Horse owners have many expectations of a farrier. Recognizing and positively acting upon horse owner expectations are critical aspects of building a successful farrier business. Ignoring those expectations will negatively affect a farrier’s ability to build a successful business.

Horse owners expect to hire a well-trained and experienced professional to care for their valuable horses. Unfortunately, some farriers short-change their clients by not acquiring a firm foundation in their craft. Even those who make the sacrifice to enroll in a school might not use that time wisely in study and practice to get the most out of their educational experience.

Schools vary in quality, length and emphasis. Sometimes a farrier’s lack of knowledge and skill can be the result of his or her school choice, but most likely it’s the individual student’s fault for underestimating the complexity of the subject and the dedication required to learn and master the farrier’s craft. A mentally lazy attitude and distractions, including random internet surfing, cheat the student and prevent him or her from using their study time well.

You can usually tell the kind of farrier a student will become by his or her attitude toward learning. Those who enthusiastically show…