Spend just a few minutes listening to Jim Halverson and you’ll quickly come to the realization that he holds some decided opinions about how to go about the business of horseshoeing.

Spend a few more minutes listening and you’ll soon realize that he backs those opinions up with facts.

The Lomita, Calif., farrier is particularly well-known for his passion concerning propane safety (see accompanying story) and for his well-designed shoeing rigs. He told farriers at the 2001 Northern California Classic in Placerville that a little thought in laying out a rig pays off in increased efficiency and more income.

Looking For A Better Way

“I’m constantly looking at the way I do things, tearing them apart and seeing if I can’t do them better,” he says.

Part of that involves focusing on what you’re getting paid for. As an example, Halverson points to a bumper-mounted, swing-out anvil stand on a rig.

“I am never going to pick up an anvil again,” he says. “We get paid for shoeing horses, not for picking up anvils.”

Not only does not taking an anvil in and out of his rig at every stop save wear and tear on his body, he’s also arranged the anvil with the rest of his rig layout so that he can go to work as quickly as possible when he arrives at a barn.

Planning A Must

IN SEARCH OF EFFICIENCY. California farrier Jim Halverson discusses how a well-planned shoeing rig pays off in more efficiency during the…