It’s not a matter of if, but when

Salem, Mo., farrier Parker Van Wyk was working on a bay horse’s right hind foot when it launched him into a cinder block wall. You might have seen the video making the social media rounds.

The butcher’s bill included a lacerated liver, a collapsed and torn lung and bruised ribs.

It can happen to anyone with any horse, even the quiet, well-behaved ones.

Despite the high odds of injury, the percentage of farriers carrying insurance is low.

According to American Farriers Journal’s 2025 Farrier Business Practices Survey, 65% have health insurance, 37% have life insurance and 17% have disability. By comparison, 92% of all Americans have health insurance, 51% have life insurance and 43% have disability.

Why the Disparity?

The obvious answer is that most Americans are employees and their employer pays the freight. The vast majority of farriers are small business owners. It’s difficult making ends meet, but it’s not impossible.

“Our businesses should be about profit,” Joshua Sanders told attendees at the 2025 International Hoof-Care Summit. “Yes, we do it for the horse, but we have to feed our families.”

One of the Canonsburg, Pa., farrier’s goals is to keep cash flowing into his business. Most of his clients pay the day of service. The exceptions are assessed $25 of interest a day until the invoice is paid.

“Some barns try to pay at the end of the month,” says Sanders, who’s also a certified master financial coach…