Farrier Courses
Class Schedule
Classes start the first Tuesday each month. Observed holidays are as follows: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If school is closed, students will be given advanced notice.
Upcoming Class Dates
Upcoming 2024 Farrier Classes beginning; February 6th, March 5th, April 2d, May 7th, June 4th, July 2d, August 6th, September 3d, October 1st, November 5th, and December 3d.
Class Days and Hours
Course 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. Basically, students are done when the horses are done. Paul wants you to get as much time under horses as possible, so you are better trained when you leave.
Grading System
In order to receive a Certificate of Completion from AHS, a student must pass with a minimum of 70% in 4 categories.
These are:
- Forge Projects
- Written Tests
- Final Horse
- Attendance and Participation
The written tests are graded on a 0-100 scale, with 70% considered a pass. All of the other categories are graded on a pass/fail system. Work that does not meet the minimum standard will be failed.
Student Testimonials
See what previous students have to say about the school and courses – testimonials.
***New prices below are effective August 1, 2023***
Prospective students who have submitted applications and paid their course deposit fee the old prices still apply.
Specialty Courses
- Therapeutic Specialty Course (2.5 weeks) – $2,600
90 hours of training – approach to different methods of dealing with common lameness.
*Not an introductory course, for experienced farriers only. Bring your own tools.
Traditional Courses
Farrier Eight-Week Course
320 clock hours – see course details
Course cost – $9,900.00
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.
- AHSS 1000: Hot Forge – 80 hrs
- AHSS 2000: Trimming – 80 hrs
- AHSS 2100: Fitting – 120 hrs
- AHSS 3000: Hoof Problems and Diseases – 40 hrs
Farrier Twelve-Week Course
480 clock hours – see course details
Course cost – $10,900.00
This course includes everything in the 8 week course.
- AHSS 1000: Hot Forge – 80 hrs
- AHSS 2000: Trimming – 80 hrs
- AHSS 2100: Fitting – 240 hrs
- AHSS 3000: Hoof Problems and Diseases – 80 hrs
Farrier Sixteen-Week Course
640 clock hours – see course details
Course cost – $11,900.00
This course furthers 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 hrs
- AHSS 2100: Fitting – 250 hrs
- AHSS 3000: Hoof Problems and Diseases – 155 hrs
Farrier Twenty-Four Week Course
960 hours – see course details
Course cost – $18,900.00
This course furthers everything that the sixteen week course teaches plus adds time with the instructors to learn more about anatomy, forging, and shoeing.
- AHSS 1000: Hot Forge – 110 hrs
- AHSS 2000: Trimming – 260 hrs
- AHSS 2100: Fitting – 330 hrs
- AHSS 3000: Hoof Problems and Diseases – 260 hrs
Advanced Course
Our 24 week Modern Materials and Advanced Forging Course
960 clock hours – see course details
Course cost – $19,900
This course furthers everything that the Twenty-four week course teaches plus adds time with the instructors to learn more about anatomy, modern materials, forging, and shoeing.
- AHSS 4000: Advanced Hot Forge – 110 hrs
- AHSS 5000: Advanced Trimming – 260 hrs
- AHSS 5100: Advance Fitting – 330 hrs
- AHSS 6000: Modern Materials – 260 hrs
*To enroll in this course, students must complete a prior course of up to 12 weeks, have one year of prior shoeing experience or be able to demonstrate sufficient skill level to the director.
Course Descriptions
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.
8 Week Course:
Introduction and Safety Lecture 8 hrs.
Tool Building 8 hrs.
Forge welding rings 8 hrs.
Forging Squares 8 hrs.
Forging Toe Bends 8 hrs.
Forging Quarter Bends 8 hrs.
Forging Heels 8 hrs.
Forging a Complete Shoe 8 hrs.
Punching Nail Holes 8 hrs.
Shaping Keg Shoes 8 hrs.
Total Clock Hours 80 hrs.
12 Week Course:
Introduction and safety lecture 8 hrs.
Tool Building 8 hrs.
Forge Welding Rings 8 hrs.
Forging Squares 8 hrs.
Forging Toe Bends 8 hrs.
Forging Quarter Bends 8 hrs.
Forging Heels 8 hrs.
Forging a Complete Shoe 8 hrs.
Punching Nail Holes 8 hrs.
Shaping Keg Shoes 20 hrs.
Drawing Clips 8 hrs.
Hammer Finishing Shoes 4 hrs.
Bumping Stock 8 hrs.
Forging Draft Shoes 8 hrs.
Total Clock Hours 120 hrs.
16 Week Course:
Introduction and safety lecture 8 hrs.
Tool Building 8 hrs.
Forge Welding Rings 8 hrs.
Forging Squares 8 hrs.
Forging Toe Bends 8 hrs.
Forging Quarter Bends 8 hrs.
Forging Heels 8 hrs.
Forging a Complete Shoe 8 hrs.
Punching Nail Holes 8 hrs.
Shaping Keg Shoes 28 hrs.
