[UPDATE] Horse Industry in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachussetts

[Eqs_X]

Hello,

My husband and I have tossed the idea around of moving to Vermont for over 3 years. He is a farrier, and business is pretty good where we are now in Central Pennsylvania, but our heart just isn’t here. It is difficult to give up steady work and good clients and go someplace where you don’t know what business will be like. We have two young children and no family in Vermont, so its a big decision.

Does anyone have insight on what the industry is like in the southern Vermont/northern Massachusetts/western New Hampshire areas? I know its rural and there are a lot less people, but are there many horses? Is there a need for a good farrier there?

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Just general info on the areas would be great too! Thanks!

[pluvinel]

I suggest you look at “the big picture.” Massachussetts is called Taxachussetts for a reason. The people I know who have farms in VT spend winters in FL. PA doesn’t tax pension or retirement account income. Having family & friends nearby is great if you get ill or injured.

I am sure others on the BB will chime in.

[amb]

I’m a little east of the area you’re looking at, but the demand for farriers does seem to exceed supply. There are a lot of well-kept horses in the area fairly far our northwest of Boston (Harvard/Groton/Townsend sorta places), and if that would be within service range I’d say there’s a lot of potential.

As for tax burden, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine are all moderately tax-happy states; New Hampshire less so. Each has its own character, though, and probably has its own ups and down for a small business.

[Bluey]

Does it has to be a permanent move, or could you see what moving there for a bit would be, then make a decision if to stay longer or come back?

Our current farrier spent decades as a track farrier.
He came here to retire and is busier than ever.

Should not be too hard to establish your business any one place you want to be, farriery a portable one.

[soloudinhere]

@pluvinel

I suggest you look at “the big picture.” Massachussetts is called Taxachussetts for a reason. The people I know who have farms in VT spend winters in FL. PA doesn’t tax pension or retirement account income. Having family & friends nearby is great if you get ill or injured.

I am sure others on the BB will chime in.

Taxes in MA are nothing compared to CT.

we are in western MA and pay 1/4 of what the property taxes on our house and cars would be 5 miles over the line into CT.

Income tax also lower.

I would say we have a bunch of farriers here and a bunch of them are not that great. I’d be open to a new one, but I know several who ship a guy in from quite a distance and probably wouldn’t be willing to try someone new. Really depends on references, etc.

[bip]

@pluvinel

I suggest you look at “the big picture.” Massachussetts is called Taxachussetts for a reason.

And that reason is that some people are stuck in the 70s http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Where-Does-the-Taxachusetts-Label-Come-From.html

[pluvinel]

@bip

And that reason is that some people are stuck in the 70s http://massbudget.org/report_window…Come-From.html

The OP asked about moving to VT. Using the link above, VT is #5 in tax burden.

My point is that some states are known for high taxes…and to look at the “big picture” before moving and later finding out that your real estate taxes are more than your annual mortgage payment.

I personally would never move to anywhere in New England…way too cold.

TN is looking pretty good.

[Eqs_X]

Thanks for the replies! Its sounds like there might be a good client base for him there in the surrounding areas. We are considering moving up for 6 months to test it out… he would drive home once or twice a month to keep some clients here in PA in case things didn’t work out up there so we wouldn’t be starting over.

We are well aware that taxes are higher up there. For us it would be a worthwhile trade because you virtually cannot find farmland (much less affordable farmland) that also offers privacy in central PA. This area is getting so built up and congested and all the good land is already bought up. Your either out in a field living in a “fishbowl” or stuck with a woodlot where you can’t really have horses. Nothing in between. Not to mention the culture and community is much more what we’re looking for in Vermont… I am an alternative medicine practitioner and herbalist (for humans & horses both) and I’ve really struggled with even getting people to take me seriously, much less get a business going.

So, while we know cost of living is high, as long as my husband can get his business going and we’re not struggling to get by I think we’d be much happier. He is a good, dependable farrier (I joke about how it I went through several farriers and when I found one I liked I married him!) so I know once he gets some clients the word would spread, but I’m just not sure how the industry compares to here. I’ve heard Vermont has “plenty of horses” but its all relative.

