Dumpling was eyeing several students Wednesday night with the suspicion of a turkey on Thanksgiving. The mare had been invited to attend their class lecture that day. Her role? Guinea horse.

The course is basic horseshoeing, offered by Scottsdale Community College at Lorill Equestrian Center, 11101 E. Shea Blvd.

Veterinarian Jan Young and farrier Corky Irion teach the 16-week introduction to foot care, hoof trimming and shoeing — a class that has become so popular in its five years that Young had to turn away several people for the spring semester.

It is one of 19 courses offered by the college as part of its equine science program, a two-year associate degree program combining horsemanship and general studies. Professionals in the horse industry teach the classes.

Irion apologized for arriving a few minutes late Wednesday. It came out later that he had shod 10 horses and trimmed three before coming to class. To Dumpling’s delight, he shod her as well for the demonstration.

The students were in their third week of hands-on training after eight weeks of discussions, lectures and films in a trailer at Lorill. They had spent the two previous classes trimming and shoeing practice legs. Wednesday’s topic was forging, or shaping hot iron into a shoe.

Irion had brought in another guest for the class, Randy Grant of Cave Creek, a 21-year veteran of the farrier business who frequently competes in state forging competitions.

Sparks flew as Grant hammered out back shoes for Dumpling. He took a straight piece of red-hot bar stock from a fire and shaped it into a symmetrical arch, with modifications here and there to fit Dumpling’s needs.

Irion said that forging was a little advanced for what he expected out of his students, but he wanted them to see what went into making custom shoes.

One student said his newly learned skills were for personal use only, not a professional job.

“I know for sure it’s not going to be my life,’ ” said Ray West of Phoenix, who spends spring and fall each year working a small cattle ranch in northern Arizona. “It makes you appreciate how hard it is.”

The horseshoeing class meets from 6:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Lorill. The college also uses Tom Chauncey’s Arabian farm, 18000 N. Scottsdale Road, for off-campus classes. Some courses require a fee and/or prerequisites to enroll, but many need nothing but an interest in the subject matter.

Courses include equine anatomy and physiology, equine psychology, basic horse training, equine breeding and management, equine nutrition, equine health and disease prevention, and equine operations management.