American Farriers Journal
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
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Grow Your Skills with Continued Education
This article was originally published Aug. 1, 2019 and has been updated.
Pictured Above: When you attend conferences or clinics like the International Hoof-Care Summit, review the topics that will be addressed ahead of time, so you can have your questions answered.
Farrier Takeaways
- Finding a mentor is an effective way of beginning your networking circle to enhance your growth as a farrier.
- In-person events, certifications and webinars are great opportunities for you to build on what you’ve learned at farrier school.
- Forging competitions offer a hands-on approach and an opportunity to practice the skills you need to master on the anvil and the horn to modify shoes.
Attending and graduating from farrier school will help you lay the groundwork for a successful career — but if you want to continue to improve in your skills and develop as a hoof-care practitioner, it is only the beginning. Industry leaders point to an increasing emphasis on continuing education and professionalism in the farrier world, and the ongoing need to add to your knowledge and skills.
Continuing education can include earning credentials from farrier organizations to document your competence and expertise, and those credentials can be shared via business cards, websites and word-of-mouth to win the confidence of horse owners and turn them into clients.
“Having formal education standards is a key factor for the future of the industry,” says Bryan Quinsey, the executive director of the American and International Associations of Professional Farriers (AAPF/IAPF). “We want to be able to show horse owners a farrier’s ongoing commitment to continuing education.”
Continuing Education and
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Date: 01/02/25
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