In the mid-sixties, living in Safford, AZ, I got so frustrated w/ not being able to find a decent farrier that I got an excellent book, read and studied it, bought a few elemental tools, and shod my own QH gelding twice, before we finally found another good farrier! It was VERY hard work, took me hours both times, and due to my short fingers, the shoe slipped back just a bit during the nailing, BUT, he walked away sound, and the shoes stayed on properly during plenty of riding for the 'standard' of about 8 weeks!
Therefore, when I got into minis in '84, I already had a knowledge base. I started doing my own mainly due to the cost, but also because I enjoyed it; later, it became clear that I could/would do a better job that about 95% of what I saw professional farriers doing on minis(sad to say.)
Tip: Buy QUALITY tools! What I had originally bought were 'one-side'cutters, and WAY too big for minis...blades too wide, handles too long. I bought 10' 'Diamond' brand nippers at the first AMHA Nationals I attened and used them for years, but never was too satisfied; though they'd been vended as being for use on miniature horses' hooves, turned out they are in truth, made to nip the ends off the driven horseshoe nails!
When I finally spent the $$$ for some GOOD 12" HOOF nippers, my job got a lot easier! GOOD nippers, a GOOD hoof knife, and at least DECENT rasp are most important, IME. I do use a less-expensive, but short, hoof rasp...not very expensive to just buy a new one when one gets dull.
I still do the 5 minis I have; albeit I work even MORE slowly,usually am 'up to' only one horse/day, depending on how hard/dry their hooves are...but still do a better job than most I've seen on minis!
Margo