The graduation ceremony is over. That unforgettable feeling of finishing the first horse without the instructor’s help is still fresh. The former strangers who became close friends during the long days of learning and practicing must now go their separate ways. It’s time to head into the real world of farriery. Where do you start?

These thoughts and feelings are normal for most newcomers. Once the reality sets in, the road to building a successful farrier business might not seem as easy as you once believed. It is indeed a very long road. Mastering farriery requires a lifetime of commitment to learning and self-improvement and these tips will help you overcome the initial challenges.

1. Continue Learning

Horseshoeing schools lay down the foundational skills upon which the real learning takes place through exposure to the trade. But newly learned skills, if not balanced by experience and proper guidance, can be a detriment to the horse and to your fledgling business.

The absence of farrier standardization in many countries, including the United States, allows for numerous training opportunities ranging significantly in curriculum and duration. With such fierce competition and limited student financial aid, it is virtually impossible for schools to run a program long enough to provide students with the adequate exposure and experience needed to immediately start a successful business of their own.

This is not to say that farrier schools are doing a bad job. On the contrary, they are honestly trying to teach as much as possible in a short period of time. However, farriery requires both intellectual and physical development, and that means consistent, on-going learning and practice. A good farrier needs to know not only concepts of veterinary medicine (anatomy, physiology and biomechanics), but also blacksmithing and horsemanship skills. None of these can be taught in just a few weeks.

It’s important that you establish a plan to continue your learning and development. This means an apprenticeship, a good mentor, a commitment to practice and perhaps setting goals around certification.

2. Choose a Mentor, Not a Boss

To build on the skills learned at school, an apprenticeship is highly recommended. Entering an apprenticeship right after school is the best thing you can do to ensure your future success. Building a farrier business is a long and arduous process, and an apprenticeship allows you to stay under horses regularly during this period. If a full-time apprenticeship is not financially feasible, aim to work at least 2 to 3 days per week with a mentor.

An apprentice’s compensation is usually based on commissions, a daily fee or a weekly salary. While the pay leaves something to be desired, most apprenticeships include lodging and a shop available for after-hours practice. Keep in mind that an apprenticeship is a two-way street and both parties need to hold up their end of the agreement. Learning must be the apprentice’s primary goal. Open-mindedness, curiosity and work ethic are paramount in a good apprentice because they spark great teaching moments and fuel the mentor’s desire to instruct.

Proficiency at the anvil allows a farrier to reduce dependency on inventory and supplies, which reduces business overhead.

On the other hand, if you are going to commit at least a couple of years to the apprenticeship, it must be under someone willing to teach, not someone who is only looking for hired help. While pulling, clenching, and truck-cleaning are certainly responsibilities of a new apprentice, the training must go beyond that.

A good mentor doesn’t hold back from teaching based on ego or his/her own lack of interest in continuing education. A true mentor knows that although the apprentice offers help, he/she is much more than just a helper. Helpers are taught a particular skill and then pressured to produce. Apprentices, however, should always be exposed to new opportunities to learn and grow. The operation of an apprenticeship-based business needs to be constantly revisited as the apprentice’s abilities and competencies increase, making him/her ready to take on more responsibility.

3. Develop an Exit Strategy

It’s critical to start planning your future business strategy as soon as possible during your apprenticeship, especially if your goal is to have a thriving business once your apprenticeship is complete.

A good plan is to shoe for your own clients on weekends and days off. Ideally, you should choose an apprenticeship relatively close to where your new business is going to be located — close enough where shoeing your own clients’ horses on weekends is feasible, but not so close as to violate the non-compete agreement with your mentor. Besides being able to quickly apply the lessons learned during training, this approach also allows for better customer service in case of emergencies, such as lost horseshoes or sudden lamenesses.

A common mistake made by apprentices is only focusing on horseshoeing skills. Business and finance do not make up a significant portion of the curriculum in farrier schools, but long hours in the truck with your mentor make the perfect opportunity to learn valuable lessons about business administration, money management and client relations. Take advantage of this chance to learn from all aspects of your mentor’s experience.

