A Career Guide For The New Farrier Ninth Edition (2017)

This special publication is published once per year by American Farriers Journal. The career guide delivers advice from farriers on how to establish and operate a successful equine footcare practice.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Career Guide Digital Edition: Digital Flipbook Of The 2017 Getting Started In Hoof Care

September 6, 2017

This special publication is published once per year by American Farriers Journal. The career guide delivers advice from farriers on how to establish and operate a successful equine footcare practice.
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Gain A Foothold In The Business Of Hoof Care

By Jeff Cota posted on August 14, 2017

Equine hoof care is a close-knit industry. When a group of farriers get together, the conversation generally focuses on sharing knowledge about the foot — lamenesses, shoes, tools, etc. The passion to improve footcare results in a stronger, more knowledgeable trade. While the practical aspect of farriery grows, there’s another that doesn’t get enough attention — farriery is a business.
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6 Critical Areas to Learn Before Leaving School

By Jack Roth posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Education

I have taught horseshoeing for 40 years to more students than anybody else ever has. Most of my graduates went on to shoe horses professionally and made a living for themselves and their families. There are a number of ideas and philosophies about what’s important when learning about horseshoeing. The following are my ideas of what you should learn at shoeing school.
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Primary Education and the Need for an Apprenticeship

By Mitch Taylor posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Education

It’s important for the farrier school graduate and the mentor to understand the definition of the word “apprentice” before either individual enters into a working relationship.
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5 Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Farrier Business

By Tiffany Gardner CJF, APF-I posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices

Attrition rate is a business management term that’s used to describe the loss of business, product or employees. Companies do not want to see a high attrition rate.
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Continuing Your Education As A Working Farrier

By Jacob Butler CJF, AWCF posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

I believe it's a tragedy if farriers don't continue to learn. I am grateful that I have recognized that one's skill level can and must continually improve — especially when I look back over my own experience.

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3 Common Questions Students Ask After Graduation

By Bob Smith posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Shoeing

After graduating from a farrier school, you will be faced with challenging situations that don’t always involve easy solutions. Former students often seek my advice on how to handle various scenarios.
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How to Hire and Fire Clients

August 14, 2017

Building relationships with clients and knowing when to let them go may sound as easy as saying hello and goodbye, but there are a few things farriers should keep in mind when developing and ending client relationships that can make everything go a little more smoothly.
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Know What It Costs You To Trim And Shoe

By Frank Lessiter posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

While a new farrier’s top priority is the care of hooves, you’ve got to be equally concerned with earning a living and dealing with the numerous business aspects of the profession. This means knowing what it really costs you to trim and shoe horses.
The obvious answer includes the price of shoes, nails, pads, adhesives and other items. But there is much more to it than just those costs. In fact, many farriers fail to fully understand how the prices they charge should be determined.

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Don’t Wait To Start Securing Your Future

By Buck O'Neil posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices

People start businesses for many reasons — freedom, unlimited earnings and many others. They frequently overlook the real responsibilities they will have, including their financial future, both their own and that of the business.
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Using Technology To Help Manage Your Practice

August 14, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Products

A farrier practice is a business — that is no surprise. As professionals, practitioners have a responsibility to maintain accurate records, schedule properly, bill and receive payment promptly and track performance. At the same time, farriers also should keep records on clients and the type of work conducted on their horses, including photographs of the feet or radiographs shared by veterinarians.
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Tool Shopping Advice From Veteran Farriers

By Jeff Cota posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Products

What’s a better way to celebrate the dawn of your farrier career than tool shopping?
There’s no doubt that the temptation runs high to grab the top-of-the-line pair of nippers that are polished so brightly that a pair of sunglasses should come standard with them. While the feel and performance of a high-quality tool often are worth the price, many young farriers have a steep financial mountain to climb when starting out.

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Does A Client Owe You Money? Here’s How To Collect

By Esco Buff posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

Clients who fail to pay for hoof-care services are a problem that every farrier experiences at some point in his or her career.
There are a variety of cases and reasons as to why clients don’t pay their farriers. By understanding the United States government’s definitions of non-payments and reviewing the basics for collecting, you can be better prepared for making sure more of the money you earn gets to your pocket.

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Tips To Keep In Mind Before Buying A Rig

By Jeff Cota posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Products

Pulling into a farrier clinic is an impressive sight.
A variety of bright, shiny aluminum farrier rigs line the parking lot — truck bodies, drop-ins, caps and trailers — and they don’t come cheap. Aside from your vehicle, your rig will be the most expensive tool that you’ll buy.

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Why You Should Build Your Practice Around Backyard Horses

By Chris Gregory posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

As you embark on this remarkable career, it is likely you will shoe horses commonly referred to as “backyard horses.” Some will say this with disdain, but in reality, this segment of the horse population may be the very best kind of horses to be shod — especially in this economy.
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Overcome Biases About You Through Your Business Plan

By Rachael Kane posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

There is no argument that farriery is a male dominated industry. Being female is part of my experience as a farrier. To give you a bit of context, in Australia we have trimming schools filled with female recruits. In our farrier schools, of which there are only six, we have a total of four female apprentices over the entire 4 years of study for the country. So in Australia, as a female farrier, I’m rare.
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Quick and Easy Exercises That Will Prolong Your Career

By Shon Callahan posted on August 14, 2017

There are few professions tougher mentally or physically than being a professional farrier. I believe the only job remotely close would be that of a professional athlete. The daily repetitive nature of the job and an awkward working posture definitely take their toll on the farrier’s and athlete’s body.
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Advice From A Rising Shoeing Star

By Linda Braus posted on August 14, 2017 | Posted in Education

Finishing farrier school means a significant jump — from student to full-time professional and, most often, small business owner. Farriers with a few years of experience achieving the success they worked hard for know the challenges this brings and their accompanying struggles well — and how to deal with them.
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Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Getting Started in Hoof Care 2017 Digital Edition

August 1, 2017

Login to view the 2017 issue of Getting Started in Hoof Care in an interactive, flipbook format.

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American Farriers Journal

Ninth Edition (2017)

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