There are three types of Farriers. The first has been taught by one of the many institutions/schools. In this case the education usually could be a 2 week course at the most basic level, an 8 week course giving more hands on experience and a 12 week course designed to provide enough confidence to the student to enter directly into the field as a Farrier

Another type of Farrier may have been educated by apprenticing. In this case he studied under another more established Farrier. As an apprentice the education usually starts out by keeping the Farriers truck and tools clean, rounding up and holding horses, and most likely pulling off the old shoes and following up with the finishing rasping. As time goes on he will be taught how to shape shoes and begin nailing. During this time he will also be taught all about horse anatomy, gait, and how to properly assess all the nuances of proper practice.

The third type of Farrier would be what some consider a "Cowboy" horseshoer. His or her education came from possibly growing up on a ranch and observing a brother or father putting shoes on a work animal. The expertise of the Farrier here is usually considered quite questionable.

What all horse owners contend with here is obviously the "Quality" of the education. Just because a Farrier attended a school is not a guarantee that his work is correct. Not all schools are alike nor do they all teach the same materials. In fact some schools never even let the student shoe a real horse, can you imagine that? So what if the schools are actually teaching the incorrect methods in the first place? The answer to that to the horse owner is lameness to their horses due to improper practices. This type of costly error is just not acceptable to the horse owner moreover to the animal as well.

So let's identify where one of the major problems lie and how you can help avoid for yourself and your horse serious problems with lameness. If your Farrier has been taught incorrect methods you must be able to identify this problem before it results in lameness.

There is a common practice of correcting toed in or toed out horses that is seriously incorrect and results in many lame horses. The textbooks will tell you if your horse is toed inward to "Shorten" the inside hoof wall compared to the outside hoof wall. This is a grave error. It does change the direction of the foot but at what cost. The problem with this method is horses feet are not designed by nature to twist. So by lowering one side of the hoof wall the farrier has introduced the undesirable "Twist" into the joint. Secondly one side of the hoof lower than the other creates "Bind" in the joints as well.

So the simple test to ask your Farrier to validate for yourself if he knows how to service your horses is quite simple. Just ask him or her how does he correct toed in and toed out horses. If his answer is to the effect of - "well, you just simply lower the hoof wall here or there" then you know your horse's well being and future safety is being jeopardized.

Studies are there is a 98% chance your horse is either toed in or toed out. Left untreated your horse is at risk. Given that schools are teaching the improper methods you and your horse are at risk. If the schools are teaching the incorrect methods what are horse owners to do? Seek out the truth either by yourself or through another.

The truth is the information on the proper method to address these problems is available to you for simply visiting the website below in the author bio. Thank you very much for pursuing this article, it came to you for a reason. The aim of this program is to prevent lameness in horses. We have a 100% track record with our methods resulting in not one single lame horse in 16 years due to these breakthrough methods. Empower and liberate yourself. Your horse will love you for it. Best wishes and remember to Care4Horses.