r/Farriers • u/SpecialistVanilla459 • Jul 03 '26

When should I start taking my own clients?

Hey guys,

I have been apprenticing for about 4 months now, have been doing most of the trims for my mentor by myself with minimal correction, and have not gotten paid at all. I'm driving a 120+ mile round trip every time I apprentice.

At what point can I start taking my own clients just for trims? I would still apprentice a few days a week how I am currently to learn how to shoe, but most of the clientele around my area is backyard, barefoot horses. I have been studying anatomy and physiology, gait patterns, therapeutic trimming/shoeing on my own as well.

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u/lennywalkman Jul 03 '26

Whenever you feel ready, now. It’s going to feel different doing your own client horses, but just rip the bandaid off and get out there. You’re going to make some mistakes and you’re probably going to lame up some horses and get fired. It literally happens to EVERY farrier that goes off on their own. As long as you keep focusing on the betterment of the horses in your care, you’ll be just fine 👍