In a May 6, 2025, letter, the Farrier Industry Association (FIA) updated its members on the expected economic impact of steel and aluminum tariffs.
The current 25% levy affects the cost of farrier supplies, including horseshoes, nails, rasps and other steel and aluminum tools. The FIA acknowledged that because much of the production process happens outside the U.S., added costs are being felt across the board.
“Even U.S.-based manufacturers are experiencing increased expenses due to the higher cost of raw materials,” says Robert Michel, president of the FIA.
Manufacturers and retailers have avoided formally announcing any price increases until the final cost for farriers could be ascertained. The FIA says the first price increases began in late April and are now being “implemented by all major manufacturers.”
“These increases range from 10% to 25%,” the letter says. “While manufacturers and retailers are working diligently to negotiate and absorb as much of the added cost as possible, the full impact cannot be avoided. As a result, retail prices are expected to rise accordingly — amounting to an estimated $15 to $25 increase per full set of shoes for farriers.”
Mustad recently announced price adjustments beginning May 15, 2025.
“Given the uncertainty of how long the tariffs will be in effect, we will continue to closely monitor their impact and adjust our prices accordingly,” says Rob Logsdon, Mustad’s North American sales manager.
Farrier Product Distribution (FPD), which distributes several brands including Kerckhaert, Liberty and Diamond, previously notified retailers that prices increased effective April 23.
“The base price changes average 1% for shoes and nails, while some items like Vettec and Hoofjack have no increase,” according to the letter from FPD. “Prices for our miscellaneous items vary by manufacturer, with minor to no changes. ... Kerckhaert and FPD have absorbed tariffs that have been in place for some products since 2018, while also absorbing some of the newest tariff charges. However, to deal with the expansive impact of the new tariffs, we are applying surcharges to the products that are affected.”
Additionally, Ken Davis & Sons announced an increase of 10-25% on goods, following in the footsteps of Mustad, FPD and others.
“These changes are driven by continued pressures in global supply chains, rising raw material costs and increases in manufacturing and transportation expenses,” says Brian Davis, president of Ken Davis & Sons. “In addition to these distribution specific increases, the broader tariff landscape affecting imported farrier tools, horseshoes and materials continues to add strain to the industry. These tariffs, coupled with ongoing economic shifts, have made it increasingly difficult to avoid these increased costs.”
On May 12, 2025, the U.S. and China released a joint statement announcing a 90-day reduction in tariffs, effective May 14. After negotiations in Switzerland over the weekend, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods will drop from 145% to 30%. China’s tariffs on U.S. goods will also drop from 125% to 10%.
Following the announcement, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.2%, the S&P 500 Index rose 2.5% and the Nasdaq Composite rose 3.5%.
However, steel and aluminum still face separate tariffs not affected by the current reduction. Tariffs imposed before April 2 and other restrictions, such as U.S. measures to end low-value package tariff exemptions, remain in place.
"While we remain hopeful that these tariffs may be reduced or removed in the future, the near-term outlook suggests a lasting effect on product pricing," the FIA says.
According to an American Farriers Journal poll, many farriers are prepared to pass any price increases on to their clients. The FIA encouraged farriers to share its letter with customers to help them better understand why their costs may increase going forward.
