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Insurance for farriers and hoof trimmers in Germany

A farrier works every day under an animal weighing 600 kilos that can kick, rear and pull away. The most expensive claims are a lame horse after shoeing, a horse injured while you work on it and injuries to yourself. Add a van with a gas forge and tools worth as much as a small car. This page explains what farriers and hoof trimmers in Germany need, what it costs and which German rules apply to shoeing.

Insurance for farriers and hoof trimmers in Germany

The question almost everyone asks first

I trained as a farrier abroad. Can I shoe horses in Germany?

Shoeing with iron is reserved for farriers who passed the exam and are recognised by the state under § 3 of the Hufbeschlaggesetz; employees and apprentices may work under a recognised farrier's supervision. Hoof care without iron shoes needs no recognition since the 2007 ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court. Whatever you do, your liability policy must describe exactly that work.

What goes wrong in this trade

  1. 01

    Nail bind

    A nail hits sensitive tissue, the horse goes lame and misses a competition. With sport horses the bill quickly reaches five figures.

  2. 02

    The horse gets hurt

    A horse panics during hot fitting, pulls away and injures itself on a stable door or another horse.

  3. 03

    Kicked

    Knees, hands and back are always within reach of the hooves. One kick can cost weeks of work.

  4. 04

    Sparks in the barn

    A gas forge and glowing iron next to straw and hay: one spark is enough for a stable fire.

  5. 05

    The van

    Anvil, forge, tools and stock of shoes in one vehicle. An accident or break in stops the whole business.

  6. 06

    Disputes with owners

    Disagreements about shoeing and lameness sometimes end in court, usually with an expert opinion.

Risk radar
Liability 4Fire and water 3Theft 3Cyber 1Downtime 5Health 5

Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.

The insurance you need

Essential

Business liability

The key policy: include damage to the horses you work on and to other people's stables and trailers.

Car insurance

Motor liability is compulsory for the van; comprehensive cover pays off with an expensive fit out.

Strongly advised

Business contents

For tools, anvil, forge and shoes in workshop and van, including theft from the vehicle.

Accident insurance

Adds a lump sum to statutory cover for lasting injuries to hand, knee or eye.

Depends on the business

Business legal expenses

For disputes with owners over lameness and invoices and for traffic accidents with the van.

What it costs: example prices

Premiums depend mainly on how much damage to horses you work on is covered and whether you shoe competition horses. Van and personal cover come on top.

InsuranceExampleTypical range
Business liabilityFarrier without staff, €5 million, damage to the horse up to €25,000about €200 to €450 a year
Business liabilityHoof trimmer without shoeing, €3 million, damage to animals up to €15,000about €120 to €300 a year
Car insuranceVan with workshop fit out, liability and partial coverabout €600 to €1,200 a year
Business contentsTools, forge and material worth €20,000, theft from the vehicle includedabout €250 to €550 a year
Accident insuranceSelf employed farrier, €100,000 base sum with progressionabout €300 to €600 a year

For comparison: Public liability for a farrier costs about as much a year as two or three full sets of shoes.

All amounts are guide figures from our quotes as of October 2026,

excluding insurance tax on property cover.

The sources document the rules on shoeing.

Sources of the price examples

Our suggestions: three packages

01

Hoof care

For: hoof trimmer without iron shoes, travelling by car

  • Business liability
  • Accident insurance
  • Business contents

Together about €600 to €1,300 a year

Request this package

02

Farrier

For: self employed farrier with a workshop van

  • Business liability
  • Car insurance
  • Business contents
  • Accident insurance
  • Occupational disability

Together about €2,500 to €4,500 a year, including disability cover

Request this package

03

Forge

For: business with workshop, apprentice and two vehicles

  • Business liability
  • Car insurance
  • Business contents
  • Business legal expenses
  • Business interruption
  • Accident insurance

Together about €3,000 to €6,000 a year, excluding disability cover

Request this package

The worst day for a farrier

Six things that really happen to farriers, here all on a Saturday before a show. Tap through and see who pays.

