How to Achieve A Sounder Horse

in an apprenticeship situation for four years after they graduate school. They can go on to do their AFA exams to attain their Certified Journeyman Farrier CJF status after completing their apprenticeship.
Although there are many other farrier examination processes in North America and abroad the AFA Journeyman exams remain the standard that all farriers should ideally attain in North America.
Not many farriers will take on apprentices. Not many farriers are certified or qualified to educate an apprentice. We therefore have a vicious cycle of isolation and undereducated persons practicing farriery in this country. This results in some horse owners believing that more harm than good is being done and that all shoeing is detrimental to horses.
The basic shoeing job by many farriers is a flat shoe fit hot or cold nailed on the foot. In preparing the foot to receive a shoe the foot should be properly trimmed flaredressed and balanced to accept the appropriately fitted shoe. Properly positioned nails of adequate number and size should be used to attach the shoe to the foot. Shoes can also have clips a wellfitted clip is the equivalent of two nails in the hoof.
Flare dressing is the act of removing excess growth and hoof wall distortion caused by inequality of weightbearing upon the hoof capsule.
When choosing trimming techniques it is important to remember that horses have been removed from their natural habitat. What we do with the horny the harder exterior hoof structures greatly influences the sensitive structures within the hoof capsule. Proper trimming is the foundation for all good shoeing jobs.
Many farriers choose to cold shoe without clips or appropriate shoe modifications due to lack of knowledge or lack of education. Whether the shoe is handmade from scratch or machine made it is paramount that the shoe being applied compliments the