About Us

"Forging skilled farriers in Canada, one apprentice at a time."

Farrier Trainers of Canada is a new association that focuses on farrier accreditation through the process of examination. We aim to establish a Canadian standard for farriery that is internationally recognized. The standard that is set in place allows for a structured training and exam process for individuals in their first to four years of apprenticing all the way to the journeyman level. We believe in creating a higher and more consistent standard of farrier knowledge and skills across Canada with the possibility of regulation in the future. AFTC focuses on both hard and soft skills of being a farrier; that includes anatomy, professional communication, forging and shoeing skills.

If farriers are to be recognized as a group of professionals there needs to be a more complete education model to learn the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required of farriers today. It was decided at a meeting held in Langley B.C. during the winter of 2018 that an apprenticeship was the best way forward. Just as other trades use lengthy and recognized apprenticeships, so too can the farrier industry. Looking outside of the country, the model most admired is the system in the United Kingdom, the Worshipful Company of Farriers. That organization has been the template used to create the Canadian model. A diverse group of farriers from across the country has met online regularly since October 2019 to develop a Canadian farrier apprenticeship program and accreditation.

The apprenticeship program has a duration of 3-5 years. With apprentice exam Levels 1 and 2 recommended to be taken within the first 1-3 years of an individual’s apprenticeship. After that a candidate may challenge their Level 3 exam which is equivalent to a Journeyman. If successful with their Level 3 exam the individual will receive their Approved Journeyman Farrier of Canada, A.J.F.C.

AFTC Association Structure

The AFTC membership is made up of all members in good standing of regional farrier associations of Canada that support the A.F.T.C. There is no membership fee for individual members. However, each regional association is expected to contribute financially to support the A.F.T.C.

The A.F.T.C. board is created from two members from each regional association. The executive of the A.F.T.C. is elected by the board members.

The board will decide apprentice placements, exams dates and locations, and awarding of credentials.

Exams outcomes will be evaluated by examiners. Each exam will have a minimum of three examiners, two farrier and one veterinary examiner.

Meet The Examiners

B.C - Russell Floyd, AWCF

Russell lives and runs his farriery practice Prince George, BC. He graduated from the Old’s Farrier Program in 2003. After school and a short apprenticeship Russell had a love for the mountains, and much of his early 20’s was split between shoeing and guiding for outfitters in the wilderness of BC. Guiding brought Russell to Prince George, where the need for another farrier was evident. Over the past several years Russell has pursued farrier competitions and certifications. He received his Associate of the Worshipful Company of Farriers in 2020. He has competed in the WCB circuit and actively competes in Western Canada. He has an interest in anatomy and physiology of the distal limb, and contributes articles to the Anatomy Corner of the FAWS newsletter. Russ is 1 of 3 people in Canada to have his AWCF.

AB - Greg Toronchuck, CJF

After completing a BSc in Ag from the University of Alberta I completed the program at
Butler’s Professional Farrier School in 2007. Furthering your education was an important take
home message when I left the school in Nebraska and over several years I worked along many
farriers in the Edmonton area. Many of these farriers I worked for pushed me to get competing
and let my peers be the true judge of my abilities. Over the years I have competed across most
of Canada and throughout the United States. I have competed as an individual, in a two and
four man team with each circumstance contributing more versatility in my farrier skills. The AFA
certification program was the most accessible certification program available at the time and the
CFJ has been a long time standard to skilled farriers. Once I acquired my CJF designation I set
my sights on becoming an AFA Tester in the fall of 2019.
I work in a multi-farrier business that gives the opportunity for self improvement
everyday. Working closely with your peers daily is a game changer when you strive to put down
your best work day in and day out. We see a wide variety of horses and disciplines. It seems
like more and more we are tasked with keeping skilled and aged horses sound and successful
in their program. I also get asked a few times a year to do lectures, demonstrations, and
dissections for various clubs and equine therapy students. These are truly some of my favorite
days.
Outside of my professional life my time is spread out with my 3 children and wife. We
spend our time outdoors hunting, fishing and hiking. Hockey and lacrosse keep us pretty busy
as well.

AB - Jason Wrublurski, CJF

Jason has been shoeing horses full time since 1999. He completed his CJF in 2005 and in 2007 he made the Canadian Farrier Team. Jason has been a two term President of the Western Canadian Farriers Association. Competed at the WCBC during the Calgary Stampede many times. Currently he runs a busy farrier business around the Edmonton area and is an active participant in clinics and contests.

Alternate Examiners

Chad Lausen - AJFC

Gerard Laverty - CJF, AWCF, AJFC

Mike O'Neill - CJF

Tim Koelin - CJF

Will Clinging - CJF, AJFC

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Jean-Martin Lauzon, CJF

I began my career in farriery in 1998 and have since competed in various competitions, including the Canadian farriers team in 2007. I take pride in crafting almost all of my shoes by hand and have even had the opportunity to judge a few competitions. As the former president of the AMFQ and owner of Forge Lauzon, I manufacture tools for making horseshoes and blacksmithing. I am passionate about helping the next generation and staying involved in the farriery community.

QC- Oliver Dufresne, CJF

Olivier has been a full time farrier since 2010. He began his career at Oklahoma Horseshoeing School, then continued at Heartland Horseshoeing in Missouri. Since then Olivier has travelled and worked with numerous farriers in both Canada and the United States. Olivier spent the first three years working several days each week with one of the senior farriers in his area before establishing his business. He earned his CJF from the A.F.A. in 2017 and continues to compete as much as possible. Olivier has been president of the A.M.F.Q. for three years, and served six years on the board of directors.

