How to Be a Farrier

Co-authored by Kate Jutagir and Sophia Latorre

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References

Do you love working with horses? Are you interested in blacksmithing? If so, a farrier might be the perfect job for you. While you technically only need a high school diploma to become a farrier, the best career path is to pursue training at a professional farrier school, complete an apprenticeship, and get certified.^{[1]
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Section 1 of 4:

What is a farrier?

A farrier specializes in caring for a horse’s hooves. Farriers forge horseshoes from iron and fit and change horseshoes. Therefore, a farrier’s work is a combination of caring for horses and blacksmithing. As a farrier, you need to:^{[2]
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- Have a genuine interest in caring for horses and excellent horsemanship skills.
- Have knowledge of horse anatomy and veterinary care and advise horse owners if there is a problem that requires veterinary attention.
- Travel to your clients' homes or businesses to change horseshoes, clean and trim hooves, and provide therapeutic shoes for lame horses.
- Be able to accommodate your clients’ schedules and work weekends, odd hours, and in bad weather.
- Have excellent communication skills and business sense.
- Learn how to forge horseshoes, weld, and fabricate.
- Be able to work a physically demanding job that requires daily standing, stooping, kneeling, bending, and lifting.
- Have a valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle to visit your clients and bring your tools along with you.
- Live in an area with a large population of horses.

Section 2 of 4:

Training to Be a Farrier

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Shadow a farrier to make sure this is the path you want to take. Shadowing a farrier can give you an excellent idea of what the work entails.^{[3]
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- What is the most challenging part of your job?
- How many clients do you visit each week?
- What is a typical day like for you?
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Apply to an accredited farrier or horseshoeing school. It is important to find a school that is accredited so that your coursework will be acknowledged by any professional organizations that you wish to join. Attending a farrier school can also speed up your path to becoming a professional farrier.^{[4]
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Research source} Some schools offer programs that you can complete in a few months rather than a few years.
- You might also want to consider programs that pair business courses with the farrier coursework in order to increase your chances of running a successful business when you graduate.
- Find a list of farrier schools in the U.S. at https://professionalfarriers.com/farrier_schools.php.
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Complete the coursework to the best of your ability. Coursework for farriers is often completed alongside practical experiences, such as forge work and horseshoeing. Course work for farriers often includes things like:^{[5]
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- Horse anatomy
- Veterinary care
- Shoeing horses
- Making tools
- Welding
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Complete an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship provides hands-on job experience under the supervision of an experienced farrier.^{[6]
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Research source} Depending on the requirements of your training program, you may complete an apprenticeship alongside your coursework, in place of coursework, or after completing your coursework.
- A four-year apprenticeship with an Accredited Training Farrier (ATF) is required to work as a farrier in the United Kingdom. During the apprenticeship, you are required to complete coursework and take exams.^{[7]
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- If you choose not to attend a farrier school, you could potentially become a farrier in the United States after completing an apprenticeship with an experienced farrier.^{[8]
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Get certified. Certification is required to work as a farrier in the United Kingdom, but it is not required in the United States. However, it’s recommended to get a farrier certification even if your country doesn’t require it. Getting certified not only sets you apart from your competitors, but also ensures that you have all the skills necessary to run a successful business.^{[9]
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- In the United States, the American Farriers Association offers 3 levels of certification: Certified Farrier (AFA CF), Certified Tradesman Farrier (AFA CTF), and Certified Journeyman Farrier (AFA CJF).
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Join professional farrier associations. Professional associations can help you network in your industry as well as continue your education as a farrier. Check out the American Farrier’s Association, International Association of Professional Farriers, Guild of Professional Farriers, American Association of Professional Farriers, Inc., American Association of Equine Practitioners, and Equine Science Society, as well as local associations.

Section 3 of 4:

How much do farriers make?

In the United States, the average annual salary for a farrier is $53,275. The pay varies by state, as well as by country.^{[10]
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- Farriers are typically self-employed and run their own farrier businesses.^{[11]
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Section 4 of 4:

Starting Your Own Farrier Business

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Create a business plan. Use your business plan to map out your vision for your future.^{[12]
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- If you need financing to start your business, a business plan is essential.
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Register your business. If you plan to do business under a special name rather than using your own name, register your business for state and federal tax purposes.^{[14]
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Internal Revenue Service
U.S. government agency in charge of managing the Federal Tax Code
Go to source} For example, if you plan to do business under the name “Friendly Farrier Service,” then visit your local clerk’s office to register this name.
- License your business if necessary. Depending on your state’s laws, you may need to obtain a license for your business as well.^{[15]
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Get health, disability, and liability insurance. Being a farrier can be dangerous because you are working closely with horses as well as doing other dangerous tasks, like forging and welding. Before you start working, ensure that you are well covered in the event of an accident.^{[16]
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- Health insurance is extremely important for farriers. Don’t opt for the bare minimum insurance options if you can help it. It is likely that you will need to use your insurance at some point, so paying a bit more every month is better than having to pay a lot more out of pocket if you get seriously injured.
- Disability insurance will provide you with some security in case you are injured and cannot work for a while.
- Liability insurance provides some protection for you in case one of your customers is injured or if their property (including the horse) is damaged by you or as a result of your work.
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Build your client base. When you’re first starting out, look for clients at horse shows, hand out business cards, and ask other farriers if there are clients they can’t accommodate that they could refer to you. In most cases, you’ll gain clients by word of mouth, so it’s important to build a good reputation as a farrier by providing excellent service to your new and existing clients.
- You may want to work as an assistant to an experienced farrier until you have enough clients of your own to support a business.
- Do your best to maintain good relationships with your clients, such as by showing up on time for your appointments and listening to your clients’ needs.
- Build relationships with local equine veterinarians so you can refer clients to each other.
5
Continue to gain knowledge of your trade. Continuing education is essential for your success as a farrier.^{[17]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Don’t end your education with a basic certification! Keep learning about your trade and gain as many certifications as you can.
- Stay up to date on new developments within your trade. Subscribe to industry publications.
- Attend clinics, conferences, horse shows, and other equine events.
- Take advanced courses and challenge yourself to apply for advanced certifications as well.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I be a farrier if I’m a girl?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Of course you can! Anyone with the desire, drive, and training can become a farrier, regardless of gender.
Question

I am 28 and Live in Bury/Manchester and want to become a farrier, how do I do this?

Community Answer

See what qualifications you need and apply to colleges or apprenticeships. There is a college in Wales that offers farrier courses.
Question

How old do I have to be to become a farrier?

Community Answer

This may depend on your state. If you are under 18 (or 16, depending on your region) years of age, consider looking at the local laws.

Warnings

Never try to perform the work of a farrier without proper training! You could seriously injure yourself or the horse. Go through training and seek the guidance of an experienced farrier before attempting to clean, change, or remove horseshoes.

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