A reliable, well-planned farrier rig is a costly, yet necessary investment.

It stores your tools, equipment and supplies. It’s a rolling billboard that promotes your business. Simply put, it’s your office, and it needs to serve your needs efficiently to maximize your income potential.

While the price tags are considerable, you have a number of options from which to choose. If you plan to trim horses, a compact car and a minimal set of tools will do the trick.

Like most new farriers, if you have a modest client list, a truck bed cap or tonneau — a waterproof metal cover for your truck bed — might fill your needs. If you use your vehicle for purposes other than farriery, a trailer might be your best choice. Or, if you are fortunate enough to have a healthy client list, your practice might demand a full-size pickup with a customized body.

With so many choices, here are some questions to ask yourself before committing to such a large investment.

1. Where Do I Start?

Although researching farrier rigs isn’t as easy as comparing reviews for pickups, resources are abundant. Ask around. Pick the brains of established farriers or your farrier school instructors. Those who are established in the trade often have owned multiple rigs during their careers and can offer advice on what has and hasn’t worked for them.

Message boards such as those found at AmericanFarriers.com, FarriersForum.com and Horseshoes.com present good opportunities to get a broad range of opinions from farriers in all corners of the world.

Of course, rig manufacturers and farrier supply companies are good resources to mine information.

“Farriers are pretty much looking for two things: efficiency and cost effectiveness,” says Lou Sposito of Stonewell Bodies in Genoa, N.Y. “We achieve that by listening to the customer, trying to understand what their business requires and trying to come up with innovative solutions to their specific applications.”

2. What Do I Really Need?

Before setting your sights on the “dream rig” that’s fully stocked with specialty tools, inverters and top-of-the-line stereo systems, it’s best to focus first on the necessities.

“First of all, start with a budget,” advises Brent Chidsey of Bay Horse Innovations in Cynthiana, Ky. “Based on that budget, try to focus on the things that are most practical, meaning forges, grinders and storage, as opposed to microwaves, coffeemakers, inverters and those sorts of things.”

Your location and lifestyle play a vital role in your rig choice. If you live in a climate that encounters snow, a four-wheel-drive truck might be the best choice. However, if you’re working in a rural setting, a trailer might suit your needs.

“It all comes down to your lifestyle,” Chidsey says. “You have to ask yourself, what are your needs at this point in your life?”

If you already have a truck, your choices certainly aren’t limited.

“A cap is definitely a beautiful starter if you just want to get a nice rig set up,” says Neal Purdy of Fingerlakes Manufacturing in Skaneateles, N.Y. “It’s all in what you can afford. I understand these are big purchases, but they don’t have to be. They can be very functional, very affordable. The extras that would be nice to have, but don’t really need, can come with time.”

A similar choice that is relatively cost-effective is a tonneau cover.

“A tonneau cover with an anvil swing-out is a very efficient unit for a farrier who goes home every night,” suggests John Halko of Georgia Farrier Supply in Jasper, Ga. “Your fuel efficiency is probably 20% better than with a full truck body.”

A trailer is yet another option.

“The industry has changed and trailers are the way to go,” Purdy says. “Not everyone is a trailer person, but you can unhook them and you can have your truck and leave your job at home.”

3. How Can My Choice Improve My Efficiency?

A rig should provide a farrier with a smooth and fluid center of operation that maximizes efficiency. Any wasted movement costs you time and money.

“It’s all about organization and a smooth workflow, as far as setup goes,” Purdy says. “These things are like snowflakes — there are no two alike. We really involve the person in the setup and how they like to see it flow. We’ll throw suggestions in there, whether they take them is up to the customer.”

Heeding that advice is a good idea, especially considering the thousands upon thousands of rigs they have built over the years.

“When we set up a rig, we know what will work,” Halko says. “I’m not saying we know everything, because we’re constantly evolving. A shoeing rig is like working in a factory. You don’t make a widget at Station A, then take it 20 feet away to put a hole in it at Station B. You try to do all of your operations right there in one area. Everything should be within arm’s length.”

One example in which a swing-out tool can improve efficiency is the aforementioned anvil.

