Testimonials

“After talking to other farriers about the schools they attended, I realize the foundation course we get here at BPFS includes most of what other schools’ advanced classes contain … I really respect that here the horse comes first ….”
– Kelly, Canada

“I had a wonderful experience. The best part has been being successful in accomplishing what I came out here to do. … Classroom content was followed up with shoeing where I saw examples of what we just talked about that morning. I feel the information really just sticks to you. It has added to my confidence – I’ve picked up the ability to learn and get better at new things.”
– Tyler, North Carolina

“The shared knowledge is just wonderful – I’m overwhelmed by how freely Jake and Pete have shared their knowledge with me. Their knowledge has surpassed all I expected. There were always horses to work on. Coming back from Iraq with the injuries I had, physically and emotionally, working with horses really helped me out a lot. … I think the course was first class all the way.”
– Wayne, Nebraska

“BPFS instructors know how to teach it! If we didn’t understand something, they’d stop and explain it to us and made sure we knew how to do it. We learned step by step. … You can take the book knowledge and the lecture, apply it and see it hands-on. … Looking at your horses, I can say, “This one has ringbone, and that one is knock-kneed.” My background helps – I was raised in a good Christian home, and my folks taught me to be honest and work hard. There’s a big difference between just shoeing a horse and shoeing him so he’s comfortable, and he can work and move without pain to the best of his ability.”
– Dan, Colorado

“I’ve never gotten underneath horses like I have at BPFS. … That was probably my biggest concern before coming – I wanted to know if I can do this work, and I learned I can!”
– David, North Carolina

“I needed an upgrade, and that’s the reason I came back! My blacksmithing improved and my horsemanship did, too. The main goal was to gain more knowledge in certain practices. … I’ve done 90% of the business practices I learned the first time, and it has really paid off. … I’ve written down all Jake’s formulas. Coming back the second time has met my expectations.”
– Kevin, Canada

“The best part of class for me was learning the techniques you teach. As far as what we’ve learned and the different perspectives, there was a lot more at BPFS than at the last horseshoeing school I attended. I feel a lot more confident. It’s a learning environment with experienced teachers.”
– Calvin, Nebraska

“These six weeks at BPFS are as six or seven months because it is very intensive. This has been the greatest learning experience of my life as a vet or as a future farrier.”
– Cristiano, DVM, Italy

“The classroom time really sold me because other schools don’t emphasize that. The daily schedule helps you know what you’re going to be doing each day and know what to expect.”
– Dani, Iowa

“Things I was taught as an apprentice were even more important in the way they were covered at BPFS – it made it all come together. I’m a lot more efficient. It was a good mixture of everything … I took advantage of working in the forge in the evenings and on Saturday. I’m going to get right back to apprenticing, then take over the man’s clients because he’s retiring. … I plan to come back for the advanced course in three week segments because I’ll have the business then.”
– Tom, New Hampshire

“Everything is well thought out and organized. It’s not only the school and the learning – it’s a special welcome feeling, and I appreciate what Butlers really give in this experience at BPFS. I’m really happy I completed it … the second course was even more concentrated and focused. … Attitude is important, and someone who thinks they already know it all should go someplace else.”
– Ronen, Israel

“Watching and seeing the improvements I’ve made at BPFS has been the best part. I didn’t really look into any other schools. … Jake has been very patient and always answers my questions. It exceeded my expectations! This has been an in depth study of the whole horse, including the foot and the leg; I’ve learned a lot of stuff I didn’t know. I’m glad I’ve been here.”
– Russ, Georgia

“I tried another school … but had to deal with a group of people that weren’t serious [about learning]. The attitude at BPFS is, we’re here to learn and the Butler Team is here to teach.”
– David, Texas

“Dr. Butler knows how to design training! He knows what people can and can’t do. Each instructor is exceptional in his own way. The horsemanship part was definitely Pete – he’s got a gift, a gift from God. Jake is an exceptional teacher – he makes it fun because he loves it. Jake’s enthusiasm is contagious! … I’ve learned a lot – I’m answering questions and identifying anatomy that I couldn’t have five weeks ago. I’ve surprised myself in how much I’ve learned being at BPFS. This school is a life-changing experience for me. It’s worth every cent! I plan to come back!”
– Sean, Colorado

