16 Week Farrier Course

This course cost – $11,900.00

It includes:
GREGORY’S Textbook of Farriery- 2011 Hardcover edition

640 clock hours – Course is designed for students who wish to obtain a skill level such that they can competently shoe a horse with therapeutic issues considering its confirmation, therapeutic problems and do so within two hours, make a pair of handmade therapeutic shoes from beginning to end within an hour and a half to a specific pattern, correctly identify and have a firm grasp of the many different foot diseases, injuries, and conformation problems, and begin work as an independent farrier, though apprenticeship is still recommended.

This course builds upon everything that the twelve-week course teaches, plus adds time with the instructors to learn more about anatomy, forging, and shoeing.

AHSS 1000: Hot Forge 95 hrs
AHSS 2000: Trimming 140
AHSS 2100: Fitting 250
AHSS 3000: Hoof Problems and Diseases 155
Total – 640 hrs

Some topics covered in the course includes;

Introduction to Farrier Science
Horse Handling
Equine Anatomy and Physiology
Hoof Trimming and Balance
Using the Forge and Anvil
Basic Horseshoeing: Putting It All Together
Handmade Shoes
Hot Shaping
Lameness
Therapeutic Horseshoeing
Introduction to Bar Shoes
Business Management

Graduates of the 16-week horseshoeing course are able to:

• Shoe healthy horses
• Handle most problems in everyday horseshoeing
• Treat basic lameness issues and assist in the identification and treating of more advanced lameness issues
• Recognize more complex problems and be able to discuss them with the owner, along with possible options for referral to another equine professional for treatment

At the end of the 16-week course, students will take a final exam that is based closely on the Farrier Certification exam of the American Farrier’s Association with a more rigorous forging practical requirement than the 12-week course and more in-depth anatomy exam. We strongly recommend an apprenticeship and the faculty will use their network to help you find an appropriate one. We think it’s the best thing you could do to guarantee success. We promise you we’ll always be here to offer support along the way as well.

Upon successful graduation from the course you will receive a course completion certificate and will also have acquired a strong foundation with which to take the next step in your farrier career.

Administrative Notes

Course Schedule – New courses start the first Tuesday of each month
Class Schedule – Training is 5 days a week, Tuesday through Saturday starting at 8:30 am and ending at 3:30 pm (if an early day), but some days might run until 8-9 pm.
Boarding – Boarding is not included in the course fee. Separate men’s and women’s bunkhouse boarding with cable TV and WIFI is available for just $50 a month.
Tools – See below
Financial Assistance – Post-9/11 GI Bill® Veterans Benefits and VA Voc Rehab Benefits accepted. Please check with your local VA office to see if you qualify.
‘‘GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.”

Note: The $500.00 deposit is not required if VA benefits used.

$2500 of New Tools for Horseshoeing Provided for Your Use:

* If you graduate, Paul will even give you all of these tools to help you start your farrier business.

Tools you will use in your 8, 12, 16 or 24 week farrier course.

Forge
Anvil
Rasp & Handles (2)
Nippers
Clinchers
Crease Nail Pullers
Rounding Hammer
Driving Hammer
Pull offs
Nail Cutter
Tongs (2)
Apron
Hoof Knife
Hoof Gauge
Tool Box
Hoof Stand
Creaser (24-week course only)

Course Hours

Note: Lab time is non-classroom hands-on work with the forge, trimming, fitting, etc.

AHSS 1000 – Hot Forge

This course develops forging skills through hands on instruction and practice, by completing several hands on assignments. Students first get comfortable with the forging tools which include safety precautions and then take those skills to the next level by building custom shoes that properly fit the horse’s foot.

95 Clock hours – There are 10 Clock hours of Classroom time and 85 Clock hours of Lab time (hands-on).

AHSS 2000 – Trimming

This course develops trimmings skills through teaching the students anatomy which will allow them to properly trim the horse’s foot. They will learn how to properly balance a horse’s foot, which is necessary to performing farrier work properly.

140 Clock hours – There are 40 Clock hours of Classroom time and 100 Clock hours of Lab time (hands-on).

AHSS 2100 – Fitting

This course is an extension of the Trimming and Hot Forge. It adds to the anatomy learned from Trimming and takes the skills learned from Hot Forge and combines them to allow the student to properly trim the horse’s foot and build a custom shoe that properly fits the horse’s foot.

250 Clock hours – There are 50 Clock hours of Classroom time and 200 Clock hours of Lab (hands-on).

AHSS 3000 – Hoof Problems & Diseases

This course develops skills that will enable the student to diagnose possible hoof problems and diseases. This course teaches students how to work with Veterinarians (such as reading x-rays) to better help the horse with foot problems and diseases.

155 Clock hours – There are 40 Clock hours of Classroom time and 115 Clock hours of Lab time (hands-on).