Farrier Course 8-Week

This course cost – $9,900.00

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

320 clock hours – This course is designed for students who wish to obtain a skill level such that they can competently shoe a horse with keg shoes given the horse’s conformation and usual work within two hours.

You’ll be able to make a pair of handmade shoes from beginning to end to fit a specific pattern within an hour and be aware of the difference between farrier and veterinary responsibilities.

Also, you will have a firm grasp on when to refer to a veterinarian or more experienced farrier, and adequately serve as an apprentice to a working farrier.

The Arkansas Horseshoeing School’s basic farrier course, is designed to transform the beginning student into an entry-level farrier and give a solid foundation for a professional farrier career. Our 8-week course includes:

AHSS 1000: Hot Forge 80 hrs
AHSS 2000: Trimming 80
AHSS 2100: Fitting 120
AHSS 3000: Hoof Problems and Diseases 40
Total – 320 hrs

Some topics covered in the course include;

Horse Handling
Equine Anatomy and Physiology
Hoof Trimming and Balance
Blacksmithing – Hot Forge and Anvil
Diagnose Hoof Problems & Diseases
Basic Horseshoeing: Putting It All Together
Managing a Business

The course is taught with classroom training and instruction, as well as a generous amount of hands-on work with students working closely with the faculty.

We designed our school to be as much like an apprenticeship as is possible.

Small class sizes
One-on-one time with faculty
You get hands-on work under a lot of horses

Graduates of the 8-week horseshoeing course are able to:

Shoe healthy horses
Handle basic problems in everyday horseshoeing
Identify lameness issues and possible solutions
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 8-week course, students will take a final exam that is based closely on the Farrier Certification exam of the American Farrier’s Association, with basic forging requirements and practical anatomy exam. This is our most basic course and we strongly recommend an apprenticeship and continuing education. The faculty will use their network to help you find an appropriate apprenticeship. 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.

80 Clock hours – There are 5 Clock hours of Classroom time and 75 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.

80 Clock hours – There are 30 Clock hours of Classroom time and 50 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.

120 Clock hours – There are 30 Clock hours of Classroom time and 90 Clock hours of Lab time (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.

40 Clock hours – There are 10 Clock hours of Classroom time and 30 Clock hours of Lab time (hands-on).