Critical Guidelines for Being a Successful Farrier

Here are several guidelines that Bob Smith, cited to students in 1993 at his Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School in Plymouth, Calif., that are just as important today for farriers:

1. If you want to be thought of as a professional, look and act like one.
2. Show up for footcare appointments on time.
3. To earn respect, return phone calls promptly.
4. Present yourself as an intelligent businessman.
5. Don’t show up looking as if you slept in your clothes, smelling of beer or with tobacco juice dripping from your mouth.
6. If you want a full book of footcare work, take care of your clients the way you expect other professionals to cater to your needs.
7. Show courtesy and gratitude to owners and trainers for believing in your trimming and shoeing work.

— 1993 survey on why horse owners change farriers

Footcare Professionals Don’t Like to Work Alone

Some 46% of full-time farriers rarely or never trim and/or shoe without another person being present at the barn.

— 2020 American Farriers Journal Business Practices survey