Merced College offers an 18 week Horseshoeing Program meeting 11 hours per week for 5 units of college credit. The course consists of 2 hours of lecture and 9 hours of laboratory experience each week which includes the actual trimming and shoeing of horses, iron and forge work, introduces the construction of man-made horseshoes, anatomy and physiology of the equine foot and leg, horse psychology, proper hoof balance in relation to conformation, and safety to both the horse and the horseshoer.

Instruction is offered at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels, as well as a horseshoeing certification preparation course.

Merced College offered its first Horseshoeing course in February of 1970 and completed it in June. Thirteen men were enrolled in the first course and all completed the program. Over 600 head of horses were shod and many more were trimmed during the first course.

At the present time, approximately 700 horses and mules are trimmed per semester by Merced College students. Horses are brought to the college to be shod from throughout the community. Students also participate in working field trips to various breeding farms, ranches, pack stations, and the National Park Service stables in Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks. Danny Harrison is the instructor for the program.

Horseshoeing Curriculum

• ANSC-50 Horseshoeing
• ANSC-51 Advanced Horseshoeing

A Certificate of Completion will be granted upon successful completion of Beginning Horseshoeing (ANSC-50) and Advanced Horseshoeing (ANSC-51).

Dates and Hours

The Horseshoeing class meets during the Spring Semester, Monday and Tuesday 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and Wednesday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The class begins the middle of January and concludes the end of May

Additional Classes

Additional courses may be taken if desired in the afternoon or evening during the semester. Examples of courses that may be of interest to horseshoers are: Welding, Animal Nutrition, Horse Husbandry, Western Horsemanship, Specialized Horse Training, and Hoof Care and Trimming.

Information

For additional information or questions, please contact the Agriculture Division Office at (209) 384-6250 or email wallace.k@mccd.edu