Farriers Urged to Prepare for Inevitable Injuries

Experts advise farriers to build emergency funds and avoid debt to weather unexpected time off due to job-related injuries.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:57pm

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a collection of farrier tools and equipment, including horseshoes, nippers, and a rasp, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conveying the risks and challenges of the farriery profession through the use of dramatic lighting and shadows.A somber still life of the tools of the farriery trade serves as a reminder of the occupational hazards that come with the profession.Salem Today

Farrier Parker Van Wyk of Salem, Missouri, was recently injured when a horse he was working on launched him into a cinder block wall, resulting in a lacerated liver, collapsed and torn lung, and bruised ribs. Industry experts warn that such injuries are inevitable for farriers, yet many lack proper insurance coverage and financial planning to weather these setbacks.

Why it matters

Farriers face high risks of injury on the job, but a majority lack adequate insurance and financial preparedness to handle unexpected time off. This leaves them vulnerable to accumulating debt and financial hardship when inevitable injuries occur, threatening the viability of their small businesses.

The details

According to a 2025 industry survey, only 65% of farriers have health insurance, 37% have life insurance, and 17% have disability insurance - far below the national averages. Many struggle to make ends meet as small business owners, making it difficult to prioritize insurance and emergency savings. Industry leaders advise farriers to focus on profitability, eliminate debt, and build 6-month emergency funds to avoid financial ruin when injuries strike.

  • In a recent incident, farrier Parker Van Wyk was injured in April 2026 when a horse he was working on launched him into a cinder block wall.

The players

Parker Van Wyk

A farrier from Salem, Missouri, who was recently injured on the job when a horse he was working on launched him into a cinder block wall.

Joshua Sanders

A certified master financial coach and farrier from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, who advises farriers to focus on profitability, eliminate debt, and build emergency savings to prepare for inevitable injuries.

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What they’re saying

“Our businesses should be about profit. Yes, we do it for the horse, but we have to feed our families.”

— Joshua Sanders, Certified Master Financial Coach and Farrier

“There is not a single reason I will say yes to debt other than a mortgage. The risk is too high. What if we get hurt? I got hurt last year. I was out for 6 weeks with a broken leg. I had two car payments and a mortgage and other expenses. You're going to eat into your finances quickly. Really quickly. Debt is a prison.”

— Joshua Sanders, Certified Master Financial Coach and Farrier

What’s next

Farriers are encouraged to review their insurance coverage and financial planning to ensure they are prepared for unexpected injuries that could sideline them for weeks or months. Industry experts advise building 6-month emergency funds and eliminating debt to weather these setbacks.

The takeaway

This story highlights the high-risk nature of farriery and the need for farriers to prioritize financial preparedness, including adequate insurance coverage and emergency savings, to protect their small businesses from the financial fallout of inevitable job-related injuries.