Farrier Industry Facts
Leslie Bowen
The following are facts about the Farrier Industry. We provide this information to you for your education about this industry as well as your use to provide this information to any office that request "Demand for Trade" data for funding. Much of this information came from The American Horse Council website. You may gather more information through the American Horse Council at www.horsecouncil.org You may also check with your local Horse Council to get local area data.
•The Farrier Industry is one of the most lucrative divisions of the equine industry.
•The professional farrier is respected as the expert in the lower limb and hoof areas of the horse more so than the equine veterinarian who only received six hours in horseshoeing techniques during their years at college.
•Professional farriers are self-employed individuals or groups who govern themselves through two national farrier associations, setting standards for professional shoeing.
A self-employed farrier can make an exceptional salary by serving his or her community with qualified and professional services if prior training is properly received.
There are well over 25,000 farriers in the U.S. today. Farrier Services are not often advertised as other occupations simply due to the fact that qualified farriers are already in high demand by the horse owning public.
Many farriers only need to advertise at their local livestock retail stores in every rural area of America, talk with horse groups, clubs, riding clubs, etc.
There are more horses today than there were before the automobile and owners take their expensive passion more seriously.
With more education available today with the internet, videos, new horse training techniques and an ever-growing horse population, the public is demanding more qualified and professional farrier service.
According to the most recent survey in 2010 gross income for both full time and part time farriers averaged $73,108.00.
This was an increase of 16% over the average gross income 2 years earlier.
During a typical week, a farrier will handle the foot care needs of 48 horses belonging to 18 clients.
During a years time, he or she handle 1,904 trims and/or shoeing work on 267 horses for 148 clients.
The typical horse is trimmed and/or shod 7 times during the year (every 6-8 weeks) .
Frank Lessiter said in the American Farriers Journal in November 2000 that of the 122 million equines found in the world no more than 10% are clinically sound. Another 10% are clinically, completely and unusably lame. The remaining 80% are somewhat lame but still usable.
What does this mean to you?
This means you will be working with the clinically sound and clinically lame but usable horses and you need the proper training, tools and supplies.