Farriers Raising Trimming, Shoeing Prices For 2014

Some 60% of attendees who filled out surveys at this winter’s International Hoof-Care Summit will raise trimming and shoeing prices this year. While 15% will not raise prices, 25% were unsure what they were going to do this year. Among farriers who decided to raise prices in 2014, the average increase was 8.5%.

Start Out Assuming Every Horse May Have Thrush

Darren Owen assumes every horse he works on may have potential thrush concerns. The farrier from Ivor, Va., finds nearly every horse has some type of fungus growing in one or more hooves, especially when damp weather, mineral deficiencies and toxicities are concerns.

“You’ll often see bacteria in areas where you don’t normally see it,” he says. “It’s not uncommon to be cleaning out the central sulcus and find some black thrushy area.” If Owen believes there might be a potential thrush problem, he likes to treat it, as there’s no harm if it turns out to be something else.

Farriers Report Several Favorable Changes Over The Past 2 Years

Several interesting changes came to light when attendees at this winter’s International Hoof-Care Summit were asked for changes they’ve seen in their businesses over the past 2 years. Some 59% are shoeing more horses than they did 2 years ago, 23% indicated they’re shoeing the same number and only 18% are shoeing fewer horses. Some 75% of the farriers have boosted trimming and shoeing rates since 2012. Some 25% are charging the…