With more than 25 Certified Journeyman Farriers having requested the new study guide for the American Farrier’s Association therapeutic certification program, the recently reinstated program appears to be gaining momentum.

Earlier this year, Jeff Ridley of Leighton, Iowa, became the second farrier to qualify for the therapeutic endorsement. The only other farrier to receive this endorsement is David Ferguson of Cambridge, Md., who qualified in 1996.

Under the direction of committee chairman Mike Miller of Huntsville, Ala., the program is designed to recognize farriers with outstanding therapeutic shoeing skills. Other therapeutic endorsement committee members include equine veterinarian Christine Martin and Chris Gregory, who operates the Heartland Horseshoeing School at Lamar, Mo.

To qualify for the therapeutic endorsement, a farrier must successfully complete four portions of the program. These include putting together a therapeutic shoeing board, taking a written exam that deals with common problems and topics that a farrier doing therapeutic shoeing would be familiar with, passing a practical exam where a handmade shoe has to be made for a specific therapeutic purpose and presenting several therapeutic case studies in an oral evaluation by committee members.

To receive more information on the therapeutic endorsement certification program or to obtain a study guide, call Chris Gregory at (417) 682-6896.

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