The Horse Information lives Here! ©
The #1 Horse Industry Information Advertising Directory! Contact Ann to include your company.
Why Become a Farrier? by Doug Butler, PhD, CJF, FWCF
 |
Opportunities in horseshoeing are great in America.
Perhaps one of the most optimistic and attractive features about the horseshoeing business is the fact that horses' feet grow and change so they must be cared for every few months or less! And
although horse numbers have increased slowly, the number of people involved and the amount of
money spent on horses as a business and a hobby has increased significantly. The American
Horse Council estimates the economic impact of the horse industry at $39 billion. Horses are big business. 
The public should feel as confident about having a horseshoer work on their horses as they do about a veterinarian or other
professional. A farrier is often considered by the public to be an expert on horses, so it is advantageous to get formal training before embarking on a career as a farrier
.Unfortunately, many poorly trained horseshoers who are trying to make a quick buck are also in the field. Horse owners often are not able to distinguish between master craftsmen and pretenders until damage is done to their
valuable horses. It is important to ask the horseshoer where they received professional training, and to verify that information before allowing them to shoe your horses.
There are about 50 public and private schools in America that offer some type of training in horseshoeing. These schools vary tremendously in length and content. It takes time and study and
diligent practice to become a highly skilled farrier. Certification by a credible farrier organization is desirable but is not required. Passing a test once doesn’t ensure competency. A farrier's character
and business practices have an equal or higher value to horse owners.
It takes time and training, close supervision and a lot of practice to develop skill in horseshoeing.
There is no easy way or royal road. Capital is required to assemble the tools, equipment and inventory of shoes and supplies needed to go into business. Then, depending on where you live,
you must be patient, as it takes time and consistent effort to build up a sustainable business. With dedication to the trade, advanced training and excellent skills, it is possible to earn a six-figure income as a farrier.
How to Select a Horseshoeing School
Since ancient time, farriery has been considered the “master craft.” It is difficult to learn, requires the application of many
skills, and must be consistently practiced over the course of a career.
Your career, and even your entire life, will be influenced for better or for worse by your choice of a school and its
teachers. Good teachers will bring out the best in you by encouraging you and expecting excellence from you. Often the best and most successful farrier students are those with
limited horse experience and a strong desire to learn. If they are fortunate enough to choose a knowledgeable mentor and apply the lessons taught, these students can become great tradesmen.
Any school should be considered only an introduction to learning the horseshoeing trade. In this trade, as well as in others, the way you start out is often the way you end up. It pays to get the
best start possible. You must take the responsibility for your education and recognize that much of your learning will happen after you leave school. You will learn from each horse you shoe. This is
one trade that takes a lifetime to master!
As a rule, you will get a better start at a private farrier school than one that is part of a public
university where horseshoeing is considered a non-academic subject. Generally, at a private school you will shoe more horses, be more focused on results, and better have your special needs addressed.
The best sources of information on the quality of a trade school experience are the recommendations of former students who are now successful professional farriers. You should
carefully compare all the schools you are considering. A prospective student can accurately evaluate the quality of a farrier training program by examining five factors – the teacher(s), the
curriculum, the facilities, the community, and the cost.
The instructor(s) should have an impeccable reputation, be highly skilled, and be committed to
effectively teaching students the craft. Do the credible credentials include extensive training and experience? Have the teacher(s) run a successful farrier business? Are they respected by their
peers and is their work judged superior by other professionals? Do the teacher(s) continue to improve their knowledge and skills by attending seminars and educational events? 
Is the course long enough to allow you the time necessary to
develop your skills to entry-level and help you be competitive in the marketplace? Six weeks is the minimum time it takes to learn basic skills. Less time can be no more than an introduction. Does
the course emphasize mastery of the basics and also provide detailed essential and useful information? Is it organized and does it follow a systematic and sequential progression?
Is there a required textbook(s) and a printed course syllabus/daily schedule that is followed by the instructor(s)? Does it provide for learning skills in related areas, such as welding, business
management, horsemanship, blacksmithing, veterinary liaison, lameness diagnosis and mechanical treatment?