“An anvil swing-out doesn’t cost you anything,” Halko says. “The average farrier can shoe eight horses a day. If a farrier charges $100 a horse, that’s $800 a day. But with an anvil swing-out, a farrier can do nine horses a day. So after a week, the anvil swing-out is paid for. It puts $100 in your pocket after the first week, every day for as long as you shoe horses. That’s about the energy it gains you for the average full-time farrier. That’s the dollars and cents of it.”

Focusing on the necessities of your practice often increases efficiency.

“After a farrier has been in the business for awhile, they realize they really don’t need all of this stuff and you see them begin to downsize,” says Chidsey, who started as a farrier 24 years ago in Ithaca, N.Y. “The most common thing I hear when a farrier changes rigs is, ‘I cleaned out my rig and I found stuff that I haven’t used in 5 years.’”

4. How Can My Choice Save Fuel Costs?

As fuel prices continue to climb (the average 2014 mid-summer price for regular gasoline per gallon is $3.70, while diesel is $3.92, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration), more manufacturers are seeing farriers move to smaller rigs.

“There’s a lot of attention being given to fuel efficiency,” Sposito says. “We’ve seen rigs that have gone from large, dually rigs to the introduction of Sprinter and Transit vans, as well as an upswing in trailer sales.”

The materials used to build the rigs also play a role in saving fuel.

“Some people ask for stainless steel,” Halko says. “I try to discourage them as much as possible because of the weight. They think it looks better. You’re definitely going to look better longer, but you might not be able to make the payments on your credit card fuel bill.”

5. How Can I Prolong The Life Of My Rig?

After paying a sizable amount for a new or used rig, take steps to protect that investment.

“It always surprises me that people put such a high value on this thing that they’ve dreamed about and saved for,” Chidsey says, “but when they finally have it, they don’t put in any effort to take care of it.”

Some of the materials that are installed in rigs are not intended for the environment that a farrier works in.

“Power tool slide-outs and the slide industry have developed slides with latches built into them that are supposed to keep them opened or closed,” he explains. “The latching mechanisms tend to wear out. And that’s where maintenance comes in. Farriers need to clean the slides, blow them out, get the grindings and shavings out of them.”

Some equipment performs better and longer based upon your rig choice.

“Liners in forges will wear out quicker in a trailer than they will in a truck body due to the truck’s smooth ride,” Chidsey says. “I’ve had farriers who have gone from one to the other and back again specifically for that reason.”

While performing general maintenance on your tools, Sposito suggests adding your rig to these duties.

“Make sure your motors and grinder wheels are properly balanced, lubricate your hinges, things like that,” he says. “Develop a preventative maintenance schedule where every Sunday morning, for instance, you’re going to do this.”

6. How Safe Is The Rig?

Tending to horses’ feet each day is dangerous enough, so your farrier rig shouldn’t add to your concerns. When outfitting your rig, think through potential problems to avoid safety hazards.

Halko suggests having double-lock mechanisms installed on swing-out anvils.

“It’s like the hood of your truck,” he says. “You have an inside release and then you have to go outside and manually push a lever before you can get your hood up. We do the same thing with the anvil swing-outs. You don’t want to be going down the road at 70 mph and have your anvil come off or the arm swing out.”

While you want to make sure that you have the appropriate supplies on hand, you also want to make sure that the rig isn’t overloaded.

“Have you put extra springs on your pickup because you’re trying to make a 1/2-ton truck do what a 1-ton truck is designed for?” Chidsey asks. “When was the last time you checked the trailer’s breakaway switch so that if you have an accident and the trailer separates it will stop by itself?”

Automobile manufacturers don’t design trucks to have rigs installed on them, so precautions must be taken to ensure safety.

“When you turn a family truck into a commercial rig, brakes, tires and suspensions need to be looked at and addressed appropriately,” he says. “Are shoe racks and power tools in front of the rear axle, which loads the front axle so you can steer safely? Or, are they behind the rear axle, where it takes weight off of the front end and makes it so the front end is not as stable?”

