Mobile farrier shoeing at the yard
Shape and fit horseshoes at livery yards and paddocks, working from a forge in your van.
- £4k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
2,437 UK companies in this field, 16% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 01629 “Support activities for animal production (other than farm animal boarding and care) n.e.c.”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
Travelling to stables, yards and fields to trim hooves and make, shape and fit horseshoes on site, using a van-mounted gas forge, anvil and hand tools.
Your first three steps
- Check the Farriers Registration Council's route to registration and look into an approved farriery apprenticeship if you are not yet registered
- Price up a van, portable forge, anvil and tool kit, new and second-hand
- Introduce yourself to livery yards, riding schools and local vets to start building a regular round
Who pays
Private horse owners, riding schools, livery yards and competition riders.
How it makes money
Paid per job, such as a trim, a set of shoes or a remedial shoe, with repeat visits every 4 to 8 weeks for each horse.
Skills that help
- Forging and metalwork
- Calm, confident horse handling
- Reliable and good with people
- Physical fitness and stamina
Watch out for
- Under the Farriers (Registration) Act, check that you must be on the Farriers Registration Council register before shoeing horses for payment
- Public liability insurance and cover for injury to horses in your care
- Risk of kicks, back strain and burns, so plan your workload and safety kit
- Travel time between yards can eat into your earning hours
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: mobile farrier shoeing at the yard
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start as a mobile farrier?
Startup costs are typically around £4,000 to £15,000, depending on your van, gas forge, anvil and hand tools. Treat this as an estimate, and get quotes for the equipment you plan to buy.
Do I need to be registered to work as a farrier in the UK?
Under the Farriers (Registration) Act, check that you must be on the Farriers Registration Council register before shoeing horses for payment. Also check public liability insurance and cover for injury to horses in your care.
How much can a mobile farrier earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on how many horses and yards you cover. Travel time between yards can eat into your earning hours, and the work is physical, so plan your workload.
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