Acquiring new clients can be a daunting task, especially if attempted at the wrong time of the year in some locations. The seasons strongly influence equine activities and directly affect the demand for farrier work. Some clients even go to the extreme of not having their horses shod or even trimmed during the winter months. Of course, clients like these are not desirable, but it might be impossible to deny their impact on your bottom line during the busy season. Needless to say, if this seasonal variability is a reality in your area, be ready for the significant increase in demand when the weather warms up and clients start riding again.

Farriers, with good reason, are generally territorial and reluctant to accept a new competitor onto their turf. They have spent years building their reputation and crafting customer relationships. However, just as they are protective, most are also very willing to help those that have earned their respect. Connecting with local horseshoers can lead to referrals of reputable clients.

Price cutting is not a good strategy for building a sustainable business or developing a network of supportive peers — it only serves to devalue the trade and create animosity. Plus, clients who choose farriers based solely on price tend to lack loyalty and are often difficult to work with.

In some cases, you might choose to stay on with your mentor once the apprenticeship is completed. It may be beneficial to both parties to expand the mentor’s business by adding you, now a well-trained farrier, as a partner. Usually, this is a seamless transition for clients as they are already accustomed to working with both you and your mentor.

4. Certifications, Clinics and Contests

Certifications are a great way to hone your skills. During the apprenticeship, try to take as many reputable certifications as possible. Because a farrier must be proficient at the anvil and also have comprehensive knowledge of the horse’s limbs and their mechanics, certifications represent the ideal chance to put both theoretical and practical skills to the test. Additionally, certification events are an excellent way to build industry relationships that can last a lifetime.

More important than the letters achieved is the preparation process for an examination. 

Depending on the exam, you will have to practice shoe building and modifications. You will also need to understand the concepts of horse anatomy and physiology, with a special focus on the distal limb and hoof capsule. 

By mastering the fabrication of shoes, you will naturally develop the ability to modify machine-made shoes as well. However, the opposite is not always true. Knowing how to modify keg shoes doesn’t always translate to proficiency in shoe building. Needless to say, knowing how to build horseshoes will not only make you a well-rounded farrier but also make keg shoe modifications much easier.

The skill of hand-making shoes is very useful in a variety of ways, especially for new farriers. For one thing, it allows for less inventory and little dependency on supplies, which greatly reduces business overhead. Also, as you develop your client roster, you can create a more memorable presentation while shoeing clients’ horses, as most horse owners are pleasantly surprised by the chance for their horses to wear “custom made” shoes. Clients truly enjoy a good display of ability and craftsmanship.

Throughout the certification preparation process, you should also seek to attend as many clinics as possible. Local chapters and national associations regularly offer continuing education opportunities. Experienced farriers are always eager to share their knowledge and tips, and this will help enormously in the preparation for an exam.

Pre-certification clinics will give you hands-on practice under the tutelage of well-trained instructors. These events get you out of your comfort zone and build your confidence to perform under pressure on certification day. Modern technology also provides the ability to attend webinars at a considerably lower cost. Also, clinics and wet labs can introduce you to the use of modern materials and techniques.

Like clinics, farrier contests are also a great way to put your practical skills to the test. Contest classes are a true evaluation of efficiency and quality in the fabrication of horseshoes. They strengthen the ability to deal with the time factor in the practical portion of the examinations, where you’ll have to work against the clock. Because contests focus on quality and nail-ability of horseshoes, they teach you the importance of all the essential elements in shoemaking, including a deep knowledge of tool use and maintenance — a key, yet often overlooked, factor by exam candidates.

Of course, your learning must not stop after achieving the desired farrier credentials. It’s imperative to maintain a consistent routine of studying and practice. Daily, short reading sessions of veterinary textbooks are often more helpful than trying to digest a lot of information in one long sitting.

It’s important to find methods of study that work with your own learning style — that might be taking notes on what you’ve read, watching videos, reading blogs, or listening to audiobooks and podcasts. 

Discipline and a consistent practice routine will not only increase forging quality and efficiency but inexorably boost revenue and horse soundness. As Jim Rohn, an entrepreneur and author, once said, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

As you can see, graduating from farrier school is just the beginning of a lifetime of growth. The farriers who have had the most personal success and have made the greatest impact on horses, clients and the industry are those who continually seek excellence and recognize the need for never-ending learning. 

Commitment to improvement, strategic business planning, humbleness and the right balance of an open mind and common sense are essential elements to a rewarding career in this profession we all love.