Aluminum Adds $40 to Normal Shoeing Charges
To trim and set four aluminum keg shoes, full-time farriers charge an average of $192.53. This is $39.09 higher than the typical charge for applying four steel keg shoes.
— 2018 American Farriers Journal Farrier Benchmark Study
Handling Footcare Clients Who Refuse To Pay
Farriers were asked how they deal with hoof-care clients who refuse to pay after they provide their services.
| Options | % of Farriers |
| Pursue all legal avenues to successfully collect the outstanding balance. | 26% |
| Send a collection letter requesting payment and hope they pay. If they do, great. If they don't, I let it go. |
17% |
| Confront the client and request payment. If the client refuses to pay, I repossess the shoes. | 12% |
| After trying to collect, I let it go because it's not worth my time to chase an outstanding balance, particularly when it's a relatively small amount. | 45% |
— 2018 American Farriers Journal reader poll
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.
