Is a farrier good job in the US?

[Anonymous]

Is doing farrier good trade in say the US? Like how much is the average wage?

[SaoirseS]

It's not a good paying job unless you land one caring for thoroughbred race horses owned by wealthy people. Most farriers in the Midwestern US do it as a second job to supplement their income. I've never known a farrier who could make a living being a farrier alone.

[Daniela1982]

Baloney! Lots of people own horses so they are always in demand. I lived in Anaheim, California. There was an enclave in a residential area in Garden Grove where old houses from the 50's were and they had horses. Sounds weird, but who knew?

[SaoirseS]

I know they’re always in demand, but in my neck of the woods farriers just don’t get paid that much. None that I know can make a living doing that alone. California may be different, but in this region the only farriers who might be earning a living wage are those who care for the Budweiser Clydesdales at Warm Springs Ranch, and they aren’t one-trick ponies.

[Daniela1982]

About half the contestants on Forged in Fire were farriers. I think they make a decent living and from there they can jump into different trades, such as a blacksmith. I'm pretty sure they can do more than shoe horses.

[Pudsmucker]

I'm sure you could probably get a good wage here in the United States as a farrier. Most of the farriers that I know work for big farms that run racehorses, and ranches in the West. Good luck.

[In_Trance]

Very regional trade. Not a lot of call for it anymore.