When you made the decision to become a farrier, there’s no doubt that a number of factors contributed to your decision.

Many are drawn to the trade simply because they want to help horses. Perhaps it’s the enjoyment of working with horses. The history and tradition of working at the anvil and shoeing horses often is appealing to others. Maybe the freedom that comes with working for yourself is just too enticing to pass up. Then again, it could be some combination of these and more.

More than likely, though, you didn’t want to become a farrier because you enjoy scheduling, balancing a budget or chasing clients who haven’t paid their bills. Yet, these and many other tasks await you when you set out on your own.

Often, the business side of a practice doesn’t get the attention it needs in order to make ends meet, let alone thrive. Businesses fail when that happens. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. By taking the initiative to prepare yourself to withstand the bumps in the road that all businesses inevitably face, you strengthen your chances for success.

Continue Your Education

You’ve taken the first step toward achieving your goal by attending farrier school. Don’t stop there. Your education shouldn’t come to an end after graduation. There’s so much more knowledge to mine, but where do you start?

Fortunately, the industry is brimming with well-established farriers who are willing to share their valuable insights. A small collection of them is contained…