Other than shoeing school tuition, there is only one other purchase for a farrier than has a price tag as considerable: your rig. There are many options out there. If your goal is to only trim horses, you can get by with a compact car with a minimal set of tools in the trunk. If you have a multi-purpose vehicle, maybe a trailer is the answer. Or if you are fortunate and are leaving an apprenticeship with a healthy client list, the volume of work may require a good-sized pickup with a body attached.

The luxury of that “dream rig” isn’t a likely reality for someone just out of school or leaving an apprenticeship. Yet, you need a rig if you are going to be a farrier. The variables are many, so after you determine what you can afford with cash or financing, here are other considerations for you to review before you buy.