Damage so far€48,500
  1. A show horse goes lame two days after shoeing; the vet finds a nail bind.

    €8,000 · Paid by: Business liability

  2. A young horse panics during hot fitting, pulls away and injures itself on the stable door.

    €5,500 · Paid by: Business liability

  3. A kick hits your knee: torn ligament and six weeks off work.

    €6,000 · Paid by: Accident insurance

  4. On the way to the next yard a car hits your van, which is a write off.

    €22,000 · Paid by: Car insurance

  5. While you are in the stable the van is broken into and your tools are gone.

    €4,500 · Paid by: Business contents

  6. An owner refuses to pay and claims vet costs; you need a lawyer.

    €2,500 · Paid by: Business legal expenses

Which package would you have had?

Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €48,500

Illustrative amounts before any excess.

What is paid depends on the policy terms.

Practical tips from your broker

  1. Have damage to horses you work on included explicitly and choose a sum per animal that matches the horses you shoe.
  2. Make sure hot work in stables is covered; hot fitting with a gas forge is a fire risk of its own.
  3. Insure tools in the van including theft from the vehicle; some policies only pay for theft from a workshop.
  4. Take photos of the hoof before you start, especially with new clients and problem hooves.
  5. Take out accident and disability cover early, before back or knee problems lead to exclusions.
  6. If you only trim barefoot, say so in the policy; shoeing with iron is a different risk.

Why NAMMERT for your business

We know the animal damage exclusion

As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert checks that damage to the horse you work on is really covered and compares several insurers.

Advice in English

We explain German policy wording and German rules in plain English.

Business and van in one place

Liability, van, tools and accident cover with one contact, on +49 3375 29 12 77.

No cost to you

We have been arranging insurance since 1989. The insurer pays our commission, not you.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Is liability insurance compulsory for farriers in Germany?

Not by law.

Motor liability for the van is compulsory.

Public liability including damage to the horse you work on is still the most important policy for

a farrier.

Who may shoe horses in Germany?

Under § 3 of the Hufbeschlaggesetz only farriers who passed the exam and are recognised by the

state.

Employees and apprentices working under a recognised farrier's supervision are exempt.

Do I need recognition as a barefoot trimmer?

No.

In 2007 the Federal Constitutional Court declared the rule void as far as it covered work on the

hoof without iron shoes.

What does farrier liability insurance cost?

From our quotes, about €200 to €450 a year, depending on the sum for damage to horses.

Trimming without shoes is cheaper.

Is farriery a craft trade under the Handwerksordnung?

No.

The Hufbeschlaggesetz states that farriers do not run a trade under the Handwerksordnung.

Does liability insurance pay if a horse injures me?

No, it covers damage you cause to others.

Your own injuries are a matter for statutory and private accident insurance.

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request quotes for Farrier

The recommended covers are ticked.

Change what does not fit; we compare quotes, in English.

1Who is it for?
2Which insurance?

Choose as many as you like. For each one, the details an insurer needs for a quote appear below.

Personal

Business

3Details

Car insurance in Germany (liability, partial and fully comprehensive)

Most precise with the HSN and TSN codes from the registration document

Personal accident insurance (private Unfallversicherung)

Be specific, for example software developer in an office, or electrician on building sites

For example motorcycling, diving, climbing, paragliding

For example accident pension, cover when travelling home, help at home after an accident

Occupational disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung)

For example data analyst in an office, or civil engineer with site visits

We discuss details personally for an anonymous enquiry

For example how long you plan to stay in Germany, self-employment, existing policies

Business liability insurance in Germany (Betriebshaftpflicht)

For example electrical installation in homes, café with outdoor seating, online shop for furniture

For example work at clients' sites, own products, exports to the US, parent company abroad

Business contents insurance in Germany (Inhaltsversicherung)

For example café with bakery, accounting firm, car repair shop

At purchase price, 0 if no stock

For example flood cover, customer property, tools in vehicles, loss of income

4Your current policy
5How can we reach you?

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Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT.

Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act.

Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company.

It does not arrange your contract.

Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated