Elements and Performance Criteria
- Identify shoeing needs of individual equines
- Handle equines to reduce stress and alarm, monitor behaviour to eliminate risks to equine and handlers and use restraints according to workplace practices
- Observe gait and conformation of the equine to identify severe faults and defects that may be alleviated
- Adopt a working position that maintains comfort of the equine and ensures comfort and personal safety
- Use appropriate tools to remove shoes, ensuring no damage is caused to the feet
- Clean feet of foreign bodies to facilitate examination of the hoof
- Examine the shoe and assess implications of the wear pattern
- Report any conditions requiring higher-level treatment by a veterinarian or other specialist
- Amend the shoeing plan, taking into account conditions of the feet not previously identifiable
- Trim and prepare feet
- Use shoeing tools to trim and prepare feet to achieve balance, level and shape and to correct any identified foot defects
- Conduct trimming operations without injury to the feet of the equine
- Check work while in progress and on completion to ensure quality outcomes of foot preparation have been achieved
- Select correct type, material and size of shoes and make modifications according to shoeing plan
- Select suitable tools to fit shoes
- Shape selected shoes to incorporate any ancillary features as determined by the shoeing plan
- Fit shoes to fore and hind feet and assess the need for any final adjustments
- Make final adjustments to the shape and size of the shoe and ancillary features to achieve correct fit
- Attach shoes and finish shoeing process
- Select suitable tools and nails for attaching and clenching shoes
- Attach the shoe safely, securely and in the correct position
- Finish the hoof according to specification and assess the finished job and the welfare of the equine
- Trot and/or walk the equine to identify any signs of lameness
- Inform the responsible person of farriery procedures completed and advise on future foot care requirements and welfare of the equine
- Update records of service according to workplace practices