About Us
"Forging skilled farriers in Canada, one apprentice at a time."
The Approved Farrier Trainers of Canada (AFTC) is an association that focuses on farrier accreditation through the process of examination. We believe in creating a higher and more consistent standard of farrier knowledge and skills across Canada. To achieve this. the AFTC focuses on both hard and soft skills of being a farrier; that includes anatomy, professional communication, forging and shoeing skills.
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This certification program is designed by Canadian farriers for Canadian farriers. The exams encompass many of the challenges that are unique to this vast country, while also intending to keep pace with other international farrier certification standards.
In order to be eligible for an exam, candidates must submit a portfolio of work meeting criteria set by the AFTC (see the portfolio menu for more details!).
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The current levels of certification offered are:
Level 1, Approved Apprentice Farrier of Canada (AAFC)- This exam is perfect for recent graduates from a farrier school or new farrier apprentices.
Level 2, Approved Farrier of Canada (AFC)- This exam is ideal for farriers who have mastered the basics of hoof care and can demonstrate a high level of everyday farrier work.
Level 3, Approved Journeyman Farrier of Canada (AJFC)- These exams are for experienced farriers who are able to demonstrate advanced levels of farrier work.
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Approved Farrier Trainers of Canada (AFTC) Membership
Are you a member of one of these farrier associations, OFA, EOFA, AMFQ, or WCFA? then you're also a member of the AFTC!
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The AFTC membership is made up of all members in good standing of regional farrier associations of Canada that support the AFTC. There is no membership fee for individual members, as the regional farrier associations financially support the AFTC.
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The AFTC. board is created from two members from each regional association. The executive of the AFTC. is elected by the board members.
The board will decide apprentice placements, exams dates and locations, and awarding of credentials.
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The AFTC is a registered Non Profit Association
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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.
BC- 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.
ONT- Sean Elliot CJF
Sean graduated from Olds College in 1998. He operates a successful farrier practice in Southern Ontario. In 2013 he completed his CJF. Sean has spent many years involved in running the World Championship Blacksmith Competition at the
Calgary Stampede. While turning focus to certification, he spent a number of years competing in
both Canada and USA. With Stewart Bruce, Sean ran the Rumble in the Broncs competition, at the
Brooklyn Fair in Ontario, for nearly 20 years. He continues to be involved in running and
promoting continuing educational clinics with his wife Dr. Bri Henderson, DCVSMR.
Veterinary Examiner - Dr. Andrea Dube, DVM (ONT)
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. Anya Floyd, DVM (AB)
Dr. Anya Floyd was born and raised in British Columbia, growing up with horses and competing in 3-day eventing throughout B.C. and the western United States. In May of 2024 Dr. Floyd completed her veterinary degree at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island. She has a strong interest in sports medicine, podiatry, and dentistry. She is currently completing her Chi Veterinary Acupuncture Certification and is excited to be able to offer acupuncture as a complementary treatment for equine athletes. In her spare time she loves hiking with her dog Fletcher, and riding her horse Minnie. Dr. Floyd currently is a veterinarian at Energy Equine.
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.
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.
MB- Jonathon Green CJF
Jonathon Green started shoeing in 1989. He is a Canadian farrier team alumni. In 2016 he received the highest practical score on AFA Journeyman exams. He is passionate about continued education and enjoys the learning and camaraderie of farrier events.
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.