Course Description

 

Six Week Horeshoeing Course:

Areas of Concentration:

  • Intermediate equine leg and foot anatomy and physiology
  • Proper horse handling
  • Foot trimming
  • Shoeing
  • Basic work on a forge

Expectations of Trainees at course completion:

Horse Analysis:

  • Knowledge and understanding of lower leg and hoof anatomy
  • Recognition and adjustment of hoof and lower leg deformities
  • Ability to analyze and improve a horse's movement through therapeutic shoeing and trimming

Skills:

  • Trim a horse in balance
  • Shape or alter a keg shoe and nail it in correctly
  • Correctly clinch and finish a foot
  • Forge basic shoes from barstock
  • Basic welding - both Arc and Acetylene

Tools:

  • Knowledge of all tools
  • Capability to use and maintain tools competently

Professionalism:

  • Discuss fundamental horseshoeing concepts using appropriate terminology
  • Display knowledge of basic leg and foot anatomy using appropriate terminology
  • Fundamental knowledge of business record-keeping

Approximate Time Commitment Outline:

Anatomy and Physiology : 25 hours
Shoeing : 40 hours
Horsemanship : 20 hours
Nailing and Finishing : 40 hours
Hoof Trimming : 40 hours
Forging Techniques : 10 hours
Welding Techniques : 10 hours
Tool Maintenance : 4 hours
Gait Analysis : 5 hours
Shoe Shaping : 30 hours
Written Exams : 3 hours
Labs : 6 hours