The Farrier Business Practices Survey, conducted annually by American Farriers Journal (AFJ), establishes a baseline for the state of the hoof-care industry. The survey — sponsored by Bellota, Glue-U, Triple Crown and Vetericyn — is sent to farriers across the U.S. Some of the resulting data is presented here to help you evaluate your business and prepare for the future. 

Being able to accurately identify your gross income, as well as money spent on supplies and other key business metrics, can help you assess its health in both the short- and long-term. Comparing yourself with farriers around the country can help you set financial, business and personal goals. 

Here are 3 takeaways from the survey to help you build your business. 

1 Keep Up with Inflation

The previous survey, which examined data from 2023, found that the average annual income before expenses had dropped for the first time since 2014. Since then, income has risen again from $115,457 to $119,770. Regionally, it ranges from $102,352 in the West to $142,291 in the Northeast. Income tends to fluctuate with the economy, business practices, clients and horses. Since some of the first Business Practices Surveys, national income has been on the rise, with a peak in 2022 of $123,532. 

However, income before expenses at face value doesn’t paint a complete picture. It’s important to consider inflation and buying power when analyzing yearly income. Does $50 buy you the same quantity of your preferred nails or rasps as it did in 2000, 2010 or 2020? More, less? 

To get a baseline for comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has a handy online Consumer Price Index (CPI) Inflation Calculator. A dollar amount can be entered as far back as January 1913 and compared with any month and year since then.

The following numbers are based on data from April 2025, the most recent available data from the CPI Inflation Calculator as of publication. 

In 2000, farrier income jumped from $55,723 to $67,318. This increase exceeded inflation by 16.5% and represents a 2025 equivalent of $128,314. Income in 2024, adjusted for inflation, is currently $121,740, meaning farriers in 2000 had more buying power than farriers do today. 

This also means that if the average farrier’s income does not exceed inflation year over year, farriers effectively make less money than the year before. To keep up with inflation, farriers should anticipate raising prices by 3% annually. 

Farriers’ 2024 income exceeded inflation by 0.9%, a positive upward swing from 2023. An increase from $115,457 to $119,770 equates to a $1,000 increase in buying power after inflation. Over the 5 decades of available data, the net inflation change is 0.53%, meaning that though there are worse and better years, farrier income slowly but surely continues to increase over inflation. 

Though it’s impossible to say how inflation will pan out over any given year, the Farrier Business Practices Survey is a valuable tool for putting future price increases into perspective within your business and the economy at large. 

Income also tends to change as farriers age. Those younger than 25 make the least, at an average of $60,000 per year. This increases to a peak of $139,411 for farriers ages 30 to 39 as they gain experience, knowledge and clients. At this point, income tends to decrease again. Still, full-time farriers older than 69 make about $28,000 more than their youngest counterparts at $87,857. 

Looking at finances, the average full-time farrier spends $392 per week on equipment and supplies but makes $2,303 in return. 

2 Supplement Your Income

When they were learning, 70% of farriers reported spending time as an apprentice. Of those who’ve apprenticed, 41% say they did so for a year or less, and the remaining 59% did so for 2 or more years.

Those who have apprenticed make $130,555 on average, $28,000 more than those who haven’t at $102,173 per year and nearly $11,000 over the national average. A farrier who’s apprenticed for 1 year or less makes about $2,000 over the national average, and someone who’s apprenticed for 2 or more years makes about $18,000 more. 

After an apprenticeship, more farriers are deciding to start or join a multi-

farrier practice. Those who were part of that 20% in 2024 made $36,700 more per year than a full-timer who was not part of a multi-farrier practice. 

If a multi-farrier practice isn’t in the cards, one way to supplement your income is to sell products to horse owners. 

In line with the previous survey, 79% of farriers recommend products to horse owners, while 23% sell products to clients, an increase from the previous year. The top products that farriers sell are thrush treatments, supplements, sole treatments and hoof boots. Those who sell products make an average of 9% more than those who do not. Yearly, this amounts to $129,583 compared with the full-time farrier who does not sell products at $119,770. 

Depending on the amount of extra product farriers carry with them to sell and the amount of energy it takes to sell them, the return on investment may not always be worth it.

3 Keep Learning

Over the course of a year, full-time farriers spend on average $1,657 on continuing education, up $200 from 2023. On average, that money is spent on two local clinics, one national convention and one contest. 

The main sources of paid education for full-time farriers are AFJ at 73% and textbooks and reference materials at 62%. Next, under the International Hoof-Care Summit and other paid educational events, subscription-based podcasts are popular among respondents. 

Still, many farriers prioritize in-person and hands-on education. Since 2023, searching the internet or social media for hoof-care education has decreased. 

About 42% of farriers are part of a local farrier group and 39% are American Farrier’s Association (AFA) members. Nearly 30% are members of the International Association of Professional Farriers (IAPF), with all memberships up from the previous year among respondents. 

Thirty years ago, only 17% of respondents had earned their Journeyman certification and 26% were Certified Farriers with the AFA. Today, 25% of respondents are Certified Journeyman Farriers and 45% are Certified Farriers. The next most common certification is Accredited Professional Farrier with the IAPF at 20%. 

Of those who have earned certifications, 55% report increased confidence in their work, 46% say they’ve gained respect from colleagues and veterinarians, and 41% have gained respect from customers. About 24% say certifications have opened doors professionally, while only 18% say it has allowed them to charge more.