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 10 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