What is the student/teacher ratio? The lower the better. Can you get help when you need it? Is the
classroom and shop instructional equipment adequate and in good repair? Are there adequate horses and supplies available for instruction and practice? Is adequate and reasonable room and
board available? Does the local community tolerate students working on their animals? (People with expensive animals will not allow students to work on their horses.) Is there a wide variety of
specialized horse breeds/types for students to shoe? Are the practice horses quiet and useful? Are special problem horses shod by the instructor with student assistance? Does the local community
respect and support the school?
Reputation has value. What is the instructor’s and the school’s reputation in the horse industry?
Compare what is included in the fee. Are all costs listed? How much income will you lose while you are attending school? Part-time employment is out of the question in a concentrated trade
school. Can you commit to a several-week uninterrupted stay away from home? Do you need to go home regularly? How much do regional or cultural differences affect you? You don’t want
these factors to affect your ability to get the most from your investment of time and money.
Farrier educators should not try to make a student fit their mold, but rather bring out the best in
the character and talents that exist within each person. Teaching is the vibrant contact of one mind with another. One-on-one interaction is required when learning a manual skill.
A farrier without adequate training is like an untrained horse. He or she may hurt somebody. A well-trained farrier, like a well-trained horse, is most valuable. Training is necessary for success.
You must be motivated by a strong desire to achieve. You must become a horseman as well as a blacksmith. Basic skills must be mastered and built upon before you can progress to higher levels in the farrier business.
Horseshoeing can be a great career with a promising future for those who like the work and are willing to become skilled at it. It appears there will always be room for a horseshoer who is able,
competent and dependable to take care of America’s 9.2 million horses. If you choose to enter the profession, decide to be that kind of farrier!
Butler Professional Farrier School
 |
At Butler Professional Farrier School our goal is to raise the standard of practice and promote the welfare of horses – feet first. We work closely with students to produce qualified and motivated practitioners who are confident at their level of practice. Our students learn it right the first time!
Doug Butler, PhD, CJF, FWCF, is the co-author of The Principles of Horseshoeing (P3), the most widely used farrier training textbook in the
world. For over four decades he has taught thousands of students to shoe horses at several universities and private schools. Doug Butler and Jacob Butler, CJF, recently opened Butler Professional Farrier School in Crawford, Nebraska. To learn more about the school, call 1-800-728-3826 or 308-665-1510 or visit
www.butlerprofessionalfarrierschool.com.
Contact: Doug Butler Enterprises, Inc.
495 Table Road
Crawford, Nebraska 69339
Phone: 800-728-3826 or 308-665-1510
Email: info@dougbutler.com
Website: www.butlerprofessionalfarrierschool.com
Have a Product or Service that would benefit Horse Owners? Contact Ann
Home, Articles, Academic Schools, Arena Maintenance, Animal Communicators, Barn and Accessories,
Barn Equipment and Tractors, Blankets Books and Videos, Breeders, Camping Gear, Career Schools, Carts and Buggies, Clinicians, Clothing, Dogs and Puppies, Horse Fencing, Fine Art & Furniture, For Sale, Fly Control, Foal Care, Footings, Gifts, Health and Nutrituon, Hoof and Leg, Horse Rehabilitation Farms, Horse Insurance, John Lyons Certified, Lawyers, Leather Care, Links, Health , Horse Property, Photography, Portable Stalls Areanas and Roundpens, Richard Shrake, Riding Schools, Schools, Services for Horses, Shipping, Skin and Coat, Software, Specialty Trainers, Summer Camps, Tack, Trainers, Trainer Educational, Trailers, Treats
and Snacks, Truck Accessories, Trucks, Vacations, Western Lifestyle
InfoHorse.com, Horse Information Lives Here ®
9/5/2008
Contact Us to Advertise to over 2 million Horse Owners.
All images and content Copyright© 2007 by InfoHorse.com, Equusite.com.