For more than 30 years, American Farriers Journal has used our November issue to provide insight into running an efficient and profitable business. In this issue, you’ll find several articles that deliver keen business advice, alert you to shoeing rules of various breeds and disciplines and give you a guide to products and services.
Who has directly influenced your farrier career? If you’re just starting out, your list likely isn’t long. A little time and initiative will eventually fill the gaps. If you have some skin in the game, your list might resemble the one compiled by Chris Gregory in his book, For Want of a Nail, the Shoe Was Lost.
Every 2 years, American Farriers Journal surveys the industry based in the United States to take its financial pulse. The most recent Farrier Business Practices Survey examined a multitude of factors during 2021. The results reveal that overall the industry has seen substantial financial gains. In almost every financial measurement, farriers increased revenue from 2 years prior — which also saw considerable gains.
Last year, a younger farrier rode in Tom Trosin’s shoeing truck. While chatting between stops, the junior horseshoer identified one aspect of farriery that the Oklahoma farrier excels at — and it has nothing to do with trimming and shoeing.
A farrier gets a call. The voice on the others end of the line asks how much to shoe a horse. He is told. That voice then says he needs his horse Dobbin shod by tomorrow late afternoon. The prospective client gives an address and signs off, “See you then.”
Sometimes the smallest change makes the biggest difference in your own business. That’s what Steve Wiberg, a Hayward, Calif.,-based farrier discovered when he made the switch from leather impact horseshoe pads to plastic pads.
Dave Farley, a farrier based in Wellington, Fla., started a practice decades ago to improve farrier-client communication and understanding. In the 1980s, he began sending his clients a yearly newsletter in early January. The contents of this newsletter could include product usage changes, tips for properly cleaning hoofs or life/business updates, but uniquely, the newsletter also included the price changes Farley was going to enact for the coming year for
his services.
The 2023 International Hoof-Care Summit celebrates its 20th anniversary at this January’s event. This is also the ninth Summit Mail-In Forging Exercise, so I wanted to create a good challenge of solid forging elements for you. But as much as I want to push you out of your comfort zone with this exercise, I also want to create a practical shoe that you might find useful under the right circumstances.
With nearly 170 years of combined hoof-care experience, three veteran farriers share their client and business management wisdom based on years of working with high-level sport horses
As the cold season arrives in Minnesota during November, Rich Lomen and Nate Stener and their four-man multi-farrier practice can expect temperatures to fluctuate between 41 and 9 degrees Fahrenheit over the next 5 months in the metropolitan Minneapolis area.
I have attended many farrier clinics and conventions over the years. They are a great resource to connect with other farriers and equine professionals and to learn more about our craft.
A farrier gets a call. The voice on the others end of the line asks how much to shoe a horse. He is told. That voice then says he needs his horse Dobbin shod by tomorrow late afternoon. The prospective client gives an address and signs off, “See you then.”
The 2023 International Hoof-Care Summit celebrates its 20th anniversary at this January’s event. This is also the ninth Summit Mail-In Forging Exercise, so I wanted to create a good challenge of solid forging elements for you. But as much as I want to push you out of your comfort zone with this exercise, I also want to create a practical shoe that you might find useful under the right circumstances.
As the cold season arrives in Minnesota during November, Rich Lomen and Nate Stener and their four-man multi-farrier practice can expect temperatures to fluctuate between 41 and 9 degrees Fahrenheit over the next 5 months in the metropolitan Minneapolis area.
Now view magazine-like digital flipbooks on your desktop and tablet. Starting in 2015 issues, included for FREE with your Digital or Premium subscription, view the magazine on your laptop, tablet, and mobile device. You need to be logged in to view.
Oleo Acres Farrier and Blacksmith Supply owner Rob Michel walks viewers through the Littleton, Colo., warehouse. Inventory is organized with the customer in mind. If the product is in stock and easy to find, farriers can spend more time under a horse, which Michel says is more money in your pocket.
Equine Cushing’s and Insulin Resistance (ECIR) Group Inc. is hosting a webinar titled "NSC or HC – Why does it Matter?" on July 1, 2026. Dr. Eleanor M. Kellon and Dr. Kathleen M. Gustafson are the clinicians.
At Doc Foal's, we manufacture The Black Pads and The Black Pads PLUS (featuring embedded magnets and copper). Our hybrid pads work seamlessly with your choice of conventional horseshoe, combining metal for structure with polyurethane for exceptional comfort and shock absorption.
Designed as a...
We stock a wide range of high-quality products from trusted brands to ensure durability, performance, and reliability in every job you undertake. Our extensive inventory of horseshoe products and farrier tools means you can find everything you need in one place, saving you time and effort. Your satisfaction is our top priority. We are committed to providing excellent customer service, prompt shipping, and hassle-free returns.
Equilox International Inc. specializes in equine horse hoof adhesives. Developed in 1988 after many trials and extensive research at leading universities and equine centers throughout the U.S., the Equilox Adhesive Hoof Repair System was originally used to treat competitive horses. Now, Equilox Adhesive is used by farriers, equine centers, and horse owners — as well as various zoo and wildlife centers — throughout the world.