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What is a Certified Journeyman Farrier and why is it important?
The American Farriers Association (AFA) Certified Journeyman Farrier (CJF) certification is their highest classification and is only granted after a set of rigorous exams. The CJF examination process “requires in-depth knowledge and highly developed performance skills displaying a level of professional artistry,” according to the AFA.
Only 559 AFA members, or 20 percent of the approximately 2700 AFA members, are CJF certified.
The CJF certification process consists of three phases. Mike Poe passed all three phases in only two days, even earning a 90 percent score on his written exam.
The written exam requires a thorough understanding of gaits and movements, blood circulation and pathology of the horse as well as the ability to correctly identify the functions and origins of all bones, cartilage, joints, tendons and ligaments in both front and hind limbs.
The practical exam is broken into two phases. For the first phase, farriers must shoe the four feet of a horse with handmade shoes under time constraints. The final phase is a forging exercise in which candidates make a bar shoe from scratch that fits a specified pattern in less than 35 minutes.
Other AFA Certification Levels
The following descriptions are reprinted from the AFA’s publication “An Introduction to the American Farrier’s Association Farrier Certification Program.”
Therapeutic Endorsement (TE)
Designed to recognize farriers highly skilled in the area of therapeutic shoeing, the Therapeutic Specialty Endorsement involves challenging examinations and requires an in-depth knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of lameness in horses. Candidates must have completed the Certified Journeyman Farrier examination and have five years experience in this specialization. (This is not to be confused with five years experience shoeing horses).
Candidates for this endorsement must be well informed in practical and theoretical issues relating to foot and hoof pathology, including, but not limited to, laminitis, navicular disease (and pathological conditions which may lead to misdiagnosing navicular disease) pedal osteitis, coffin joint arthritis, spavins, bowed tendons, lacerated tendons, sprained and torn ligaments, bursitis, tendonitis, abscesses, hoof wall cracks, thrush, canker or ungulates, angular limb deformities, flexural deformities, splints, ringbone, sidebone, physitis, bone cysts, keratomas, hoof capsule deformities, articular and non-articular arthritis, ankylosis, arthrodesis, onychomychosis and gonitis.
Certified Farrier (CF)
The Certified Farrier component is available to farriers who have at least one year of horseshoeing experience, and have demonstrated knowledge and skill to perform hoof care on a professional basis. The Certified Farrier process requires successful completion of written and practical testing, as well as the creation and explanation of a horseshoe display.
