A reliable, well-planned farrier rig is a costly, yet necessary investment.

It stores your tools, equipment and supplies. It’s a rolling billboard that promotes your business. Simply put, it’s your office, and it needs to serve your needs efficiently to maximize your income potential.

While the price tags are considerable, you have a number of options from which to choose. If you plan to trim horses, a compact car and a minimal set of tools will do the trick.

Like most new farriers, if you have a modest client list, a truck bed cap or tonneau — a waterproof metal cover for your truck bed — might fill your needs. If you use your vehicle for purposes other than farriery, a trailer might be your best choice. Or, if you are fortunate enough to have a healthy client list, your practice might demand a full-size pickup with a customized body.

With so many choices, here are some questions to ask yourself before committing to such a large investment.

1. Where Do I Start?

Although researching farrier rigs isn’t as easy as comparing reviews for pickups, resources are abundant. Ask around. Pick the brains of established farriers or your farrier school instructors. Those who are established in the trade often have owned multiple rigs during their careers and can offer advice on what has and hasn’t worked for them.

Message boards such as those found at AmericanFarriers.com, FarriersForum.com and Horseshoes.com present good opportunities to get a broad range of opinions from…