Want to learn to trim your own horse’s hooves?
Do you have a herd of horses at home and hoof trimming is getting too expensive? 
Do you want to learn to be able to take care of everyday trimming needs
 just for your own horses but you are unable to take several months off work or can not afford to attend a
 full time, long farrier school?  
  Here is a solution! 

 Learn how to  do everyday, basic barefoot hoof trimming 
 and pull shoes, properly trim and balance a hoof safely. 
Be able to maintain your horse’s hooves in between farrier visits.     

WE SUPPLY TOOLS AND HORSES FOR CLASS USE .
You may bring your own horses with prior arrangement.  

All participants recieve an informational and instructional 
package including the detailed
 "Natural Balance Hoof Trimming" DVD by Gene Ovnicek.You will recieve this
 by mail soon after your registration deposit is recieved. 
   

  2012 TRIM CLASS DATES :   

APRIL 30th  THROUGH MAY 4th 2012  
     
tuition is  $950 for five full days .
Class sizes are limited to six participants 
cut off for registration is March 31 .   See registration form
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE BEFORE SIGNING UP.

*If a tuition is received after a class is filled , we will contact you and see if you want to roll it over
 to the next available class or have it returned.  



 The instructor, Patty Stiller CNBF, CLS,   is a certified Natural Balance Lameness Specialist.
She was most recently the instructor for the Pikes Peak Community College Farrier Science.
She is also a former staff farrier for University of California Davis veterinary teaching hospital.
Her complete resume is available at www.hoofcareonline.com

  Classes are held at the home facilities of Natural Balance in co-operation with
the Equine Lameness Prevention Organization Farrier School (www.ELPOfarrierschool.com) in Penrose, Colorado.  
Information about the ELPO is available at  www.e-hoofcare.com

 In these five  day classes, horse owners will receive instruction in basic barefoot hoofcare techniques
using Natural Balance principles.
In these classes you will receive more “hands on” practical instruction for the price than in any of the other
barefoot hoof trimming classes you may have seen advertized . 

This class is also very good for working professional hoof trimmers who wish to expand on their
education by learning  Natural Balance hoof trimmming principles and techniques, or to pepare for a future 
ELPO  level 2 Natural Balance hoof trimming certification exam .

Please note that Hoofcare Specialties LLC
and The Equine Lameness Prevention Organization both take pride in the fact that the Natural Balance
certification is a truly professional level certification. 
  
***Therefore if you have never trimmed hooves before, this class will not  prepare you enough to pass the
strict ELPO profesional certification exams, but will give you a very good beginning in which to build.**** 

 Participants in this class need to be physically fit, able to twist and bend to get under horses in farrier
positions, and lift heavy objects. *2

 The classes are intensive five day sessions, 7 class hours a day.
Occasionally students may have to drive to another facility to trim available horses. However we make
every effort to have class horses brought to our facility.  
 
Classes run from 9 AM to 5 PM with a one hour lunch break .  Horses are supplied. *3



 CLASS OUTLINE:
This is a general outline. Class  may not run exactly in this order but all these subjects will be covered. .  
Day 1: Morning: In depth anatomy and function of the lower limb.
Discuss foot form and anatomy related to movement and soundness .
 We use Power point lectures, diagrams, and videos. 

 Afternoon:    Introduction to hand tool use and positions.  Demonstration of hoof trim by instructor .   
Hands on ,Learn how to measure, evaluate and map hooves to achieve proper hoof balance and form.     

evaluate, map and  trim specimin (cadaver) feet.
 Q and A .

 Day 2:
Morning:  Hands on, tool use, horse handling, learn positions to hold hoves and work on horse .
Afternoon :Lecture  and Power Points , classroom.
Continue learning to recognize common hoof distortion which will lead to gait faults and lameness.
Learn to identify hoof diseases.  
Recognize a good shoeing from a poor shoeing . 

Day 3: Morning to early afternoon. more practice on  positions under  live horses and hoof handling.  
Trim live horses .  'One on one' instruction, then  more hooves as students are physically able.  
  
Late Afternoon when time  ,classroom.  Evaluating a horses ability to be barefoot, overview of boot choices.   

Day 4: all day:
 Trimming live horses.
 This will be on a team basis, to facilitate more individualized instruction.

 Day 5:
More trimming live horses , instruction as needed with instructor watching everyone. .
This will take most of the  day.   End of day  REVIEW  Q and A.

 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

******************************************************************************************
  Classes are limited in size to insure each participant will receive maximum hands-on individualized instruction.

  
 2012 CLASS TUITION is $950 .   
 
 Sorry, No auditors
.

 Deposits and tuition are only refundable if class is cancelled. 
We have indoor facilities, so weather will not be cause to cancel classes. 
If classes are cancelled due to any reason such as not having minimum number of students (which would be unlikely)  you will be notified 30 days prior to class date and deposit refunded. Minimum of 2 participants required to hold class, maximum of 6.  In the unlikely event that listed instructor is unavailable a substitute instructor of equal qualification (level 4 or 5  ELPO Certified Natural Balance Farrier) may fill in.

  We can not be responsible for expenses other than tuition, such as travel , hotel fees etc due
 to cancellation of this class. 
 

 No person under 18 years of age allowed unless accompanied by a paid attending parent or guardian.

 No dogs allowed.   For questions or more information contact:

Hoofcare Specialties LLC,
P.O.Box 142 Penrose, Colorado 81240
719 372-6703   or Email Patty Stiller  
pstiller@bresnan.net


  ****Click on registration page for form and payment  information and to print a registration form****


*1) Class is not intended in any way to replace regular farrier school or professional trimming experience for those desiring to enter hoofcare as a profession. The classes are intended as only an introduction to hoofcare and for horse owners desiring to do some “at home” hoofcare.

*2) Participating in any form of equine activities involves an inherent risk of bodily injury.
Participants will be required to read and sign a copy of the Colorado Equine Professional Liability act
 and sign a hold harmless agreement.

 *3) HORSES: We will supply horses.  Participants may bring their own horses, *by pre arrangement only*. 
overnight stabling in open pens available by reservation.   Horses must meet the behavior and training criteria to be in a group setting and have their hooves handled quietly.  We do not accept young horses or those who need ground training.
NO stallions!