Now Enrolling for 2026
Spring Term March 15 to May 8 - Fall Term Sep 21 to Nov 13
What We Teach:
A Centered Approach
Mission Farrier School believes in a centered approach to shoeing and trimming, focusing on the balance parameters around the coffin joint, thereby improving ‘functional angle’. This reduces leverage on the joints of the lower limb and greatly reduces potential lamenesses while promoting soundness and longevity.
5 Guidelines For Horse/Hoof Evaluation​
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Every horse is evaluated based on these “5 Principles for Evaluating Hoof Health”.
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· Footfalls - Does the horse show signs of a heel first landing? What are other notable characteristics of the limb? Is there evidence of any lameness?
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· Distortion - How is distortion (due to growth) presenting in each individual foot?
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· Sole Plane - Is the internal bone column in medial/lateral balance as determined by the plane of live sole?
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· Breakover - Is there more mass behind the widest part of the hoof & breakover occurring in the correct location?
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· Load sharing - Is there good frog integrity with dirt compaction or similar taking place?
For further information we invite you to read “The 5 Articles for Evaluating Hoof Health”, as published in Northwest Horse Source Magazine, written by Mark and Karen Plumlee.
To read the online version: https://www.nwhorsesource.com/principles-for-evaluating-hoof-health-2/
The horses tell the truth, and they will thank you.
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When you have a proliferation of lameness like navicular disease as early as 6-7 years of age because 'it's the way we've always done it', there comes a time that we need to reexamine how horses are being shod. Traditional or 'conventional' farrier science has become part of the problem.
Shoeing a distorted toe, produces a lever on the dorsal aspect of the coffin bone and this puts the navicular region, impar ligament and collateral ligaments of the coffin joint under stress. This will lead to lameness issues in the majority of horses who work or perform. 100 years ago farriers were not shoeing a distorted toe.
Horses in History
The photo is from an online article that was reproduced in the American Journal of Archaeology. The text is in the public domain, from an article originally written in 1902.
"A reproduction of a photograph of four bronze horseshoes found at Corneto in ancient Etruria. These horseshoes were procured for the Free Museum of Science and Art of the University of Pennsylvania by Professor A.L. Frothingham of Princeton, in 1897, and are now in the Museum in Philadelphia. They were found in an Etruscan tomb dating probably from the fourth century B.C., and so far as the writer knows are the only ancient horseshoes in existence".
Mission Farrier School notes how the broad toe on these ancient horseshoes resembles the front pattern horseshoes that have come on the market in the last 20 years, most being produced with a built-in breakover advantage, thus moving away from the more narrow-patterned keg-shoes of the mid-to-late 1900's.
Horses were vital to the family farm and the economy of the land, and farriers hand-made all shoes. As mechanization and the automobile came upon the scene, society's dependency upon the horse all but disappeared. What also disappeared at that time were farriers who actually understood the biomechanics of the lower limb and how it was designed to function at a high level of soundness.
It was with the advent of the keg shoes, or 'ready-mades' as they were called, that implied that the shoe was ready to nail on in its present shape. These keg shoes carried a more pointed toe, and horse shoers began to shoe the grown distortion. Thus the beginning of rampant navicular disease in the equine population.
The Horsemanship Component
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At Mission Farrier School, horsemanship is foundational. We believe good farrier work begins by helping a horse make thoughtful choices instead of reacting in the ways that often typify their species. Rather than using fear, force, or excessive desensitization, we set situations up so the horse can clearly understand what’s being asked and willingly offer the right response. When a horse thinks instead of reacts, handling their feet becomes safer, calmer, and far more effective.
Our approach is strongly shaped by the Dorrance/Hunt style of horsemanship, emphasizing feel, timing, and clear communication. This helps students learn to read a horse, adjust in the moment, and create an environment where the horse can succeed.
Our lead instructor, Teddy Franke, brings a deep professional background to this philosophy. He is a Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) Master Instructor, CHA Certifier/Certification Director for EWI, a CHA Life Member, and holds multiple teaching and riding certifications, including instruction for riders with disabilities. Teddy is also an AQHA Professional Horseman, a member of the International Association of Professional Farriers, a former ranch manager, and a long-time farrier and horseman who teaches horsemanship through clinics and educational events. His blend of professional credentials and practical experience offers students a well-rounded, real-world foundation.
At Mission Farrier School, horsemanship isn’t an add-on—it’s the heart of our program. Students graduate as capable farriers and thoughtful horsemen prepared to communicate clearly with any horse they encounter.
Traditional Craftsmanship Meets Modern, Non-Traditional Methods
At Mission Farrier School, we honor the traditional craftsmanship that has defined farriery for generations—solid basic forging skills, attention to detail, correct use of tools, and a deep respect for the trade. Students learn the fundamentals the right way: building shoes at the anvil, shaping steel with intention, and understanding the anatomy and mechanics that guide sound farrier work.
At the same time, we embrace non-traditional and progressive approaches that reflect today’s evolving equine industry. This includes working with composite and polyurethane materials, modern hoof-care technologies, equine biomechanics, and horse-first handling techniques influenced by contemporary horsemanship. Our students are trained to think critically, adapt to each horse, and combine proven tradition with practical innovation.
The result is a farrier education that blends the best of both worlds—the craftsmanship of the past and the forward-thinking methods of today—preparing graduates for real-world success in a modern, diverse equine environmen
