Cost of shoeing horses

[TheFarrier]

I have tried in vein to find the article where it shows the average salary of a farrier is about 15k (after all expenses have been paid) but i cant find it.

This was flagged up in a post earlier on today where i was quoated as having said farriers earn this amount. Actually i said the average was this amount and i suppose it crosses the board from those just starting out to those that work every hour under the sun to those that are ticking over to those who are running more than one vehicle (which obviously means more expense)

what i did find though was this article if anyone finds it interesting.

http://www.wiwfarm.com/TrueCostofShoeing.htm

It is unfortunately in dollars not pounds but there you go. enjoy. I wish i could find you the average statistic though as i dont want to misquoated across the net, ive only come on here to help and give advice where i can as people come on here and ask other horse owners and the advice may not always be correct or in the best interest of the horse.

 

[little_flea]

That is not very much, considering the importance of the profession, the physical strain and the sometime unsociable hours.

 

[TheFarrier]

[ QUOTE ]
That is not very much, considering the importance of the profession, the physical strain and the sometime unsociable hours.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here is for me the best part of this article

'''Remember that a full-time professional farrier will see a lot more problems and triple the number of feet that a part-time farrier will see. The proper insurance will be in force to protect both the owner the farrier. And he will definitely have a better understanding of the equine.

Now you know why a lot of farriers and horse shoers go and come; very few can afford to stay in the business. The full-timer soon learns that he can go to work as a truck driver and make $35,000.00 per year, or a brick layer at $35.00 per hour plus benefits. Plus have evenings, holidays and weekends off.

Never getting kicked, bitten of pawed are added benefits. Your full-time professional farrier also becomes an extra set of eyes. He will look at your horse in an independent objective way, giving you insight as to what is happening with the entire animal. He may spot problems that you have not seen. By seeing the horse regularly, he may identify changes taking place that you should contact a veterinarian about. As a owner, this input is invaluable.

So the next time you shop for a shoer because yours is no longer in business, think about why. He has probably gotten tired from working double shifts or found a better job. Those that stay in are usually there for the love of the horse'''

 

[TheFarrier]

I do my job because i love it

 

[Cliqmo]

Wow very interesting article, thanks for posting it

 

[Donkeymad]

I am shocked, that is a seriously low income for a trained and highly skilled person in a somewhat dangerous, and a very hard job.
I do know a fair number of farriers down here who have alternative incomes, and it would explain why mine, aged almost 70,is still doing the job.

If somebody on here has made a complaint, about info you have given, that they are ashamed, as you give good advice freely to all.
I hope that this post will make at least one person think twice about how they treat their farrier in future.

 

[ihatework]

Oh I have no doubt in my mind that declared earnings are in the region of 15K, the operative word being declared ....
The farriers around my way work very hard and deserve every penny they earn, but they take home a lot more than 15K !!!!

 

[Donkeymad]

So are you saying all or most farriers are dishonest?

 

[shadowboy]

I can totally believe that some farriers earn this wage. However, one of my farriers in Wales told me that he could work for three days a week and match my salary- at that time it was £22,000 so I assume if he works five day weeks he could make £35,000. which i consider a good wage.

 

[scotsmare]

I think it depends on which part of the country you are in. Here in Abdnshire, farriers charge roughly £60 - £70 per set, there aren't enough farriers to go around and in Grampian there are roughly the same number of horses here as in Newmarket.

There are farriers coming 200 odd miles to shoe horses up here because further south (still in Scotland though) there isn't enough work to go round them all.

Agree that it can be a tough job but having listened to a farriers wife earlier tonight describing how her husband was hitting delete on the answerphone to folks who weren't his existing clients I would disagree with the £15k salary up here......

 

[Puppy]

LOL! I know my farrier earns more than that because he is on a salary and shoes those of us lucky enough, privately, and out of hours. I don't care though, he is fab!