Articles by Frank Lessiter

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2023 AFJ Pricing survey

What Would You Charge?

Here’s how 144 full-time farriers priced their work for 20 hoof-care scenarios
Some farriers are still charging the same prices as a few years ago, ignoring continuing increases in fuel, materials, inflation and other costs.
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Kentucky Horse Owners Spend $39 Million Annually On Farrier Work

Regardless of where you live, you’ll find some interesting data and trends in this article that zeroes in on the Bluegrass state’s equine industry

Data from a recent horse survey in Kentucky offers some significant facts that will be of special interest to hoof-care professionals across the country. This analysis may help you spot valuable insights and trends that can be compared with the equine industry in your own state.


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Reprinted from a “Shoeing for a Living” article in the July/August 1995 issue of American Farriers Journal … featuring an afternoon spent at Graceland.

Shoeing for Elvis

Mississippi farrier Lim Couch spent nearly 30 years shoeing horses for the King of Rock ‘n Roll

Even now, nearly 20 years after Elvis Presley’s death, the talented singer who changed music and haircuts forever is known quite simply as the King of rock ‘n roll.
Presley enjoyed a fabulous career before he died at the age of 42 on Aug. 16, 1977.


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Cost Concerns Favor Older Horse Owners

Even though there hasn’t been a major shift in U.S. horse numbers in recent years, the age of owners is trending higher due in part to their higher incomes as it continues to take more dollars to support an equine hobby or business each year. 


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Farrier Professionalism is Improving

An increased emphasis on education and communication in the industry are listed among top reasons for the improved attitudes about hoof-care professionals

When it comes to their attitudes about farriers, survey data indicates horse owners have made major gains over the past 3 decades. It’s apparently because farriers are placing more emphasis on developing their hoof-care skills, acting more professional, becoming better business managers and adopting the latest technology to make farrier-to-client communication much easier.


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Why Horse Owners Tell Farriers… “You’re Fired!”

It’s more than just the feet, as professionalism and business management practices are also a major concern when owners decide to change farriers
Out of the blue, a client texts to say they’ve found another farrier. They may have a reason, whether good or bad, and explain to you why they’ve decided to switch farriers. Or you may never know why they made a change.
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Book Review

The Farrier

By Simon Curtis
In the 350 pages in his latest book, British farrier Simon Curtis offers you the opportunity to travel along as he spends a day or two with 60 farriers working in 21 countries around the world.
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2020 Farrier Business Practices Survey

Full-time Farrier Income Skyrockets

Data from the latest Farrier Business Practices Survey shows an 11% increase in yearly gross income compared with 2 years earlier
Two years ago, the gross annual income for full-time farriers crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time in the American Farriers Journal Farrier Business Practices Survey. For 2019, the full-time farrier yearly income increased by an $14,283 compared with that 2017 figure.
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