Drawing Clips 8 hrs.
Hammer Finishing Shoes 4 hrs.
Bumping Stock 8 hrs.
Forging Draft Shoes 8 hrs.
Forging Straight Bar Shoes 8 hrs.
Forging Traction Devices 8 hrs.
Forging Egg Bar Shoes 8 hrs.
Extended Heel and Trailers 8 hrs.
Total Clock Hours 160 hrs.
24 Week Course:
Introduction and safety lecture 8 hrs.
Tool Building 8 hrs.
Forge Welding Rings 8 hrs.
Forging Squares 8 hrs.
Forging Toe Bends 8 hrs.
Forging Quarter Bends 8 hrs.
Forging Heels 8 hrs.
Forging a Complete Shoe 8 hrs.
Punching Nail Holes 8 hrs.
Shaping Keg Shoes 44 hrs.
Drawing Clips 8 hrs.
Hammer Finishing Shoes 4 hrs.
Bumping Stock 8 hrs.
Forging Draft Shoes 8 hrs.
Forging Straight Bar Shoes 8 hrs.
Forging Traction Devices 8 hrs.
Forging Egg Bar Shoes 8 hrs.
Extended Heel and Trailers 8 hrs.
Forging Creases 8 hrs.
Forging Heart Bar Shoes 8 hrs.
Forging W Shoes 8 hrs.
Forging Z Bar Shoes 8 hrs.
Forging Salad Bowl Shoes 8 hrs.
Forging Slide Plates 8 hrs.
Forging Pencil Heels 8 hrs.
Jump Welding Steel 8 hrs.
Total Clock Hours 240 hrs.
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.
8 Week Course:
Introductory Lecture Tools and Safety 8hrs
Horse Handling and Proper Posture 8hrs
A/P Balance 8hrs
Medial/Lateral Balance 8hrs
Sole and Frog Paring 8hrs
Rasping Technique 8hrs
Proper Nipper Technique 8hrs
Flatting Feet 8hrs
Addressing Flare 8hrs
Addressing Cracks 8hrs
Total Clock Hours 80 hrs.
12 Week Course:
Introductory Lecture Tools and Safety 8hrs
Horse Handling and Proper Posture 8hrs
A/P Balance 8hrs
Medial/Lateral Balance 8hrs
Sole and Frog Paring 8hrs
Rasping Technique 8hrs
Proper Nipper Technique 8hrs
Flatting Feet 12hrs
Addressing Flare 12hrs
Addressing Cracks 8hrs
Addressing Splits 8hrs
Dressing for Clip Fit 8hrs
Trimming for White Line 8hrs
Hoof Resection 8hrs
Total Clock Hours 120 hrs.
16 Week Course:
Introductory Lecture Tools and Safety 8hrs
Horse Handling and Proper Posture 8hrs
A/P Balance 8hrs
Medial/Lateral Balance 8hrs
Sole and Frog Paring 8hrs
Rasping Technique 8hrs
Proper Nipper Technique 8hrs
Flatting Feet 12hrs
Addressing Flare 12hrs
Addressing Cracks 8hrs
Addressing Splits 8hrs
Dressing for Clip Fit 8hrs
Trimming for White Line 8hrs
Hoof Resection 8hrs
Trimming Draft Horse 10hrs
Trimming Miniature Horse 10hrs
Trimming for Laminitis Horses 10hrs
Trimming for Founder 10hrs
Total Clock Hours 160 hrs.
24 Week Course:
Introductory Lecture Tools and Safety 8hrs
Horse Handling and Proper Posture 8hrs
A/P Balance 8hrs
Medial/Lateral Balance 8hrs
Sole and Frog Paring 8hrs
Rasping Technique 8hrs
Proper Nipper Technique 8hrs
Flatting Feet 12hrs
Addressing Flare 12hrs
Addressing Cracks 8hrs
Addressing Splits 8hrs
Dressing for Clip Fit 8hrs
Trimming for White Line 8hrs
Hoof Resection 8hrs
Trimming Draft Horse 10hrs
Trimming Miniature Horse 10hrs
Trimming for Laminitis Horses 10hrs
Trimming for Founder 10hrs
Trimming Non-Equid Live Stock 10hrs
Trimming for Injuries 20hrs
Trimming for Dropped Soles 10hrs
Floating Cracks 10hrs
Dealing with Abscesses 10hrs
Trimming Club Feet 10hrs
Trimming the Navicular Horse 10hrs
Total Clock Hours 240 hrs.
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.
8 Week Course:
Lecture Introduction to Horseshoe Fit 8hrs
Setting Up the Foot 12hrs
Type A Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Type B Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Type C Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Placing and nailing shoes 30hrs
Total Clock Hours 80 hrs.
12 Week Course:
Lecture Introduction to Horseshoe Fit 8hrs
Setting Up the Foot 12hrs
Type A Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Type B Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Type C Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Placing and nailing shoes 40hrs
Clip Fit 10hrs
Fitting for Missing Hoof 10hrs
Fitting for Break over 10hrs
Total Clock Hours 120 hrs.
