U.S. farriers have been notoriously poor marketers long before direct competition sprouted in the way of trimmers. Now the title has become diluted by some of these come lately trimmers with farrier scribed on their shingles. Yet after reading a list of their demands and prices it's curiously hard to find a category devoted towards shoes, unless it's pulling. They're not farriers, not by a damn sight, but you can't tell them any different - like telling a liberal you cant spend your way out of debt.
Why i saw a young trimmer gal's pickup just the other day who had managed to kill two birds with one marketing stone: There was the usual natural and barefoot only and by appointment, designed in artsy font. Though it was the bold upper case - NO SHOES - that stood out the most. It was rigid and in poor taste and a horseman would know it, but most owners are not horsemen

It's only a single obvious example of one trade faction working ever so diligently to extinguish another..

What are the national and local farrier associations doing with your membership fees and donations to market you without sniping at the competition - the people don't want to see or hear that coming from professionals.

Forging clinics and contests? anything else? I'm a has-been now and way out of the loop, "relying" on horseshoeing for a very small portion of my income - maintaining a few animals here and there and only if they actually need shoes - so please enlighten before i lose interest again. Over the years of trimming and shoeing for the public i never did attend a state or national farrier clinic where the instructional theme was hooves and business.

Our next AFA President Elect , Will have a good Direction to go with this. I'm not sure i'll be a big supporter, but he will move it in that direction, i would bet.

Our next AFA President Elect , Will have a good Direction to go with this. I'm not sure i'll be a big supporter, but he will move it in that direction, i would bet.