Over the past 2 years, the typical full-time farrier in the United States has boosted the income for his or her hoof-care business by three and one-half times the average 1.9 percent inflation rate — by 7 percent or an average of $5,454 per year. The income for full-time farriers increased from an average of $70,533  in 2001 to $75,525 in 2003.

The increase in total annual income for part-time farriers increased by just slightly more than twice the rate of inflation. The increase in income was equal to 4 percent and their income averaged $21,645 in 2001 and grew to $22,525  in 2003.

On the average, farriers across the country increased prices for their footcare work by an average of 3 1/2 percent during each of the past 2 years. This was above the increase in the government’s inflation rate, which averaged 1.9 percent each year.

Drawn from a random sample of American Farriers Journal subscribers from around the country, nowhere else will you find a more in-depth study of the entire farrier business than in this Farrier Business Practices Survey conducted every 2 years by this publication.

A 4-page survey was mailed to 1,906 randomly computer-selected shoers and out of that number, 481 took the time to send the questionnaire back — a highly favorable 25.2 percent response rate. 81 percent of the responses came from full-time farriers and 19 percent from part-time shoers. 

The average responding shoer is 54 years old and has been shoeing for 23…