Badass Rigs & Trailers

A Warm, Efficient Work Space

jcota@lesspub.com — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Organization Key for Managing Hoof Care on Thoroughbred Farms

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Several years ago, Nathan Stephens realized his business suffered from inefficiency. The Richmond, Ky., farrier works on young horses, mares and stallions on Thoroughbred farms around Lexington.

Converted Trailer Pays Dividends for Horseshoer

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0400

When he looked at buying a new farrier trailer in 2004, Will Aichele recalls that the substantial cost was daunting. The Hilltown, Pa., farrier was about a dozen years into his shoeing career at the time and felt he was on firmer ground, compared with those early years in which many farriers struggle with establishing a business.

Cost-Effective DIY Farrier Trailer

Mon, 02 May 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Miguel Vasquez doesn’t pretend to be a professional fabricator. Although it isn’t his career, the Grand Rapids, Mich., farrier enjoys learning the skill set through taking on tough projects. When it came time to launch his full-time shoeing business, he found a challenging fabrication project in building a new trailer.

Work Van Blends Needs with Flexibility

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Mike Phillips’s original goal wasn’t to outfit his new work van. But after finding out how long he’d have to wait to have a manufacturer build and install the work, the South Salem, N.Y., farrier realized he’d have to do the build to have it ready for the beginning of the 2021 show season.

Business Discussion Drives Farrier to Vans

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0500

Wisconsin farrier Stefan Sebastiani credits lower vehicle cost and fuel efficiency as main reasons he switched to vans.

Open and Clean Design

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400

After the axle broke on his shoeing trailer in February 2021, Sergio Ponce wasn’t in the market to buy a new one. He would simply replace the axle and get back to work.

Open Design Shoeing Truck Body for Minnesota Farrier

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Badass Rigs & Trailers, sponsored by Anvil Brand, Minnesota farrier Tim Wampfler worked with Iron Range Manufacturing and Justin Fry to build his new farrier rig. Some of the features of this truck and body included the set up of tools like the grinder, but also an electro-magnetic anvil stand made by Iron Range.

A Farrier Truck with Practical Modifications

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 00:01:00 -0400

The December 1990 American Farriers Journal featured an article by Martin Kenny showing how he made his 1987 Ford F-350 custom walk-in rig — a rarity at the time. Over the years, other rigs came and went, including a stripped-down minimalist approach.

Farrier Upcycles Air Compressor Trailer for Shoeing

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 00:01:00 -0400

A couple of years ago as he entered his 30th year of shoeing horses, Billy Romjue began looking for ideas to downsize his shoeing trailer. His service area was limited from southern Pennsylvania to northern Maryland, and hauling his 10-foot gooseneck shoeing trailer wasn’t practical for servicing most of his clients.

Simplified Farrier Trailer Helps Beat the Heat

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 00:01:00 -0400

In this episode of Badass Rigs & Trailers, brought to you by Anvil Brand, Shaun Woodsum’s shoeing trailer was built to maximize simplicity, practicality and efficiency while working in the hot Arizona sun.

Farrier’s Trailer Built by FFA Students

Thu, 06 May 2021 00:01:00 -0400

Texas horseshoer Don Mock hauls a slick, functional trailer that was built by teenage brothers as a school project.

Small Trailer Adds to Career Longevity

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 00:01:00 -0400

Several years ago, Danvers Child didn’t want a new rig. His reasons were justified. A new body or trailer never made the buyer a better farrier after driving it from the manufacturer’s shop. Shoeing since 1972, Child felt with the years remaining in his career, he wouldn’t earn a return on the investment into such an expensive purchase.

Farrier Rig Stands the Test of Time

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 00:01:00 -0500

If you take pride in your trailer, you tell the world you take pride in your work. That’s a lesson Eric Billingsley has learned over his nearly 30-year shoeing career.

Freightliner Conversion for Shoeing Across America

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 10:55:00 -0500

Joe Santos's farrier practice focuses on sport horses and handles therapeutic cases. He is based in Connecticut, but spends half of the year in South Florida for show season. To be efficient in travel and carrying supplies, he uses his converted Freightliner to manage his business.

Shoeing Saddlebreds

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 00:01:00 -0500

When driving across several states to shoe horses, a farrier requires a reliable truck. Shelbyville, Ky., farrier Paul Human has counted on a 2005 Chevrolet C5500, which has logged more than 300,000 miles traveling across the seven states his clients reside. Because his practice combines traveling long distances and shoeing gaited horses, Human’s truck body also must fit his business.