# 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.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-farrier-and-hoof-trimmer.php  
Updated: 2026-10-14

## 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.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** No liability insurance required by law; shoeing with iron needs state recognition as a farrier under § 3 of the Hufbeschlaggesetz
- **Biggest risk:** Lameness or injury of the horse after work on the hoof, and kicks
- **Basic cover from:** about €200 to €450 a year for public liability including damage to the horse you work on, a guide figure from our quotes
- **Hoof trimming without shoes:** Needs no recognition; the Federal Constitutional Court struck down the rule for work without iron shoes in 2007
- **Often forgotten:** Damage to the animal you are working on is excluded in many liability policies unless it is added

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Nail bind:** A nail hits sensitive tissue, the horse goes lame and misses a competition. With sport horses the bill quickly reaches five figures.
- **The horse gets hurt:** A horse panics during hot fitting, pulls away and injures itself on a stable door or another horse.
- **Kicked:** Knees, hands and back are always within reach of the hooves. One kick can cost weeks of work.
- **Sparks in the barn:** A gas forge and glowing iron next to straw and hay: one spark is enough for a stable fire.
- **The van:** Anvil, forge, tools and stock of shoes in one vehicle. An accident or break in stops the whole business.
- **Disputes with owners:** Disagreements about shoeing and lameness sometimes end in court, usually with an expert opinion.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 4, Fire and water 3, Theft 3, Cyber 1, Downtime 5, Health 5

## The insurance you need

- **Business liability** (Essential): The key policy: include damage to the horses you work on and to other people's stables and trailers. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Car insurance** (Essential): Motor liability is compulsory for the van; comprehensive cover pays off with an expensive fit out. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-car-insurance.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): For tools, anvil, forge and shoes in workshop and van, including theft from the vehicle. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Accident insurance** (Strongly advised): Adds a lump sum to statutory cover for lasting injuries to hand, knee or eye. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-accident-insurance.php
- **Occupational disability** (Strongly advised): A bad back ends work under the horse. Farriers pay high premiums, so take it out early. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-occupational-disability.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Depends on the business): For disputes with owners over lameness and invoices and for traffic accidents with the van. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **Business interruption** (Depends on the business): Pays running costs if workshop or van are out of action after a fire. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-interruption.php

## 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.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Farrier without staff, €5 million, damage to the horse up to €25,000 | about €200 to €450 a year |
| Business liability | Hoof trimmer without shoeing, €3 million, damage to animals up to €15,000 | about €120 to €300 a year |
| Car insurance | Van with workshop fit out, liability and partial cover | about €600 to €1,200 a year |
| Business contents | Tools, forge and material worth €20,000, theft from the vehicle included | about €250 to €550 a year |
| Accident insurance | Self employed farrier, €100,000 base sum with progression | about €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._

- [§ 3 Hufbeschlaggesetz: who may shoe](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hufbeschlg_2006/__3.html)
- [Federal Constitutional Court, decision of 3 July 2007, 1 BvR 2186/06](https://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/Entscheidungen/DE/2007/07/rs20070703_1bvr218606.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Hoof care** (hoof trimmer without iron shoes, travelling by car): Business liability, Accident insurance, Business contents. Together: about €600 to €1,300 a year
- **Farrier** (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
- **Forge** (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

## 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.

- 07:30: A show horse goes lame two days after shoeing; the vet finds a nail bind. (€8,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 09:15: A young horse panics during hot fitting, pulls away and injures itself on the stable door. (€5,500, Paid by: Business liability)
- 11:00: A kick hits your knee: torn ligament and six weeks off work. (€6,000, Paid by: Accident insurance)
- 13:20: On the way to the next yard a car hits your van, which is a write off. (€22,000, Paid by: Car insurance)
- 15:40: While you are in the stable the van is broken into and your tools are gone. (€4,500, Paid by: Business contents)
- 18:00: An owner refuses to pay and claims vet costs; you need a lawyer. (€2,500, Paid by: Business legal expenses)

**Damage so far:** €48,500

## Practical tips from your broker

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

## FAQ

### 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.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-farrier-and-hoof-trimmer.php#anfrage

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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.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.