With the hoof-care season about to hit full stride, many farriers have already raised their trimming and shoeing prices for the coming year. And if you haven't already done so, now's a good time to think about the impact higher supply costs can have on the need for boosting your prices.

Data gathered from across the country for the 2012 Farrier Business Practices survey can help you make effective pricing decisions for the coming year.

While there are still many challenges, it appears that the equine industry is beginning to recover from its disastrous 2008 recession. This is based on the percentage of respondents owning horses or competing with them at the same or higher levels than 2 years ago.