When first noted in 1795 there was no such rank on the establishment of a cavalry regiment in the British Army, the appointment, if made, resting with the Commanding Officer. In some regiments none was made - perhaps because there was no-one qualified enough - or the Commanding Officer did not consider such a post necessary. In spite of various recommendations no Farrier-Major post was officially sanctioned until the 16th of June 1852. Nevertheless, long before this date one was to be found in every cavalry regiment.
A Farrier-Major's conditions of service were peculiar in the extreme. He was still a private soldier, but wore the protection stripes of a sergeant. Counting as the lowest in seniority he could be appointed or reduced at will. He received an allowance of six guineas per annum from the Colonel of the Regiment, five pounds per year from the Commanding Officer, plus an allowance for shoeing the Troop horses and a pay of 1/3d. per day. He had an assistant, to whom he paid 5/- per week. In all matters connected with the horses he was directly responsible to the Veterinary Surgeon, to whom he acted as deputy.