X2 27 years in HVACR carrying compressors , crawling in and out of places , standing on ladders for hours. Now at 54 debilitating back problems,hand problems. Occupational hazards one time I was working in a large hotel in the basement and another HVAC co. was working at replacing a large air conditioning system in another room down the hall. They almost killed me. They were supposed to recover the refrigerant from the system being replaced. It was the end of the day on a Friday and they just cut a small slit in the lines and were just letting it leak out into the basement. The system held over sixty pounds of refrigerant. So as I was staying to finish the control wiring I was working on I began to feel sick to my stomach and confused. I went outside the building into fresh air and recovered. When I went back in to pickup my tools I could hear the refrigerant leaking out of the room they had been working in and saw what they did. Refrigerant is heavier than air and will suffocate you. I called their company and they paged them to go back and shut the valves off to the system and recover it properly. I also put signs up to keep people out and told the hotel personnel. I still wonder about the effects on my body of all that refrigerant being in me.

I resorted to learning how to trim my own horses when I moved here because I could not find a good farrier that would do the trim I wanted. I've gotten competent at doing my own two horses but it's been tough on a 65 y/o body. I was happy to pay my good and dependable farrier back in Ky but he sure had some horror stories and just did it as a 2nd job.

With regard to plumbers and other craftsmen, the jobs pay well and we will always need them, but getting paid for work you do just with your brain is easier on the body in the long run.

It depends in what clients a farrier has , over time.

My father was a very good farrier. He didn't take no mess from badly behaved horses or owners . I saw him never hesitate to smack the back end of a horse with the flat side of his file , that leaned on him or acted up . He would then shake the file in the horses face- never saying a word. The expression on their faces showed they got it. Tough potatoes if the owners didn't like him doing that.

Many farriers have bad backs , head injuries and blown out knees from the dings of the trade....always from horses not being trained to stand properly and behave during shoeing.

It doesn't have to be so.

In Florida, I had the good fortune of having among the best farriers in the country . He was a big black fella , and most all his clients were very high end show horse owners , and winning racers on the tracks. He was blunt in talking to people, and made it very clear if they didn't know how to stand and handle their "hosses" , to make his job safe and comfortable, he wouldn't touch them. He was so gruff , the overwhelming amount of people didn't like him. But he was so superior in his job, doing both hot and cold shoeing, and everything in between , they put up with him . They were fortunate to even be on his list. His knowledge of veterinary medicine also made him a valuable source of info along the way.

He didn't take no mess, either.

I liked him , and after the first time he did my horses, he approved of me and we got along well. I was one of maybe a handful of clients who was not an owner in big show industry , or the track ....though I was paid to ride in the show industry. I felt privileged indeed. He didn't need my business. A compliment from himself on my training and client etiquette around him as he worked , meant a lot .

We had many good conversations . He could shoe a horse in a matter of minutes, and he was proud of the fact that he never let horse behavior ruin his back, or blow out his knees. He just never allowed things to get that far .

He was one in a million....to me. Most farriers, unfortunately, have had bad dings , resulting surgeries , and the emotional challenges of owners who have no appreciation of making their job easier and safer.

On the other hand, when they get the right clients, it is a very good job and income.

$50 is cheap,here in NY they get $100/horse!

bad knees and back are what every farrier I ever knew or know has. even the guys that know how to make a horse mind.

I say congreesman or woman as the case may be. Now there is a job with no health risks, plenty of time off, lucrative and more perks than a coffee pot at a trappers campfire. No work at all ever. You just hire somebody to write a speech then read it on a teleprompter. Hire people to answer your phones so you dont have to deal with upset voters. Hire people to raise money for you. You will not find a better career path. Get a degree in political science. Get a job working for a legislater whose party you can abide and in a district that staunchly supports that party. Pick one that is old and will die or retire in 10 years or so. Make sure the party bosses know you will toe their line. Thats it. Your set for life

I've told my kids if you can fix a leaky roof or repair a broken toilet you will always make a living because no one wants to poop in the rain...

Anything where they cannot ship your work overseas. Licenced Aircraft mechanic and all the big carriers are getting there maintenance done in China, Mexico, etc.

Small engine repair, outboards, mowers, etc... work for yourself, set your own hours and if you're any good and would actually get off your... and get the stuff fixed in a reasonable amount of time you could stay super busy whenever you wanted, pull down about $75/hour setting a bench work with small cheap hand tools!

Yep. You don't see them complaining and looking for someone else to pay off their student loans...and most of them are actually employed and out of mom's basement. Bricklayer here.

Very true. Alot of other good options in this thread as well for a self motivated hardworking individual.

Your last four words are the critical key to being successful at your own trade.

Dog boarder.
One place around here holds about 40 dogs.
charges up to $10 per day. Provides a warm dry place in separate cages.
Seems like a pretty good gig to me.

Around here it’s anywhere from $12.00 to $20.00
Actually thought about having my wife board dogs
Instead of cleaning houses for a living.

all these great jobs and here i am boilin skulls and penises.

Never met a rich Farrier....but Ive met a few happy ones!!!

And to think I caught flack for mentioning circumcision.

Yeah but that's fun stuff

no it was you and a buddy sittin in a dark room sippin wine in front of the fireplace discussing circumsision that threw the red flag.

Your last name wouldn't happen to be Schiff, would it?