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Backyard Horses Can Be The
Backbone Of A Good Business
Every now and then, you’ll hear a farrier speak with a certain disdain about backyard horses. But Chris Gregory, owner of the Heartland Horseshoeing School in Lamar, Mo., says there are plenty of reasons to keep some backyard horses on 
your books, not the least of which is how they are viewed by their owners.
Gregory, a member of the International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame, told attendees at the 2010 International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio, that he had started farrier businesses in several states during his career and has worked on plenty of backyard horses. These horses, he says are often seem almost as members of the owner’s family.
“Backyard horses will be higher on the list of economic priorities than many other horses,” he maintains. “The payment made for farrier care is not a business investment as it is for a work or show horse.”
The May/June issue of American Farriers Journal will include an article Gregory wrote based on his Summit talk, in which he’ll cover the pros and the cons of shoeing backyard horses — the backbone of many good farrier businesses.
i have alot of back yard horses.around the area i'm in has alot of what they call equestrian subdivisions.mostly my customers have one or two horses and for the most part they have no problems hoof wise.i have a couple of customers who have founder in different stages of the disease.of course my biggest back yard customer is myself,my wife and i have 13 going on 16.i do not charge as much for my back yard customers as i do a actual working barn,i figure a barn is getting a steady income of money from the boarders so i can charge a little more.i have been asked to raise my rates by other farriers in my area but it is hard for me to do that to these customers because i have had them for so long i think it would be a mistake to raise my prices to 60 for a trim and 100 for fronts or 150 for hinds for a fit and trim horse.plus i grew my business with back yard customers and they are my bread and butter.
90% of my clients are backyard horses. They appreciate my services and I show respect back to them by being on time, doing a good job with their animals & treating them all like they were valued at $100,000! I only put 10K a year on my truck as I only work in my 480 mile county. Not only are these people my clients, most of them are also my friends! And I'm paid upfront, my only accounts receivable is when I go to those 10% barns...
I have plenty of backyard horses in my client list, and Ilove em. Ihave no trouble getting payed by these clients and there is more personal contact. The big barns are great by these client often drag out the payment for several weeks and there is no or little contact with the owners I deal with the barn manager and never see the owners.
Most of my business is with backyard horses now. It is much less stressfull when I want to take a vacation ,I don't have to worry about the eventing horse and the nervous owner that worries that a shoe may get pulled off just before the event. The people all pay when the job is done. I enjoy the company of these people and some can't wait to see me. Sometimes I am expected to stay for a big meal. I ride trails and vacation with some. I love my backyard clients. I take time to look at the health and condition of their horse and give advice I have learned from other clients succes stories. I do not have as big an overhead in equipment. Also I probably have less lameness issues,with them because most are pleasure, lesson or trail horses which is not as strenuous as some horses careers.
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