Turkey’s first official farrier school opened its doors in November 2023, a project Hall of Fame farrier and Kentucky Horseshoeing School founder Mitch Taylor had been working on for some considerable time

Taylor has been visiting Turkey and providing education for several years. During this time, he built a strong relationship with the Turkish Jockey Club (TJK). Through this mutual respect and understanding of the need for improved farriery skills and knowledge, a collaboration between the Kentucky Horseshoeing School and the TJK was born.

Birth of the School

The TJK Farriery School was founded in a part of Turkey known as Karacebay, a 10,000-acre stud farm with many private- and TJK-owned bloodstock. It also holds a training development scheme for future jockeys and racing personnel.

Through Taylor’s extensive knowledge of farriery education, a program was created to cater to 12 students who were chosen from 50 candidates to be the first class trained in developing hoof-care-related skills and a higher understanding of anatomy, disease and pathologies.

I met Taylor a few years ago upon visiting America for the first time to attend the International Hoof-Care Summit. I traveled to the United States with Simon Curtis, PhD, FWCF, HonAssocRCVS, who not only is a good friend but was my boss many years ago. He remains my mentor to this day. Through their friendship, I was fortunate to be introduced to Taylor in 2020 at Kentucky Horseshoeing School. This connection led to Taylor and I agreeing on an international collaboration between KHS…