The Colorado State University Farrier Science Apprenticeship Program is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for students to become professional farriers. The program takes one full year to complete. We offer over 100 performance horses for shoeing and have 100 mares available for trimming. In addition, apprentices will be exposed to therapeutic shoeing of horses referred to the program by the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

The program emphasizes forge work, hot and cold shoeing and business aspects of farriery. Apprentices will receive a high degree of individual instruction due to the limited enrollment. Furthermore, they will have the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and skills from guest instructors (i.e. farriers and veterinarians deemed experts in their respective fields) and attend the Rocky Mountain Farriers Association meetings and clinics. The broad range of experiences combined with high quality instruction provide individuals with the unique opportunity to begin a career as a professional farrier upon completion of the program.

Instructors
Students will work under the direct supervision of farrier Steve Mellin with supplementary instruction provided by Dr. Paul D. Siciliano. Steve has 24 years of farrier experience and has served as both vice president and president of the Rocky Mountain Farrier Association. He has also served on several regional and national committees. Dr. Siciliano is an Assistant Professor of Animal Science at CSU and teaches undergraduate courses in animal nutrition and farrier science.

Program duration
One year. New terms begin on May 1 and November 1 of each year.

Program tuition: $4,500.00.

Enrollment
The apprenticeship program accepts four new students every six months.

Required equipment
Trimming and forging tools are the student's responsibility with the exception of the forge, anvil, vice and materials. Safety glasses must be worn when working with steel. Long pants and boots are required.

 Program outline

• Week 1 - Anatomy of feet and legs, introduction to trimming
• Week 2-5 - Anatomy, trimming, balance, introduction to shoeing with Keg shoes
• Week 6-8 - Anatomy, balance, cold shoeing

Quarterly written exam

• Month 3 - Trimming, shoeing, light forge work
• Month 4 - Hand-made shoes, hot shoeing, therapeutic shoes, lameness
• Month 5- Forging projects, hot shoeing and trimming, therapeutic shoeing
• Month 6 - Forge work, hot shoeing and trimming

Midterm written exam

• Month 7-8 - Hot shoeing and trimming, ornamental forging, business aspects

Quarterly written exam

• Month 9-12 - Hot shoeing and trimming, shoeing performance horses, lameness, finishing forge work, business aspects, preparing for final and certification test

Student evaluations

• Daily evaluation based on student participation
• Six forging specimen projects
• Two quarterly written exams
• One written midterm
• One final horseshoeing practical
• One final forging practical
• One written final

For more information: Please contact Steve Mellin at 970.491.8373