“I didn’t have a lot of experience with horse shoeing and trimming before I came. Everything I learned, I learned here. … It’s been great seeing what I’ve been able to do to help lame horses become comfortable and return to useful service. I look forward to helping my own horse that has a problem I haven’t known what to do for before now. I’m going to come back for the advanced course.”
– Tonya, Norway

“…this school appealed to me because of the instructors – they knew how to teach so we actually learned it and grasped it. I found an efficiency apartment, and it was perfect. I’ve done my time: I bunked with other guys in the Army, and I didn’t want to do that anymore! … One disadvantage to staying offsite was forge time – being able to go out and forge when you want to is a huge advantage to staying in the bunkhouse. … You expect us to come here to learn, not to goof off. It’s not a “party time” – it’s a work time and a learning time! If you come to this school, be prepared to work.”
– Jim, New York

“I would tell someone who wants to attend farrier school that you learn a lot at BPFS, and it’s lots of fun! It’s a really good atmosphere for learning with the people you’re around. I liked not being compared to others, and there weren’t a lot of distractions. I liked the school a lot and the atmosphere here – I think I’ve learned a lot.”
– Caleb, Kansas

“I really like it here. The thing I liked the best was the very tight sense of community I don’t think I would have gotten anywhere else. There is a low class number. There is a lot of individual attention here. One advantage I had was I came right out of high school – I graduated in May, so I was used to having actually more bookwork than I’ve had here.”
– Elizabeth, Indiana

“The only concern I had was getting back to studying at my age and the intensity of the classes. I haven’t dealt with horses for probably over 10 years. Jake taught anatomy very well so I could learn it. I don’t like to sit around and be idle – there was always something worthwhile to learn and to do. …There’s so much useful information, including horsemanship skills, taught here.”
– Jack, Virginia

“In the morning class – if we learned about founder, that day, we go fix the horses which have founder – it’s very good: We LEARN in the morning and DO in the afternoon! With the homework, something’s carved into my brain so I can remember because I’m drawing.”
– Andrew, South Korea

“Probably my best part was being able to learn so much from Jake and Pete. It was a huge, great experience. … The only background I had was riding horses – I learned shoeing skills and how to forge, trim horses, balance – now I know whether horses are balanced or not, and that’s a huge skill right there. … The hospitality here was phenomenal! … I’m glad I actually came here for the fact of how personable it has been.”
– Jason, California

“There’s a lot of one-on-one with Jake and Pete. They come around and check our work. They’re making sure you do it right. The time we worked in the forge we really had to think how we would use the information we were taught in the classroom and apply it. …It made me sure of what I knew and what I didn’t know.”
– C.J., Connecticut

“I enjoyed being here. The best thing I liked was the whole picture – everything is important. The anatomy was a very good way to start the day. This experience has prepared me when I go home to use this with my clients. I expected a lot from the time I’ve been here. With the experience and qualifications the instructors have, they are the best people in the industry to teach. You can concentrate here – there aren’t distractions.”
– Jacov, Sweden

“Any questions you have get answered. Yet they’re very willing to let you figure it out on your own, unless you absolutely need help, and I love that! … This course has helped me become a better farrier and taught me the things I need to know. My confidence improved since I’ve been here. … It was helpful to see actual problems on horses, individual horse’s behavior and how to act around that horse. I definitely learned the important role of balance. I haven’t felt like I’ve ‘hit any brick walls’ since I’ve been here. I knew that Jake or Pete would have been there to help me.”
– Jake, Pennsylvania

“The BPFS size of the class was perfect … you’re not getting lost in the mix … It’s been the opportunity of a lifetime.”
– Steve, Colorado

Essential Principles of Horseshoeing 

Discover a new interactive way to learn the principles of horseshoeing and humane horse foot care! Essential Principles of Horseshoeing is the latest book now also available in audio format from Doug Butler Enterprises that uses detailed graphs, charts and QR codes that take readers to video demonstrations, just as though you were sitting in the classroom!