Buying a farrier rig is the most expensive single purchase you will make in your hoof-care career. Even the combined costs of your required tools and necessary inventory don’t come close to the cost of a reliable, well-planned rig. As costly of an investment a rig is, it is a necessity. 

As your career evolves, you’ll likely trade in a vehicle for another, or look for a new body or trailer to adapt to your ever-changing practice.

There are many options out there. If your goal is to only trim barefoot horses, you can get by with a compact car with a minimal set of tools in the trunk. If you have a multi-purpose vehicle, maybe a trailer is the answer. Or if you are fortunate and are leaving an apprenticeship with a healthy client list, the volume of work may require a good-sized pickup with a body attached.

Buying a “dream rig” isn’t a likely reality for someone just out of school or shoeing for a few clients while working in an apprenticeship. Yet, you need a rig if you are going to be a farrier. The variables are many, so after you determine what you can afford with cash or financing, here are things to also consider before you start kicking tires.  

1. Where Should I Begin?

You need a baseline to work from. There are many ways to learn about rigs today, and it’s especially helpful to reach out and ask questions of those with experience on the topic. Look to both farriers and companies that sell farrier rigs.

What are farriers in your area driving? Do they prefer shoeing bodies or trailers? Learn about rig features from other farriers, and look at lots of rigs before making decisions. “I would say that instead of ‘best features’ it’s more ‘best practices’ and you’ll learn about those from things like reading American Farriers Journal, doing apprenticeships, working with recognized people and participating in educational clinics,” advises Lou Sposito, of Stonewell Bodies in Genoa, N.Y.

Manufacturers and farrier supply companies can be rig resources for information. Another way to learn is by asking questions of the equipment experts. 

“You should be able to look at your farrier supply shop and rig-maker as sounding boards,” says Sposito. “Ask them how features may or may not work for you. Quite often a farrier will come to us and ask for a feature, but we’ll disagree because it’s not practical.”

2. What Do You Really Need?

Specialty power tools or seat warmers might be “nice-to-have” options, but when it comes to shoeing rigs, the experts all advise identifying the essentials first. You need a reliable vehicle that has adequate storage for supplies, tools and other equipment.

As general manager of PurdyBilt by UPSCO, Inc., Ken Scott recommends buying as much vehicle as you can initially afford, and adding features over time. 

“What rig will provide you the greatest benefit at this point in your career?” he asks. 

One option involves re-working an existing rig through trade-ins, upgrades and reconditions, something that PurdyBilt allows. “We recently had a customer bring in a 10-year-old truck body, and we reconditioned the body and mounted it on an axle, converting it to a trailer. It certainly didn’t look like a 10-year-old rig.”

Your shoeing territory and the types of roads you’ll encounter should influence what you need. Scott points out that gooseneck trailers can provide a better ride and improved gas mileage over bumper-pull trailers, in addition to allowing a greater turning radius.

Roger Newman of SomerSong Forge Horseshoeing Trailers adds that trailer jackknifing and U-turns are inherent problems of the trade. 

“Farriers can be determined to get their rigs closer to the horse,” he says. “It happens more in California, where so many people live on cul-de-sacs that require tight turns, but not so much in Texas, where you’re driving up a straightaway on a large ranch. 

“Tandem axles don’t like U-turns because the torque is tremendous. When you spin it around on concrete, you’re putting an ungodly amount of pressure on the spindles.”

 

You must consider how you will work around your rig. Improved efficiency depends on a well-defined workflow.

3. How Will My Choice Improve My Efficiency?

The adage of “time is money” certainly is true for farriers, but with horseshoeing you can also consider that effort equals time. Looking at ways to save both will have an effect on your bottom line. 

Take time for a thorough evaluation of where your time and energy goes. John Halko, partner and operating officer of Georgia Farrier Supply in Jasper, Ga., says all equipment and supplies should be organized and easily accessible on racks, shelves and in drawers.  

“Don’t have deep drawers or ‘junk holes’ with stuff piled on top of stuff,” he adds. “Searching around for supplies while the horse and owner are waiting is a waste of everyone’s time.”

Look at other options in your workflow that can contribute to efficiency. Halko says lifting an anvil and stand in and out of a truck and trailer several times each day is a waste of time and critical energy.

Newman came up with storage drawers underneath the waist. 

“It’s like a chef’s galley, with doors and drawers underneath the worktop, rather than on top,” says Newman. He reports that low-profile design has also become an important safety feature. 

“Having the heavy storage below the waist instead of hanging on the trailer walls gives it a lower center of mass. It helps the trailer track better with the pulling vehicle, a critical factor in rain, snow or muddy road driving.”

4. Will Your Rig Stand Up To The Tests You’ll Put It Through? 

The raw materials a rig is made of determine its longevity and usefulness. As a first shopping step, look for quality in production materials and methods.

“I would say to any manufacturer that they should have the best standard features they can have,” says Scott. “We use top-quality raw materials and building methods; that’s why we stand behind all our vehicles as long as the original owner has them.” 

Scott suggests farriers to look for these materials: 

• Aluminum tubing and welds, including 100% tungsten inert gas welding which creates a strong, clean weld.

• Decking and exterior sheeting that can stand up to road vibration and the stresses of daily use.

• Structural tubing made of high-strength, extruded aluminum.

• Electric brakes.

• Sealed doors and trim.

• Easy-lube axles.

• Riveting system that helps wick moisture away from the interior.

Prevent water in all forms from getting into your rig. “There’s nothing more frustrating to a farrier than to open the door and find water inside their rig,” adds Scott.

