Bachelor Thesis - Christina Kuenen - Hufpfleger

2.3 Hoof Treatment and Education
In Germany different kinds of educations in hoof treatment exist. The general organization of education in
Germany can be found in Annex 9.1. The traditional one is the farrier education which is regulated through
legislation. It is organised as a further education for adults. A tenth of the trainees are female
(Bezirksregierung Münster, 2004). Next to this a lot of private institutes offer further educations for adults
for different occupations like hoof technician, bare hoof practitioner and hoof orthopaedist. These are not
regulated directly. Just peripheral like through the animal protection law. The share of females is much
higher than in traditional farriery. The DHG has a quota of 60 % female for example (DHG, 2005).
2.3.1 Certificated Education in Hoof Treatment in Germany
2.3.1.1 Farrier
The education as farrier is regulated as an further education for adults. The education regulations for
certificated farriers in Germany changed in 2006. According to the 'Hufbeschlagverordnung (HufBeschlV)' a
farrier can be certificated if the following conditions are satisfied:
1.) completed vocational training (§4 HufBeschlG)
2.) four-weeks introductory course at certificated educational farrier institute (§6 HufBeschlV)
3.) two years full-time work at certificated farrier's business (§7 HufBeschlV)
4.) four-months preparation course at certificated educational farrier institute (§8 HufBeschlV)
5.) final theoretical and practical examination (§9 HufBeschlV).
As certificated farrier he is allowed to employ a trainee. A more detailed description can be found in the
annex (Annex 9.2).
2.3.1.2 Instructive Farrier
The regulations for instructive farriers also changed in 2006. According to the HufBeschlV a certificated
farrier can become an instructive farrier if he is at least five years working full-time, taking regularly part in
further educations and has passed an additional examination (§5 HufBeschlG). This test includes the
elaboration of at least two case studies and an oral defence. Further the examinee has to treat a horse
orthopaedically according to a veterinarians pathological result. He has to demonstrate his skills in farriery
through showing ten especially produced iron shoes and produce one of them in front of the judges. Another
task is to prepare and give lessons in theoretic and practical topics of the preparation course (§18
HufBeschlV).
2.3.1.3 Instructive Farrier Institute
An instructive farrier institute can be certificated if the human and material prerequisites are met. The ratio
from participants to instructive farriers and vets has to be appropriate. The institute has to be equipped for the
practical instructions and an appropriate amount of horses for shoeing has to be available. Further instruction
rooms for the theoretical part as well as teaching aids and the continually training of the instructive personnel
has to be demonstrated (§6 HufBeschlG).
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