For 3 decades, American Farriers Journal has conducted the biennial Farrier Business Practices survey that provides essential information to help farriers evaluate their business relative to other hoof-care professionals

Farriers use this industry-wide benchmark data not only for business analysis purposes but also when they want to make adjustments to their businesses. By sharing some of the results from this unique study, you will gain a better understanding of the farrier trade.

The Typical Farrier

Looking at the aggregate data, a “typical” farrier is a middle-aged male. The industry is seeing more women entering the trade, but not similar to the shift that veterinary medicine has seen in recent decades. Of all respondents, 80% say they work in the business full time. The average age of respondents was 48 and their average income (before expenses) in 2017 was $89,699. The vast majority (94%) trim and shoe horses, with the remainder only performing trims.

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Survey respondents say they’ve been working in the business as a full-time farrier for 20 years on average or have been working as a part-time farrier for 9 years on average.

Farriers say they work an average of 35 hours per week, with full-timers indicating they put in 40 hours on average. Part-timers work 15 hours in a typical week.

A majority (52%) of survey respondents say they trim and shoe horses 5 days per week, with 23% indicating they trim/shoe 6 days a week and about 12% say they trim/shoe 4 days a…