7. Does The Rig Project Professionalism?

Client’s expectations for skilled hoof care is a given, but your rig is yet another way to project professionalism and inspire customer confidence. A clean and orderly rig not only improves your efficiency, but it helps avoid client perceptions that your ability is anything but superior.

“It’s huge, it’s everything,” Purdy says. “These guys are working on some big dollar horses and if you roll in with a dirty or cluttered rig, it’s just not a professional image.”

Carry professional-looking business forms and marketing materials, such as business cards, in a clean, protected place along with a current copy of client contact information. Keeping a mobile phone charged and ready for calls will tell your clients that you’re responsive.

“Why is it some farriers are more successful than others?” Chidsey asks. “They return a phone call. I see it over and over again. I’ve spoken with shoers who tell me they need to get a second job after I just got off the phone with another guy in Puerto Rico who is getting $60 to shoe a horse and he’s buying brand new trucks and providing well for his family. It all gets down to the basics of answering the phone.”

Graphics that advertise your practice are a great way to project professionalism and attract new business. Yet, there can be an unintended downside.

“I love the graphics,” Purdy says. “I think it’s very professional looking and I’d be proud to promote my business on the side of one, but on the other hand, you could be drawing some unwanted attention, as well.”

When the combined weight of the truck and trailer exceeds a certain weight, Department of Transportation (DOT) numbers must be affixed on the truck.

“The DOT is really cracking down on farriers for the amount of weight they’re hauling,” he says. “The truck and trailer weight combination is an issue that everyone should be aware of.”

8. How Do I Pay For A Rig?

Unless you’re starting your practice with a lot of cash on hand, more than likely you’ll have to secure a loan or a lease. A new farrier will find that there are advantages and disadvantages to both options.

Loan: Often, your best option is attaining a loan from your local bank or credit union — but be prepared to do some work.

While traditional lending institutions often offer loans with lower interest rates, they also have relatively little experience with farrier rigs.

“They don’t understand it,” Halko explains. “They’ll lend $50,000 for a car, but they’re reluctant to lend $20,000 for a shoeing rig because they don’t know what it is. They would rather turn it down than approve it because they’re not sure how to handle it.”

Purdy has found that banks are more likely to lend money for specific rigs than others.

“Banks are less apt to finance a truck body because it’s a big ordeal to get the body off the truck if it’s repossessed,” he says. “It’s easier to finance a trailer. Generally, it’s really easy. We work with the banks all the time to make this as easy as possible.”

Here are some recommendations to help smooth the path toward securing a loan:

• Schedule an appointment with a key leader of the lending institution. “Sometimes talking with a loan officer doesn’t work well,” Halko says. “But, if you can talk to the vice president or president of the bank, and explain your situation, then they see this as a work item. This is something that can make them some money.”
• Walk the bank officer through the manufacturer’s website, explain what a farrier rig is and how it’s critical to your business. The full process of obtaining a loan often will take a couple of weeks.

“Educate the banker, put as much money down as you can possibly afford, and if you do some homework and work with the bank, you’ll usually get the loan,” Halko says. “If you walk into a bank cold, especially a small town bank, it can be a little difficult to borrow money.”

If you still receive a cool reception, some manufacturers can recommend lending institutions that are familiar with the horseshoeing trade and more open to lending to farriers.

Lease: Leasing a farrier rig probably is the easiest and less time-consuming option. However, interest rates generally are higher than a traditional bank loan.

“You’re always going to pay higher interest rates with a leasing company,” Halko says. “That’s just the way it is.”

While it might take some time to secure a traditional bank loan, attaining a lease can be relatively fast.

“Usually you’ll have an answer within 36 hours from the leasing companies,” he says. “There’s instant gratification there.”

Many young people venturing into farriery have yet to build a credit history. Leasing often provides an option that otherwise wouldn’t be available.

“Sometimes,” Halko says, “leasing is the easiest way for people who don’t have credit to get a nice unit.”

No matter which option you choose, you can recoup the amount you pay in interest when tax season rolls around.

 “The interest that one pays is deductible against your income,” he says, “but you have to show some income to deduct something.”