Learning to shoe horses for a living is not the easiest job to attempt. It can be rewarding if you go about it the right way.

Certainly, the beginning starts with horse handling skills or riding and training experience. Next comes the basics, like learning normal anatomy, conformation and function. Then we progress to hoof trimming and how that affects the horse. Horseshoe selection, fitting and modifications follow, ultimately leading to attaching the shoes and finishing the job. All done, let’s move on to the next horse, right? Not so fast!

Unless you are just shoeing your own horses, now you are running a business either part- or full-time. Beyond the actual physical part of working on horses, what else needs to happen to run a successful business and enjoy a full career in this profession?

There are two other aspects that are essential to success. First, there is the personal aspect of how you conduct yourself, the second is the behind-the-scenes business aspect. Successful farriers practice the following behaviors.

• Return phone calls…