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Tips To Improve Your Farrier Rig

Workstation designs can drive workflow and safety


Pictured Above: A customized ramp makes work much easier for Todd Gillis when loading and unloading his anvil cart.

It’s been said that all you need to shoe a horse is a bucket, a rock and some nails. Of course, an efficient and well-organized farrier rig is helpful.

While a shiny new rig is a toy that some farriers wish for, there’s plenty of ground to be found between a bucket and a state of the art mobile shoeing station. In fact, all one needs is function with a bit of efficiency for good measure.

Whether you’re putting together a rig yourself or buying one, it’s important to know what you want and need.

Farrier Takeaways

  • The key to an effective farrier rig is organization and efficient workflow.
  • Wooden 2x6 shoe racks curb movement and noise that are often produced by those constructed of metal.
  • Installing a large umbrella on the back of your rig gets you out of the sun and provides a cooler work environment by as much as 15 degrees.

Getting Organized

The key to a good workstation is efficiency. Without efficiency, you’ll be spending more time fumbling and less time shoeing.

“It’s all about organization and a smooth workflow,” says Neal Purdy, owner of Finger Lakes Manufacturing, which will be moving Dec. 1 from Skaneateles, N.Y., to Ocala, Fla. “Typi­cally, you’re going to want your forging area in the rear, shoe storage on one side and power station on the other. It just keeps you from…

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Jeff cota 2023

Jeff Cota

Maine native Jeff Cota joined Lessiter Media in January of 2014 and serves as the current editor of American Farriers Journal. Jeff enjoys photography, baseball, and the “opportunity to meet and learn from some great people in a fascinating trade.”

Contact: jcota@lessitermedia.com

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