Female Farriers

Back in the renaissance days, people were a lot more self sufficient than they are today.

Contemporary transportation - whether it was a horse, a mule or a carriage - was probably just as likely to break down or go wrong as a modern-day Acura Integra, but you couldn't just take your limping donkey to get 'fixed' because there were no handy 'donkey repair shops' around.

Nine times out of ten, you'd have to do the 'repairs' yourself - which is why most renaissance-era folk had at least a working knowledge of practical horse care and the wherewithal to fix a wobbly carriage wheel (or lords and ladies at least had a member of their retinue who could.)

Sometimes, though, repairs or equine recuperation was more complicated than a handy squire or lady could handle on her own - and just like today - when you can get an oil change, tune up or repair from a local mechanic - you'd be forced to take your limping donkey or wobbly carriage to a local repair shop (albeit not one with a neon sign boasting 'Houston auto repair.')

Farriers and blacksmiths were the Pep-Boys of their day. Not only could they repair carts and traps, and re shoe horses and donkeys - they often had a more practical knowledge about looking after sickly animals.

So in honor of these forerunners to today's auto repair shops, here's a sexy female blacksmith from a recent Texas Renaissance Faire.