Heartland Horseshoeing School

E-Mail: anvil@earthlink.net

AVAILABLE COURSES

Our courses are designed to create the ideal learning opportunity. The list of available courses is as follows:

Beginners Course
Practical Farrier Course	8 weeks
Advanced Farrier Course	16 weeks
Journeyman Farrier Course	24 weeks
Advanced Courses
Farrier Blacksmith Course	3 weeks
National Certification Course	1 week

Upon successful completion of all forge-work, tests, and satisfactory attendance, the student will be issued a certificate of completion. This certificate is recognized throughout the horse and farrier industries, and lets perspective employers know that the individual is qualified to perform the skills required of a professional farrier.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

Everyone has a different strength when it comes to learning. Some people can learn anything from a book, while some people need to see it applied, and do it for themselves before it sinks in. At HHS, the student will be taught with every method, in order to assure that the student understands and can apply what is being presented.

Application Form
Please print both pages, fill out all information, include application fee and mail to:
Heartland Horseshoeing School
327 Southwest 1st Lane
Lamar, Missouri 64759

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Practical Farrier Course

Class Schedule - Year and Dates Class is offered
2007	2008	2009	2010
3/12 - 5/4	3/10 – 5/2	3/9 – 5/1	3/8 – 4/30
5/7 – 6/29	5/5 – 6/27	5/4 – 6/26	5/3 – 6/25
7/9 – 8/31	7/7 – 8/29	7/6 – 8/28	7/5 – 8/27

Shorter courses have been tried, but we have found that 8 weeks is about as short as a farrier course can be, and still provide the experience that students need to feel competent and confident about starting a shoeing business. Even though this is the shortest beginners course offered at HHS, graduating from this course will enable you to start and run a successful farrier business.

The Practical Farrier Course is designed to teach an individual to become a professional farrier. Anatomy, shoeing theory, corrective shoeing techniques, correcting faults of gait, therapeutic shoeing techniques, tool and handmade horseshoe forging, and running a successful business are all taught in this course. Students in this course will also perform a leg dissection. Only one text book is used in this course. If you are in the first or last course of the year, you will need The Principles’ of Horseshoeing II, by Dr. Doug Butler, PHD, CJF, FWCF. If you are enrolled in the second course of the year, you will need Hickrnans’ Farriery, by John Hickman, FWCF and Martin Humphrey.

The final horse test in this course is equivalent to the AFA Certified Farrier exam, which means that successful graduates will be prepared to take and pass the practical portion of the AFA Certified Farrier test. Students will be assigned over 20 forge projects in this course, covering everything from simple tools to complex handmade shoes such as the straight bar shoe. Successfully completing all of the forge projects in this course will prepare you for the shoe display portion of the AFA exam There are 2 written tests in this course. The first covers anatomy, and the second is comprehensive.

The Practical Farrier Course is offered 3 times a year. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to all students that successfully complete all of the required work to the high standard demanded at HHS.

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Advanced Farrier Course

Class Schedule - Year and Dates Class is offered
2007	2008	2009	2010
3/12 – 6/29	3/12 – 6/27	3/9 – 6/26	3/8 – 6/25
5/7 – 8/31	5/5 – 8/29	5/4 – 8/28	5/3 – 8/27

The Advanced Farrier Course is 16 weeks long, and is offered twice a year. This is a very intense course that is designed to bring students to an extremely high standard. In our experience, people that complete the longer course are about 3 times more proficient than those enrolled in the shorter course. What this means to a student is the additional investment in time will more than double the return.

All of the text book material covered in the Practical Earner Course is covered in the Advanced Earner Course twice. By having the theoretical aspects presented twice, students gain a more complete and thorough understanding of these complex aspects of farriery. There are 2 text books used in this course. This allows for the students to learn from 2 separate points of view.

The major differences between this course and the Practical Earner Course is that there are more than twice as many forge projects that become more difficult as the students skills increase. In addition, the student will do 2 dissections, and at least twice as many horses with supervised instruction. This helps create the confidence that is so important for anyone who wishes to become a self employed farrier in high demand.

The final horse test in the Advanced Farrier is the application of handmade shoes with clips. It is similar to the AFA Journeyman Farrier exam, with the exception that the time limit is extended. Successfully completing this course will take a person a long ways toward the goal of becoining an AFA Journeyman Farrier.

There are also 2 written tests in this course, however, they are much more difficult than the tests in the shorter course. Dedication and motivation are a must for all applicants that aspire to graduate from the Advanced Farrie Course. A Certificate of completion is awarded to all students who successfully complete all required work. This class isn't for everybody, just those that are driven to be successful.

