horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
A veterinarian performs a checkup on a newborn horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
A veterinarian performs a checkup on a newborn horse at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses run at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses are seen in a field at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Horses are seen in a field at a horse breeding farm, one of the oldest and largest farm in the Algeria, perched on the high plateaux in the country's Tiaret region, 300 Kilometres west of Algiers on April 24, 2018. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

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