How Are Farriers Funding Their Retirement Years?
Some 50% of full-time farriers are funding retirement years with Individual Retirement Account plans while 34% have invested in some other type of self-employed plan. Another 15% have invested in other types of formal retirement plans and 9% are relying on pension plans for retirement income.
Unfortunately, 18% of full-time farriers have no retirement investment plans.
— 2018 American Farriers Journal Farrier Benchmark Study
Four Facts to Tell Your Kids About Vet School
Median student debt for 2016 vet school graduates — $156,480
Total enrollment at U.S. vet schools — 12,786
U.S. students enrolled in international schools accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Colleges organization — 2,450
Percentage of women vet students — 80%
— Data from the American Veterinary Medical Colleges 2017 annual report
Friday's Farrier Facts & Figures is brought to you by Markel Insurance. 
Markel Corporation (NYSE – MKL) is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, and investment operations around the world. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia and founded in 1930, Markel reports its ongoing underwriting operations in three segments, and products originate from four insurance divisions and one reinsurance division. Markel Ventures, a subsidiary that makes strategic investments in companies outside of the insurance marketplace, is another important component of our business.
In each of our businesses, we seek to deliver innovative products and responsive customer service so that we can be a market leader. Our time horizon is long-term, our underwriting approach is disciplined, and our focus is on continuously improving the quality of the customer experience. Our financial goals are to earn consistent underwriting and operating profits and to combine those profits with superior investment returns to build shareholder value.
