Most of the United States began their late spring figuring out how to return to some normalcy from the measures taken to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19. While businesses in some states were reopening under guidelines on providing an environment that would limit the spread of the virus, others were less certain.

Farriery as a whole in the country has been consistent over May and June. Some may have chosen to stay at home in the early stages of isolation, but according to our survey on farrier business practices during the pandemic, what were larger concerns at first have returned to business as usual for most shoers.

Horse Type Influences Impact

The vast majority of farriers continued working in the U.S., guided by a federal definition of “essential workers.” The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued guidance in late March 2020 on the essential industry workforce that should continue while the nation addressed and responded to the outbreak. “U.S. food and agriculture” was included among 16 industries. How does that include farriers? The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is used by U.S. federal statistical agencies in “classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.” “Farriers,” “hoof trimming” and…