Bachelor Thesis - Christina Kuenen - Hufpfleger

9.2 'Hufbeschlagverordnung' in more detail
to 1.)
The vocational training has to be completed successfully. The type of profession is not specified (§4 HufBeschlG). This
means that the farrier education is a further education for adults. A certificated farrier is also allowed than to employ a
trainee without a further exam according to the “Ausbildereignungs-Verordnung AEVO”(BRD, 2003).
To 2.)
The introductory course should convey the basic knowledge for the practical work. The course takes at least four weeks
and is split up into a theoretical and a practical part. The content of the theoretical part is the biology, evolution,
behaviour and requirements of hoof and claw animals. Further their kinds of use, the handling and job-related
knowledge about the health of those. Another topic is the legislation in the areas of animal protection, health protection
and work security. Within the practical part the participants learn the handling of horses, the use of tools and materials.
Further exercises at hoof preparations and farrier demonstrations have to be performed (§6 HufBeschlV).
To 3.)
Through the two years of full-time work at a certificated farrier's business the trainee should gain the knowledge, skills
and ability to be able to work independently. This means he has to be able to handle horses according to the
requirements of animal health and protection. Further he has to judge the situation of the animals hooves, in rest and
movement, before and after treatment. He has to be able to recognize and judge anomalies of hooves, limbs and
movements. The use of tools and materials is another issue of the practical part of this stage of education, as well as the
treatment of bare and shod hooves. Shoeing and the needed preparation of the material is another ability which should
be conveyed through this period. The trainee learns to work together with a veterinarian, to advice and inform clients
and to document and cash up work (§8 HufBeschlV).
To 4.)
The preparation course should deepen the knowledge, skills and abilities of the introductory course and the practical
phase. It takes at least four months and is split up into a practical and theoretical part. The practical part takes around
420 hours and includes all steps of a hoof treatment from judging horses and inform the owner until the completed hoof
trimming and shoeing. This should be learned for healthy horses, foals or irregular or ill hooves. Next to this the
participant has to forge iron shoes and treat bovine claw´s. The theoretical part takes at least 220 hours and contains the
convey of knowledge about evolution, behaviour, requirements of horses. Further the anatomy, physiology and
pathology as well as the treatment and care of shod and bare hooves are part of this course. Also knowledge about the
first aid, advising clients, management issues, legislation and financial calculations has to be conveyed (§8
HufBeschlV).
To 5.)
The final examination is also split up into a practical and a theoretical part (§) HufBeschlV).
The practical exam contains the following testing range: The examinee has to shoe a horse warm, shoe two hooves of a
horse with alternative materials, treat two bare hooves of a horse and produce an iron shoe. Each horse has to be judged
before and after treatment, the treatment has to be planned and documented, the owner has to be advised and informed
and the animal and work safety has to be taken into account (§10 HufBeschlV).
The theoretical part of the examination contains two parts. A case study has to be done and an oral defence of 30
minutes takes place. The second part is the written test to demonstrate the knowledge about the evolution, behaviour,
care, anatomy, physiology and pathology of the horse. Further the basics of shoeing irregular and unhealthy hooves and
the treatment for special use are tested. The examinee has to answer questions about the care of shod and un-shod
hooves, working tools and material, animal health and protection as well as the liability of farriers, the financial
management and client advising (§11 HufBeschlV).
9.3 Institutes for hoof treatment education in Germany
The institutes in Germany which offer an education in hoof treatment can be roughly divided in to traditional instructive
farrier institutes and alternative education institutes. They are spread over whole Germany. An overview of the
tradtitional educations can be found in the tables below.
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