16 Week Course:
Lecture Introduction to Horseshoe Fit 8hrs
Setting Up the Foot 12hrs
Type A Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Type B Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Type C Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Placing and nailing shoes 48hrs
Clip Fit 10hrs
Fitting for Missing Hoof 10hrs
Fitting for Break over 10hrs
Fitting Straight Bar Shoe 8hrs
Fitting Egg Bar Shoes 8hrs
Extended Heels 8hrs
Fitting a Square Toe 8hrs
Total Clock Hours 160 hrs.
24 Week Course:
Lecture Introduction to Horseshoe Fit 8hrs
Setting Up the Foot 12hrs
Type A Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Type B Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Type C Fit (Practical) 10hrs
Placing and nailing shoes 88hrs
Clip Fit 10hrs
Fitting for Missing Hoof 10hrs
Fitting for Break over 10hrs
Fitting Straight Bar Shoe 8hrs
Fitting Egg Bar Shoes 8hrs
Extended Heels 8hrs
Fitting a Square Toe 8hrs
Fitting Heart Bar 10hrs
Fitting Z Bar 10hrs
Fitting W Shoes 10hrs
Fitting for Center of Articulation 10hrs
Total Clock Hours 240 hrs.
AHSS 3000 – Hoof Anatomy, 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.
8 Week Course:
Terminology and Hoof Structure 22hrs
Vascular System of the Foot 10hrs
Bones and Joints of the Lower Limb 10hrs
Ligaments and Tendons 30hrs
Limb Dissection 8hrs
Total Hours 80 hrs.
12 Week Course:
Terminology and Hoof Structure 22hrs
Vascular System of the Foot 10hrs
Bones and Joints of the Lower Limb 10hrs
Ligaments and Tendons 30hrs
Limb Dissection 8hrs
Biomechanics 10hrs
Conformations 10hrs
Gaits 10hrs
Gait Faults 10hrs
Total Hours 120 hrs.
16 Week Course:
Terminology and Hoof Structure 22hrs
Vascular System of the Foot 10hrs
Bones and Joints of the Lower Limb 10hrs
Ligaments and Tendons 30hrs
Limb Dissection 8hrs
Biomechanics 10hrs
Conformations 10hrs
Gaits 10hrs
Gait Faults 10hrs
Bruise, Abscess, and Corns 10hrs
Thrush and White Line Disease 10hrs
Cracks and Quarter Cracks 10hrs
Coffin Bone Fracture, Pedal Otitis 10hrs
Total Hours 160 hrs.
24 Week Course:
Terminology and Hoof Structure 22hrs
Vascular System of the Foot 10hrs
Bones and Joints of the Lower Limb 10hrs
Ligaments and Tendons 30hrs
Limb Dissection 8hrs
Biomechanics 10hrs
Conformations 10hrs
Gaits 10hrs
Gait Faults 10hrs
Bruise, Abscess, and Corns 10hrs
Thrush and White Line Disease 10hrs
Cracks and Quarter Cracks 10hrs
Coffin Bone Fracture, Pedal Otitis 10hrs
Club Foot and Navicular 10hrs
Founder and Laminitis 10hrs
Bowed Tendons 10hrs
Broken Bones 10hrs
Capped Hocks and Elbows 10hrs
Ringbone 10hrs
Splints 10hrs
Stifle Lameness 10hrs
Total Hours 240 hrs.
Course Description – 24 Week Modern Materials and Advanced Forging
AHSS 4000 – Advanced Hot Forge
This course better develops forging skills through hands on instruction and practice. Students will learn how to forge more advanced therapeutic shoes by completing several hands on assignments.
24 Week Modern Materials and Advanced Forging Course – There are 10 Clock hours of Classroom time and 100 Clock hours of Lab time for a total of 110 Clock hours for this course.
AHSS 5000 – Advanced Trimming
This course better develops trimming skills through teaching the students more advanced anatomy which will allow them to properly trim the horses foot for special therapeutic cases.
24 Week Modern Materials and Advanced Forging Course – There are 60 Clock hours of Classroom time and 200 Clock hours of Lab time for a total of 260 Clock hours for this course.
AHSS 5100 – Advanced Fitting
This course is an extension of the Advanced Trimming and Advanced Hot Forge. It adds to the anatomy learned from Advanced Trimming and takes the skills learned from Advanced 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.
24 Week Modern Materials and Advanced Forging Course – There are 60 Clock hours of Classroom time and 270 Clock hours of Lab time for a total of 330 Clock hours for this course.
AHSS 6000 – Modern Materials
This course teaches farriers how to use more modern materials besides traditional blacksmithing techniques. Student will learn how to successfully use materials such as glue and epoxy as well as using plastic shoes and impression material.
24 Week Modern Materials and Advanced Forging Course – There are 60 Clock hours of Classroom time and 200 Clock hours of Lab time for a total of 260 Clock hours for this course.
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