End of second level exams. Recommended to be taken between the second and fourth year of apprenticeship.

  1. Portfolio- Must be approved by registrar to continue to exam registration and participation.
  • Presentation of evidence of professional practice and fundamental farriery in the field. Two examples of regular ongoing farriery of an average horse. Show the horse in general as well as details of hooves.
  • Document feet before trims/ reset, photograph trim, fit and final shoeing product as well as how the feet look at the end of a shoeing cycle.
  • Must document a fore and hind hoof of two horses regularly shod
  • Must include, front, side and solar images of the hooves and shoes at the end of the shoeing period when the horse is due to be reshod. And once the two hooves have been reshod.
  • Include information for each image, a brief history of the horse and the work carried out.
  • Images must be clear, well-lit and on a clean flat floor.
  • A record of a practice shoeing by the candidate for the exam can be used as one example.
  • Can be presented as a PowerPoint, Word document, PDF or an email with photos with their appropriate descriptions
  • Portfolio must have a title which includes the name and email address of the candidate
  • Must be approved to ensure one is registering for the appropriate exam level
  • Submit to aftcregistrar@gmail.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           2. Written Exam – 80% to pass

Exam based on Gregory’s Textbook on Horseshoeing and Butler P.3.

  • All knowledge required for level 1, plus,
  • Horsemanship
  • General whole horse anatomy
  • Anatomy of the whole leg
  • Anatomical terms
  • Physiology (Normal function)
  • Safety
  • Basic conformation and common faults
  • General horse health
  • Disease and lameness of the hoof
  • In depth anatomy of limbs
  • Pathology and Disease
  • Lameness of the Limb

Online practice quizzes and test available https://farriered.gnomio.com/login/index.php

Log in as guest or email glaverty97@gmail.com to purchase full access to practice material.

Practical Exams – 70% to pass

Horse management, working position and safety will all factor into scoring of practical exams.

Required PPE, Safety glasses, steel toe boots, are all mandatory to participate in an exam. Hearing protection is recommended.

 Practical Exam 1- Tool Safety Inspection

  • Safety inspection of a complete set of shoeing and forging tools, including an apron that is in good repair.

 Practical test 2– Assessment

  • Horse assessment, trimming plan – 10 mins
  • Horse assessment to create an appropriate shoeing plan – form provided by examiner

Practical test 3- Shoeing

  • Time allowed 80 mins
  • Shoe 1 side of a horse with keg shoes, appropriate clips to be drawn by candidate
  • Fit Specifications:
    • Fit from the widest point forward is to be perimeter fit
    • No setting shoes back off the toe. The foot is to be trimmed to even wall thickness and fit to that.
    • The longest acceptable length is to the end of the heel bulbs
    • The shortest acceptable length is no less than 1/16” shoe beyond the last point of weight bearing surface.
    • At the discretion of the examiners, any shoe likely to cause injury to the horse will be considered a failure.
    • The shoeing test is evaluated on, trim, forging, fit, nailing and finish

 Practical test 4- Forging Part I

  • Present a prebuilt bar shoe welded by any means that fits a pattern.
  • Bar can be welded by any of the following forge welding, stick, arc welding, mig welding or brazing

 Practical test 4- Forging Part II 

  • Forge a hand-made open heel shoe with modified toe
    • rolled toe, rocker toe or set toe – at examiners discretion
    • concave, fullered or plain stamp – at examiners discretion
    • 30 min – concave, plain stamp
    • 35 min 3/4 fullered

Oral Exam- 70% pass

  • Time 15 – 20 mins
  • Discussion with AFTC approved veterinarian examiner.

A second level apprentice should have a thorough understanding of. . .

  • All of the areas of study of Level 1
  • In depth anatomy and physiology of the leg
    • all the tendons and ligaments distal to the carpus and tarsus joints
    • The circulatory system of the digit
    • Hoof structure, function and conformation
    • All the tissue of the digit and how they function in a normal healthy horse
  • Gait faults
    • For example: Forging, brushing, overreaching.
  • Common pathology of the leg and hoof
    • For example: Splints, bow tendon, arthritis, sidebone, all common hoof disease, abscess, thrush, white line, hoof wall cracks, sheared heels, mismatched hooves.
  • Understanding of common signs of lameness or disease, heat, swelling, sensitivity, range of motion, uneven gait, shoe/hoof wear.

Fundamental Farriery Portfolio