A variety of bright, shiny aluminum farrier rigs line the parking lot — truck bodies, drop-ins, caps and trailers — and they don’t come cheap. Aside from your vehicle, your rig will be the most expensive tool that you’ll buy.

There’s no doubt that the temptation runs high to grab the top-of-the-line pair of nippers that are polished so brightly that a pair of sunglasses should come standard with them. While the feel and performance of a high-quality tool often are worth the price, many young farriers have a steep financial mountain to climb when starting out.