If anyone wouldn’t mind sharing, what are farriers charging up in that area? Are there many farriers that are competent in specialty work for lameness, etc.?

[HannahsMom7]

I am in MA 60 min south of Boston, the one thing I like most about my farrier is that he runs it like a business. He has a spreadsheet and schedules our next farrier work while he is there working. and he keeps his commitments.

I would be leary of one who says give me a call for your next appointment.

[Bluey]

@HannahsMom7

I am in MA 60 min south of Boston, the one thing I like most about my farrier is that he runs it like a business. He has a spreadsheet and schedules our next farrier work while he is there working. and he keeps his commitments.

I would be leary of one who says give me a call for your next appointment.

“Give me a call when they need it again” is the way every farrier here works.
Our weather is such that some times, hooves grow like mad, other times they may go longer, where if he would come at a designated time there would not be hardly any foot to work on.

Our farrier trims/shoes for two of us here and last week, mine were needing it and only half of my friend’s.
The farrier told him to call him when they needed it, he would come for them only.

Maybe that is different in other places?

[HannahsMom7]

Maybe, but my farrier came every 6 weeks and had hoof to remove. He had a barn rotation which kept him busy. the call me ones never came on time.

[pluvinel]

The good farriers I have dealt with always schedule the next appointment at the time of the current appointment. I left a farrier I had for 19 years (or rather he left me) when the barn I moved to was out of his travels. He would call if he was going to be late or call to reschedule if he ran into problems…which was rare. The schedule was 5 weeks in summer and 6 week interval in winter.

[Paige777]

I live about an hour south of the VT border; I’m in Western MA. I bought here about two years ago because I couldn’t afford to buy if I went further west (the Berkshires) where I’d been living previously. There are a lot of horses out here, and a lot of smaller farms. Taxes also played a role - I was considering NH until I took a look at the taxes.

Farriers here are somewhat limited - I’m in a very small town, though there are larger towns (Pittsfield, Greenfield, Westfield) all within a 30-40-minute drive. I just changed farriers a few weeks ago. I agree with the comment about scheduling the next appointment during the current appointment - and keeping it! I work 2 jobs, so changing my schedule last-minute to be here for the farrier isn’t always an easy feat.

One big issue is the weather - winters are rough. I pull shoes in the winter because I don’t ride, as do most other people I know - and this would affect farrier income. Last year during one storm the snow was up to my hips - and I’m 5’6. So, be sure that you’re ready for that. If there’s one thing I could change about the area, it’s the winter weather.

[amb]

@Eqs_X

If anyone wouldn’t mind sharing, what are farriers charging up in that area? Are there many farriers that are competent in specialty work for lameness, etc.?

For a bog-standard trim-and-all-four and you’re not the only one for that barn call, $120-150. That said, $200 for somebody with a following wouldn’t particularly surprise me.

[RoughOut]

I’m paying $50 a trim. I only have one horse being trimmed so my farrier is great about keeping a schedule with a barn close to me so it is worth his time to come out.

I personally love the Brattleboro and Keene areas! Those should fit in with your line of work too. Good luck with the move

[Marshfield]

I do know of one who is really getting ready to slow down who doesn’t have anyone to hand his business over to, a little East of where you were looking, but PM me if you want the information I can share.

[Paige777]

With my previous farrier, I was paying $75 per trim, but he was known for having high rates. Now I’m paying $40 per trim.

[pluvinel]

Perhaps I’m being the black cloud here or haven’t gone farm shopping recently…but my experience is that land in central PA is a lot cheaper than land in VT…at least land that would actually be suitable for a horse farm is is not a pile of rocks or trees that need to be cleared before you could do anything with it.

Remember Vermont stands for Ver-Mont…green mountain.

[soloudinhere]

I pay $60 for a trim and $150 for a set of fronts only.

[JackW]

Have you looked at Western NY, Rochester/Buffalo, area. High taxes but lots of horses and low land prices.