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Journeyman Farrier Course

Class Schedule - Year and Dates Class is offered
2007	2008	2009	2010
3/12 - 8/31	3/12 - 8/29	3/9 - 8/28	3/8 - 8/27

This is it! The course that we always dreamed of having at HHS. The Journeyman Farrier Course is the ultimate course for those that demand only the best from themselves and those around them. 24 weeks is a long time to go to school, but it is a matter of perspective. If you compare the amount of time people spend going to cob lege to prepare for a career that is less rewarding (financially and the way you will feel about what you are doing for the horse and their owner) than farriery, it really isn’t that long. The individuals who have the drive to successfully graduate from the Journeyman Farrier Course will have all the skills and knowledge to be the next generation of leaders in the farrier industry.

The first 16 weeks of this course are the same as the Advanced Farrier Course. Students will be required to take all of the same tests to the same standard as those in the Advanced Farrier Course. At the end of the 16 weeks, it really starts to get interesting. There will be many complex and advanced forge projects during the last 8 weeks that will test and build the skills to a very high standard. Students will only be allowed to use handmade shoes that they have made for the last 8 weeks while shoeing. This will help prepare students for the AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier exam, as well as their final horse, which will be the equivalent to the practical portion of the AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier test. The final horse consists of shoeing 4 feet with handmades, toe-clips in front and quarter-clips behind, in 2 hours.

In addition to the advanced forge work required in this course, students will also complete 3 dissections and have to write a paper on an aspect of farriery. Students that are meeting the standard can choose to sit through the classroom portion of the course during the last 8 weeks, or use that time for forging or research on their papers. There is one additional written test for our Journeyman Farrier Course students. By the time you are taking this test, as well as your final horse, your skills and knowledge will be up to the challenge.

The Journeyman Farrier Course is only offered once a year. It is our least expensive course on a per week basis because this is the course we recommend the most. We know that not everyone can afford to spend that much time away from home, but if you are able, you won’t be disappointed. Like all the courses at HHS, successfully completing all required work to a high standard will earn a Certificate of Completion.

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Farrier Blacksmith Course

Class Schedule - Year and Dates Class is offered
2007	2008	2009	2010
2/5 - 2/16	2/4 - 2/13	2/2 - 2/13	2/1 - 2/12

This course is designed for individuals at any level who wish to become more proficient in the fire. It is not an absolute necessity that you are already a farrier, however the emphasis in this class is on farrier related forging, instead of ornamental forging.

The entire 3 weeks of this class will be spent in the shop, and there will be no lectures. It is a hands-on class, where a farrier can evolve into a skilled craftsman in the art of blacksmithing. There re several required projects starting with a horseshoe sandwich, and advancing t a straight-bar shoe, but that is by no means the extent of the class. Students at any level will be able to make shoes of their choice, and advance to making rnlre difficult and higher quality products.

We will teach you how to make your,own punches, drifts, pritchels, and tongs. Some students may even become proficient enough to make a creaser or other handled tools. This class is a lot of fun, and a good opportunity for the farrier to take a break from the routine while becoming better at their job.

Some people may be unable to escape from their business for 3 weeks, so it is arranged so that you may attend on a daily or weekly basis. This class is only offered once every year in February. These dates seem to be the best times for most farriers to take some time off.

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National Certification Course

Class Schedule - Year and Dates Class is offered
2007	2008	2009	2010
9/24 - 9/25	9/22 - 9/26	9/21 - 9/25	9/20 - 9/24

The National Certification Course is designed to help individuals pass the very stringent tests offered by the American Farrier's Association. It is a very intense course, and taught at a high rate of speed.

Since the origin of the AFA certification program, there have been very few individuals who were able to meet the standard. The best guess is that there is in the neighborhood of 75,000 farriers in the United States, and of these, less than 600 are AFA Certified Journeyman Farriers. A lot of people have attempted this test, but only a few have passed. The Certified Farrier level can also be difficult, but it is a stepping stone to the next level.

I originally passed my entire Journeyman exam in 1991 at the age of 22. Since that time, I have passed the written 12 times in 12 attempts, the practical shoeing portion 3 times in 3 attempts, and the bar shoe 5 times in 5 attempts. This record gives me an edge when it comes to helping other farriers reach their goals.

We spend every day of this class working on book work, bar-shoes and shoe boards, and shoeing horses to AFA standards in the time allotted for the practical portion of the test. The absolute best way to pass this test is to take it over and over with a judge timing, grading and helping you polish your work. Very rarely does the day end at 5:00 pm in this course.

On the last day of class, the students will take the actual written portion of the AFA exams. On Saturday, the candidates will take their practical portions of the exam for record. It is a great course, and very popular. Please send in your application as soon as possible when applying for this course.

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Mid Summer week off

Class Schedule - Year and Dates Class is offered
2007	2008	2009	2010
7/2 – 7/6	6/30 – 7/4	6/29 – 7/3	6/28 – 7/2

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Prices are subject to change, please check with us.

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