The Hoof Care Status Quo

Although there are many choices available when it comes to learning hoof care, there are no generally-agreed-upon criteria for what constitutes proper hoof care; all one must do to confirm this is to ask ten hoof care providers how best to care for the feet of a particular horse, and listen to the wide assortment of answers. This is echoed by the lack of licensing, certification, or education requirements to call oneself a horseshoer, hoof care provider, hoof trimmer, etc. anywhere in this country and in many others as well. Consequently, many, if not most, of the trimming and shoeing “styles” in common practice are actually harmful to the horse, as well as other hooved species, in the long term, greatly reducing their useful life and often leaving them in chronic pain. The animal owner then ends up spending a lot of money in vain trying to find solutions to hoof problems that their hoof care providers have created but are simply unprepared to recognize, let alone address. This, unfortunately, is an all-too-common scenario for both shod and barefoot animals.

Help for the Horse, Hope for the Horse Owner

Fortunately, Nature has given us a reliable, science-based source of information when it comes to hoof care: the example of the feral horse in its aboriginal environment, which has been endowed with optimal hoof function & form. Through an understanding of why these feet have ideal function & form, the hoof care provider is accordingly equipped to optimize foot health, movement, and long-term comfort & soundness, for the domestic horse. Sharing that knowledge is our mission, and, through our certification program, we are thus able to: 1) equip others with that knowledge, and 2) offer horse owners a dependable source for skilled hoof care providers.

Why be a Certified Hoof Care Practitioner?

Certification, of course, is only as meaningful as the quality of the education behind it. Our many years of university-level teaching experience have allowed us to create what we firmly believe to be the best, most-comprehensive hoof care education program available. And, as we continue to devote much of our time and resources to increasing awareness in the horse and zoo worlds of the need for better-trained, credentialed hoof care providers (see About Us), we are confident that more horse owners will recognize the importance of relying on qualified hoof care professionals.

If you’re interested in a professional career in the horse world, becoming a Certified Hoof Care Practitioner has a number of distinct advantages over other career options:

• Education and startup costs are relatively low
• The earning potential is better than many other horse careers
• You’ll be earning money while completing your education
• You can work literally anywhere there are horses
• You can work full- or part-time
• You can choose your customers
• You have opportunities to help horses and people

Check out our program, and call, text, or write to discuss whether or not certification is right for you. We’re here to help!