A farrier gets a call. The voice on the others end of the line asks how much to shoe a horse. He is told. That voice then says he needs his horse Dobbin shod by tomorrow late afternoon. The prospective client gives an address and signs off, “See you then.” 

Last year, a younger farrier rode in Tom Trosin’s shoeing truck. While chatting between stops, the junior horseshoer identified one aspect of farriery that the Oklahoma farrier excels at — and it has nothing to do with trimming and shoeing.

Every 2 years, American Farriers Journal surveys the industry based in the United States to take its financial pulse. The most recent Farrier Business Practices Survey examined a multitude of factors during 2021. The results reveal that overall the industry has seen substantial financial gains. In almost every financial measurement, farriers increased revenue from 2 years prior — which also saw considerable gains.

Who has directly influenced your farrier career? If you’re just starting out, your list likely isn’t long. A little time and initiative will eventually fill the gaps. If you have some skin in the game, your list might resemble the one compiled by Chris Gregory in his book, For Want of a Nail, the Shoe Was Lost.

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