5. Will This Rig Meet Your Client’s Expectations?

How do you manage the inventory on your shoeing rig? You need to carry the adequate amount of supplies.

Clients expect proficient shoeing and hoof care, but using professional business practices where your rig is concerned is another way to instill customer confidence. Unfair as it is, clients may judge your ability on something as fickle as a rig’s appearance. That does not mean you need a shiny new shoeing box on a truck driven right off the lot. It does mean you need a clean, reliable vehicle regardless of the clients you work with.

Carry professional-looking business forms and marketing materials (including business cards) in a clean, protected place along with a current copy of client contact information. Keep a mobile phone charged up and ready to go in your rig.

Research will help you understand the needs and expectations of your clients. Halko feels the quickest and most professional way to learn about something new is to read up on it using whatever online resources you can find, then go to a clinic where it’s the focus. 

“Using this approach, you’ll also be able to gain insight into what owners might expect, from prices to how your truck should look,” he says.

“Keeping one’s truck or workspace clean and free of used shoes, nails, etc., will make work easier and safer, plus the professional image is priceless. You can save on propane expense with a quality forge that’s kept in good repair, with clean mixing chambers and an intact liner.”

6. Will This Vehicle Meet Safety Standards?

Safety is everyone’s business; when outfitting your rig, be sure to think through potential problems to get prepared for any trouble coming your way.

Place your equipment at proper working heights. According to Halko, equipment should be mounted at safe work heights. “Equipment such as grinders and drill presses can be dangerous to the user if they’re either too high or too low,” he says.

“Placing a propane tank inside a trailer is asking for trouble,” adds Newman. “If you’ve forgotten to shut off the valve and bleed the line before closing the doors, you could end up with a big bang if friction builds up.”

From his own experience, Newman developed an external, dual-tank system that’s not only safe but also convenient. 

“I put two tanks side-by-side in liquid petroleum vertical tank brackets,” he says. “It’s easier to switch out the tanks, and if I’ve parked my trailer at a horse show, I can swap out the empty tank at night, leaving the trailer on the show grounds.”

Another safety tip from Halko involves being prepared for fires, especially when working around highly-flammable horse barns. “Be sure to have a proper, working fire extinguisher, and keep a small quantity of fresh water on hand for emergencies,” he advises.

Provide a service to clients by asking them for up-to-date emergency contact information on your first visit and periodically afterward, advises Halko. 

Ask about details such as what vets they use, and who’s the nearest neighbor that can help in a crisis. Don’t count on a client to have first aid supplies — pack supplies for humans and horses in your rig.

7. What Tools And Storage Can You Add To The Rig Set-Up?

Power tools can increase your efficiency. However, if you only use these tools sparingly, you might be trading necessary space for perceived efficiency.

You can learn a lot about your own rig needs from what’s happening in the industry and what others are finding useful for their own rigs. A used rig may lack a tool you frequently need, like a pad cutter. Can you add it to the rig?

Consider the type of hoof care you’re providing to determine the features you’ll need. “When I’m thinking of the raw materials needed, it’s based on the type of shoeing,” says Sposito. 

“There are platers doing racetrack work; guys doing backyard or pleasure horses; and then you’ve got the specialty breeds, plus disciplines like dressage, hunter/jumper, reining and cutting. 

“The biggest bulk of what we’re seeing is very little in terms of necessary features for the platers, and then it goes up from there.”

Newman adds that any specialties, such as lameness, breeds or disciplines, affect rig setup, along with abilities. “Skill can bridge so many things. If you’ve got a lot of skill in the fire, you need a lot less stock, so you can set up your rig accordingly.”

Work can be safer and more comfortable when you think of the little things. Halko advises farriers to have equipment that makes work just a little more pleasant. 

“It’s a good idea to have proper work lighting, fans for cooling, fly spray, hoof dressing and at least one halter and lead rope,” he says. “If you work on horses of all dimensions, consider having halters in pony, horse and draft/warmblood sizes.”

Power tools are nice, but your purchase may be a poor investment because you may only use it with one client. Think about frequency of use before you buy.

8. What About Your Future?

It is easier to determine the tools and supplies you will carry in the here and now vs. years from now. You might not be thinking about where you’ll be 5 or 10 years from now, but it’s useful to weigh options and opportunities before buying.

Consider not only where you are, but also where you’re going. Scott reports he’s been talking to farrier school graduates about what they’re using, their career direction and how they can upgrade to get the most utility as their business grows. 

“Most start with a pickup truck, a forge, anvil and stand, and a few tools. They’re going to work with some keg shoes and nails,” he says. “They know what they’re doing because they’ve either apprenticed or gone to school, or hopefully both. Where they can improve is in their organization, but that will come over time.”

Evaluate your rig’s return on investment potential. Since your shoeing business will evolve, you might eventually require a different rig altogether. If you’ve bought quality and kept things in good repair, you’ll often get a better trade-in value or selling price.

Remember to reinvest in yourself. Sposito says it’s helpful to think of yourself when considering where to spend business development funds.

“Even though we sell ‘stuff,’ it’s not always the gadget, but how you use the gadget that counts,” he advises. “If you really think about your return on investment of everything you buy, you might be better off investing in a skill or improving your forging ability rather than buying a new forge.”

However, don’t become so obsessed with trying to map out the future that it arrests your decision making today. It can take years to determine what you really like. Sometimes a career direction can take years to evolve, so Newman advises starting out with less equipment and waiting until you’ve gained clarity based on experiences.

“There are so many different styles of shoeing, different ways of doing things, different rigs and places to live and work. I didn’t make my final choice for a rig until the 10th year of my career. You just develop a different understanding of your needs over time.”