Combining Natural Balance Principles
with Traditional Craftsmanship.

Our program attracts focused, serious minded students
with a high degree of success entering the profession.

Therapeutic Shoeing is a regular part of our curriculum.  Our clientele regularly include: Laminitis cases, white line disease, stumbling problems, Cushings and Peripheral Cushings cases, and veterinary referrals.  We also trim and shoe a variety of sound horses from all breeds and disciplines.  Students considering farrier school are invited to visit our facility and are encouraged to ask questions.  Please feel free to call or email to confirm an appropriate day to visit.

 

Our Curriculum...

includes practical instruction in live shoeing, forging handmade shoes and modifying keg shoes, and classroom study of anatomy and physiology. Students gain hands-on experience with remedial shoeing techniques for treating lameness pathology of all types, including application of the Equine Digit Support System (EDSS).

In addition to Natural Balance principles, students are familiarized with the standards of farriery endorsed by the American Farriers Association which form the basis of the AFA`s certification programs, and the Guild of Professional Farriers and it's certification programs.

Students gain working experience with the different materials used in handmade shoes, with a variety of manufactured specialty shoes, and with numerous accessory products such as pads, packing, and repair composites.

Course Outline

This is a basic outline only. There is much more to be discussed in detail.

Over the 8 week period the course will include, but not be limited to:
 

• Anatomy: External Structures of the Hoof

• Sensitive Structures of the Hoof

• Bones of the Lower Leg

• Tendons of the Lower Leg

• Ligaments of the Lower Leg

• Dissections of the Lower Leg

• Recognizing Hoof Distortion

• Basic Shoeing

• Specialty Shoeing

• Therapeutic Shoeing

• Shoeing for Soundness and Conformation

• Working with Veterinarians on Lameness Cases

• Barefoot Trims

• Natural Balance Parameters - What It Is and What It Isn’t

• Bio Mechanics of the Natural Hoof

• Wild Horse Research

• Re-thinking Healthy Foot Function

• Lamenesses: What Goes Wrong

• Angular Limb Deformities

• Environmental Influences and It’s Effect on Domestic Feet

• Shoeing to Correct Gait Faults

• Forging: Anvil Basics

• Modifying Keg Shoes

• Front and Hind Patterns

• Hand Made Shoes, Creasing & Plain Stamped

• Identification and Classification of Horseshoes & Nails

• Pads, Packing, and Frog Support

• Support Systems

• Horsemanship - Handling Bad Actors

• American Farriers Association (AFA) Certification Study, and the Guild of Professional Farriers (GPF)

• Setting Up Your Business and Beginning Inventory

from Mission Farrier School Graduates Hey Mark and Karen,   Just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how great things are going for me here. Spring has arrived and business is booming! I have gotten a new client almost everyday this week! Everyone loves my work and my "way with the horses" and I am just so thankful that I found Mission Farrier School.   I feel like I got the best possible education, hands down! I had another new farrier come up to me a few nights ago in a restaurant, we talked horses, hooves and schools for a few minutes and he said to me, "Wow, your experience was WAY different than mine. I kinda feel like I should have spent more time choosing a school...."   Everything we learned in class have been invaluable to me. Even the things I thought at the time that I would never have to use. I feel like not only am I good farrier, I have better horsemanship as well. After I explain what I'm doing to my clients and show them how the lower limb should function, they think it's wonderful!  I even got the chance to shoe a championship winning jumper, I was sweating that one wondering if I was going to finally have to nail a perimeter fit! The owner thought the shoes were amazing and gave me a big tip when I was done.   Anyways, I'm just really excited that my business is going well. I truly love each moment spent under a horse and love helping the ones who need a little special attention. You guys truly helped me achieve my dream.   Thank you! Erica   Mark and Karen Plumlee are exceptionally proficient and professional in the operation of the school.  From the study of detailed limb anatomy, to the extensive forging exercises, to the professional nailing and hoof finishing, MFS has it all.  I strongly recommend Mission Farrier School to someone just starting out, or to the horseshoeing veteran simply looking for "more".    As a provider for my family, walking away from a successful high tech career wasn't easy, so when I decided to make a complete occupational change to horseshoeing, I knew that I needed to choose an education that would give me the best chance to succeed.  After extensive research and personal interviews with the directors of the "top schools", I was impressed that studying at Mission Farrier School would give me the best opportunity in my new profession.  What has succeeded my expectations was the amount of success I would have, as I built my business immediately following school.  The demand for this "common sense" approach to horseshoeing is nothing short of remarkable!  Within 6 months of marketing myself, I had a full-time clientele.  But better than that was the success I had in helping horses with "incurable" lameness issues and the happiness reflected on the faces of their owners.    Brad “Hey Mark & Karen,  Thank you for providing me with the skills and support that generate this kind of customer response.  See Below.  Thanks again”, Randy.  “As a professional, I totally get it when it comes to service and making sure my clients feel confident in my skills. When I met with Randy I knew right away my horses were in the hands of a gentleman who cared. I saw the difference, and my horses felt the calm energy that Randy has.  Our one horse was about a week away from being put down due to the condition of his front feet.  Now I actually think Cody and I will be on the tails again someday! I'm almost afraid to write too many great things about Randy because he will get too busy and harder to book with! But really, I have to say something because my husband and I sleep better knowing he will be there for our horses and us. He's very reliable.   Becky.” Hello Reba, I attended Mission Farrier School in the fall of 2001.. It was truly a great choice in my education as a farrier. My experience there was one I will never forget. MFS is absolutely the way to go for the most current information in farrier science, and plenty of hands-on experience. You will also get an excellent education in horse handling. I was able to build up a practice fairly quickly and just by word of mouth. I have never had to advertise! As far as being a woman in this traditionally male oriented field, I have not had any issues other than the occasional nose out of joint because I was able to make a difference for a horse that traditional methods could not. The best suggestion besides attending this school is to find a vet who knows about Natural Balance. You will be amazed at the difference you can make when you can team up with a veterinarian. The skills and knowledge I learned at MFS has provided  a niche that traditional farrier science has not been able to fill. You will not regret your choice of this excellent school. (Are you getting the idea that I might have a fairly high opinion of Mark's school?) In any case, please contact me if you need to talk about it. Graduate of MFS, Marylynne N.   Hi Mark and Karen, Thank you again for doing such a thorough and beautiful job on Jiggy's feet. I did groundwork with her tonight and couldn't believe my eyes! She moves so differently. In her turn out she was loping around and had an extended trot that she couldn't do before. We are astonished and shocked to see how much discomfort she was in that prohibited so much of this movement, so thank you again for squeezing me in today. I so appreciate your helpfulness and educating me about her feet.  I look forward to seeing you guys again soon.  Blessings, HW  MFS Client       Randy is a great farrier! He is patient and very thorough. I have two quarter horses, age 19 and age 15.  The 19 year-old had terrible feet and was in such discomfort that we were concerned that we would have to put him down in the near future. Before Randy shod him, he was not rideable. He is now sound, pain free and acting like a young colt. The 15 year-old was on anti-inflammatories and Bute due to lameness. He is now off all medications, sound and pain free.  We have tried all sorts of things to help our horses and all they really needed was Randy and natural balance!  We are in constant contact with horse people of all disciplines, so we tell everyone to call Randy or find a farrier that was trained at Mission Farrier School.  It is truly amazing to see your horses go from lame and in pain to sound, rideable, pain free and happy immediately after they are shod.  MC and RC, Clients of MFS Graduate Randy R.