Mobile farrier: shoeing and trimming
Drive to barns and farms to trim hooves and make and fit horseshoes, paid per horse.
- $3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
What it is
A mobile service where you travel to stables and private properties with a truck-mounted forge or portable anvil setup. You trim hooves, shape and fit shoes to each horse, and handle basic corrective work.
Your first three steps
- Look into a farrier school or an apprenticeship with an established farrier near you
- Build a starter kit of anvil, rasps, nippers, hoof knives and a portable or gas forge
- Offer trims to a few local barns and ask owners to refer you to others
Who pays
Horse owners, boarding barns, riding schools, trail-riding outfits and hobby farms.
How it makes money
A fixed price per horse, usually per trim or per full set of shoes, repeated every 6 to 8 weeks. Extra charges for corrective or specialty shoes and for call-out distance.
Skills that help
- Calm, confident handling of horses
- Metalworking and shaping shoes
- Physical strength and stamina
- Scheduling a route of repeat clients
Watch out for
- General liability insurance, and check whether it covers working around horses
- Check whether your state or county requires a business license; farriers are not licensed in every state
- Heavy physical work that is hard on the back, knees and hands, so plan for injury and downtime
- Risk of being kicked or injured; learn safe handling before taking on difficult horses
- Vehicle costs, wear and fuel for a rural route
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: mobile farrier: shoeing and trimming
Researched with live web search for United States: 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 a mobile farrier business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your truck setup, forge or portable anvil, tools and insurance. Vehicle wear and fuel for a rural route are ongoing costs to plan for.
How much can a mobile farrier earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how many horses you shoe, your prices and the size of your route. Plan on at least about 15 hours a week. The work is physically demanding.
What should I check before starting as a farrier?
Check that your general liability insurance covers working around horses. Check whether your state or county requires a business license, as farriers are not licensed in every state. Also plan for injury and downtime, and learn safe handling before taking on difficult horses.
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