05/10/2025
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I’ve seen, read, and heard a lot of comments the last few days of folks bashing on the prices guys are charging to shoe or trim horses.
Most comments are as such:
“When it costs $200 a head for a full set, I’m selling my horses.”
“You’re ripping people off!”
“Ain’t no way it costs that much to shoe a horse.”
“I know a guy who will do a full set for $80.”
“My farrier only charges $30 for a full trim.”
Well folks, let’s break this down. A brand new Heller rasp is $40. A brand new set of GE 14” Race tracks is $260-300. A good anvil is $800-2000. A good shaping hammer is $300. A good driving hammer is $150-300. A good shoing apron is $300-400. Hoof knives are $30-300. Pulloffs, clinchers, crease nail pullers, nail nippers, anvil stand, cordless grinder, and all the consumables.
Shoes are $6-30 a pair depending on the application. Nails are .10-.18c/each.
That’s wholesale costs. And guess what, everything minus the anvil, stand, and hammers, wear out. Literally they wear out from use and the abrasiveness of horses’ feet.
All the items listed, wear out. They wear out just like a farriers body. There are only so many nips, push of a rasp, bend overs, reaches, hammer strokes on a shoe, bends of an elbow. So many times you can beat the crushing weight of some stall baby crushing you into the ground. So many times you can sweat so badly you cramp from the loss of electrolytes, that you can’t replenish fast enough.
So many times you can be kicked, mashed, stomped, bit, shoved, pi**ed on, or literally s**t on.
A farrier’s greatest and most valuable tool is their body. And it wears out, just like any other tool in their toolbox. Some faster than others. And the more pissheaded d***s you do, the faster you wear that tool out.
Now with that said, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Basic set of tools for a cold banger type. That doesn’t get into the amount of inventory or tools a good established farrier carries. A good reliable shoing rig, with either a drop in or pulling a trailer.
And the topping on the cupcake is this, it’s all paid for up front out of pocket. So is the fuel, maintenance, tires, insurance, money set back for retirement, or to purchase more or updated tools and equipment.
The reason is costs so much, well it’s simple math….
Farriers gotta eat, gotta put a roof over their heads and their family’s heads. They want good things, just like anyone else does.
Who’s gonna pay the bills when your 12yo snaffle bit s**tter lays him up for a month with a shot to the ribs? Are you out of the goodness of your heart, just voluntarily pay him? Nope.
And it’s also simple math. Profit margins and cash flow. If a farrier isn’t profitable, they go out of business. Then you are left looking for another. And another self employed person, is back working for someone else.
Prices haven’t kept up with the cost of living, haven’t kept up with the market value of the horse market. Haven’t kept up with inflation or interest rates.
The guys who are diet cheaping it, for beer money on the weekends, are doing far more harm to the business, than they are doing it any good. It suppresses market prices. But, it also drives the good and great clients to the good and great farriers.
Horses are a luxury item in the US. Such a minuscule percent of horses are actually used for work. And don’t come at me that they are. Agriculture makes up less than 1.7% of the US population, and ranching is the smallest segment, especially when you consider who actually uses and makes horses in an actual work environment. That number is extremely small.
The long and short of all this long winded posts is this.
If you think prices are too high, go drop the cash. And buy all the tools, and inventory to shoe just your horses. It’s not rocket science right?!? Let’s see how long that 12yo snaffle bit s**tter stays sound. And how much lowered your vet bills go.
If you have a good farrier, pay that sumbuck!!! And if you aren’t happy with the one you have, find one that’s charging more and doing better work. It’ll cheapen up those vet bills.
PS….shoeing material and prices are on the rise, yet again.
Written by Derek Mott…endorsed by me…