ONT - Adam McQueen, CJF

Adam began his horseshoeing career by attending Pat Cullen’s Canadian School of Horseshoeing in 1992. Upon completion, Adam apprenticed with various industry professionals, and started competing at local events. He has since been a member of the Canadian Farriers Team seven times.
He enjoys shoeing a variety of disciplines, but had a strong interest in shoeing hunters and heavy horses.
Adam lives on a farm in Bognor Ontario with his wife and two children.

Veterinary Examiner - Dr. Andrea Dube, DVM (ONT)

QC- Dean Sinclair, CJF

Dean has been active in the field of farriery in British Columbia for over 44 years as a working farrier, a teacher, a mentor, and a competitor.
After obtaining a Diploma in Animal Health Technology at NAIT (1977-1979), he enrolled in the Olds College Farrier Science program in the fall of 1979. Upon completion of the program, Dean returned to the Okanagan Valley where he started a mixed farrier practice out of Kelowna. Over the ensuing years, he mentored a number of students from both Olds and Kwantlen College during their summer practicums.
In 2000, Dean returned to Olds College to take the position of Coordinator and Head Instructor of the Farrier Science program, a position he held for 14 years. During that time he taught hundreds of young students the skills of the farrier trade, many of whom are still actively working in the industry today. Upon retiring in 2014 from the College, he returned to the Okanagan and focused his attention on running his farrier practice full time.
A five-time Canadian Farrier Team member, Dean’s passion for teaching and for competing resulted in 11 of his former students earning positions on the Canadian National Farrier Team.
Today Dean continues to hone his craft, shoeing horses part-time in Vernon, BC, and is enjoying semi-retirement with his wife Michelle at their home on Okanagan Lake.

Dr. Andrea Dubé is a 2007 graduate of Atlantic Veterinary College. She completed her internship in an equine emergency referral hospital in Westchester county, New York and remained in New York for most of the next 8 years practicing primarily sports medicine, reproduction, internal medicine and wellness in hospital and ambulatory settings. During a brief time in New Brunswick, Dr. Dubé developed a love of draft horses, standardbred breeding and learning to apply all she had learned in New York to the pleasure horses of southern New Brunswick. She made her final return to Canada in 2015. Currently Dr. Dubé practices largely sports medicine with clinical interest in performance horses, advanced diagnostics, classic as well as regenerative therapies, physiotherapy and function with a holistic approach to managing the whole horse. Clinical interests also include veterinary acupuncture, rehabilitation, podiatry, geriatric medicine and reproduction.

Veterinary Examiner - Dr. Kate Robinson, DVM (ONT)

Dr. Robinson joined McKee Pownall Equine Services in October 2020 following 11 years in academic practice at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), University of Saskatchewan. During her time at WCVM Dr. Robinson was an intern and then resident in Equine Field Service; she completed her Master’s in Veterinary Science and was an assistant professor for seven years. While on faculty, Dr. Robinson was heavily involved in clinical, didactic and laboratory teaching in all four years of the veterinary curricula. She oversaw the care of the teaching horses, regularly participated in client education, co-created 4feet (a farrier/veterinary continuing education group) and supervised residents and interns. Dr. Robinson contributed to equine research, both through her own projects and through collaboration on other’s projects. Last but not least, she ran a busy clinical practice where she saw a wide variety of patients from backyard ponies and donkeys to high level performance horses.

Since joining MPES, Dr. Robinson has taken over as medical lead at the McKee Pownall Equine Services Rehabilitation and Reproduction Facility and as just completed her Canadian Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy (Chiropractic) certification course. Dr. Robinson is quite excited to have the opportunity to learn and practice VSM, as it is something she has been interested in her entire career. When not working on cases at the MPES Rehab Farm, she may be found on the road caring for other patients. Dr. Robinson loves all aspects of equine medicine, but is particularly fond of podiatry and imaging, and has found a renewed interest in dentistry.

When away from work, Dr. Robinson enjoys spending time with her husband, their two dogs and cat, and her horse, Fern. She enjoys being outside, where you might find her golfing, hiking or spending evenings around a bonfire.

Veterinary Examiner - Dr. Chad Hewlett, DVM (AB)

There would be no Energy Equine without Dr. Chad Hewlett. Dr. Hewlett was born and raised in Iowa and graduated from Iowa’s Wesleyan College with a Bachelor of Science with Honours and then followed with his DVM in Iowa State University. His post-graduate internship was spent at the Ontario Veterinary College where he specialized in Equine Surgery Medicine. His next move was to Calgary, Alberta, where he worked for Moore Equine Veterinary Centre. At Moore’s he gained an incredible knowledge of the equine athlete, and began to focus on lameness. Chad’s interest brought him to famous lameness veterinarian, David McCarrol, at Interstate Equine in Goldsby, Oklahoma. Once again returning to Calgary in 2006, and after the successful completion of a post-doctorate IVAS certification in Veterinary Acupuncture, Chad started his own ambulatory practice, Energy Equine. Dr. Hewlett has a special interest in performance horse soundness and locomotion and is known for treating some of the top performance horses in the country.

About Us

AFTC Association Structure

Meet The Examiners

Code of Practice

Download the AFTC Code of Practice here:

Farrier Trainers of Canada