Successful Farriers Keep on Learning

Full-time farriers spend an average of $2,064 per year on continued educational activities compared to only $582 per year for part-time farriers.

These professional development activities include local farrier clinics, shoeing contests and national events such as the International Hoof-Care Summit held each winter in Cincinnati, Ohio.

— 2018 American Farriers Journal Farrier Benchmark Study

Have You Suffered a Significant Injury as a Direct Result of Farrier Work?

Options % of Farriers

Yes, but it was not debilitating 

 31%

Yes, I had surgery to correct it. Thank goodness the injury was not debilitating  

 17%

Yes, I suffered a debilitating injury, but I’m still able to do hoof-care work

 26%

Yes, I suffered a debilitating injury and will never be able to perform footcare again

 5%

No significant injuries, as I’ve been fortunate    

 21%

— 2019 American Farriers Journal reader poll

Friday's Farrier Facts & Figures is brought to you by Markel Insurance.

Markel Corporation (NYSE – MKL) is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, and investment operations around the world. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia and founded in 1930, Markel reports its ongoing underwriting operations in three segments, and products originate from four insurance divisions and one reinsurance division. Markel Ventures, a subsidiary that makes strategic investments in companies outside of the insurance marketplace, is another important component of our business.


In each of our businesses, we seek to deliver innovative products and responsive customer service so that we can be a market leader. Our time horizon is long-term, our underwriting approach is disciplined, and our focus is on continuously improving the quality of the customer experience. Our financial goals are to earn consistent underwriting and operating profits and to combine those profits with superior investment returns to build shareholder value.