Horseshoeing is an art that dates back more than two thousand years. Today, some of the world’s best farriers are being trained in right here in Kentucky.
Founded in 1978, the Kentucky Horseshoeing School is one of the premiere farrier education centers in North America, drawing students from across the United States and the world.
Located in Richmond, Kentucky, the trade school sits on 40 acres of rolling pasture, with 23,000 square feet of classroom space, shops and teaching areas. It is unique in the fact that it is the only accredited, free standing school of its kind in the United States. Most other schools are housed within a university or college. This allows the campus to focus on the needs of their students and the farrier’s craft.
Most students choose the 36-week course, though they offer courses as short as 12 weeks, so both working professional farriers and individuals new to the trade can learn what they need to in order to excel in their career.
Instructions teach the best of traditional practices, as well as the newest research, for state-of-the-art shoeing methods and materials. They focus on balanced shoeing through a combination of anatomy, physiology and biomechanical training, as well as practical work, including field tours around the state.
It is important for the school that their students understand “why” alongside of “how” when formulating a hoof care plan for a horse, providing for both hoof and leg health of the animal. Students learn how to trim a horse for proper balance and how to recognize and treat common types of lameness and gait problems. They learn basic and advanced forging techniques, using both coke (which is a material healthier to breathe in than coal) and gas forges.
With its accreditation, the school is able to offer financial aid, Post 911 GI Bill funds for veterans, as well as financing. Behind the school, they have high quality, energy efficient dorms.
“Whether you are a Veteran of the United States Military, a recent High School graduate, or something in between, we will put you on the road to your own personal success as a quality horseshoer,” Campus Director Kimberly Thomasson said.
The Kentucky Horseshoeing School is also home to the annual World Horseshoeing Classic held every March. In partnership with the World Championship Blacksmiths, they have hosted the three-day international event for 11 years.
Each day features a different horse variety and the 18 teams have 2.5 hours to prepare the horse’s feet, forge a shoe, fit, finish and nail the shoes. They compete for a $10,000 purse and the coveted title “World Champions.”
In 2020, they welcomed 72 of the best farriers in the world for the event from all over the United States, the United Kingdom, Whales, Scotland, Denmark, Belgium, Australia, Switzerland, and Canada.
The Kentucky Horseshoeing School is proud to have graduates working at the top of the farrier industry, shoeing world champions of all breeds and providing leadership within the farrier and equine communities.
And we are proud to support them. The Mountain Association worked with our partners at Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation to provide affordable financing for the school. To learn more about them, please visit here.
