article
British farriery – the gold standard
Part 1. An introduction to UK farriery
By Reg Howe, Master of the Worshipful Company of Farriers and former chairman of the Farriery CPD Steering Group
In this series of three articles, my aim is to Step forward the Farriery Training Agency Act – to maintain a register of farriers eligible
share with farriers some information for the (FTA), a division of the Farriers Registration to practise in Great Britain; to regulate farriery
British horse-owning public, on a subject Council (FRC). This organisation handles education up to the point of registration, and
which is key to successful and enjoyable inquiries and all other aspects of the to regulate professional conduct. Thus, any
equestrianism. Farriery is built on a 2000-year administration of farrier training, including unregistered person shoeing a horse is acting
history, a time when the application of an iron recording the continuing professional unlawfully, and an insurance claim is therefore
shoe overcame the problems of wear caused development (CPD) undertaken by working void.
by the first metalled roads. farriers, more about that in a future article.
The Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF)
Let’s start by trying to understand the role British horse owners are lucky that their sets the examination and members of the
of the farrier and the structure of farriery in farriers are the best qualified in the world. company’s examination board (eminent
Great Britain. What is a farrier? A farrier is, It is worth telling them that you have been farriers and veterinary surgeons) conduct the
first and foremost, an expert on the foot and examined in practical, written and oral skills – exam. Successful candidates are awarded
lower limb of an equine (horse, pony, mule, and you have been awarded the Diploma of the Diploma of the Worshipful Company of
donkey, and zebras, too). He or she (there the Worshipful Company of Farriers. Farriers and are entitled to put the letters
are 51 registered female farriers in the UK) is
Even as a qualified farrier, you may wonder
DipWCF after their names. The British
a professional person, regulated by law and
why a City of London livery company is
qualification is so well regarded that farriers
contributing to the welfare of the horse. Thus,
involved? Livery companies have been part
from overseas take the examination in order
the relationship is one of professional and
of the fabric of the City of London for many
to demonstrate their ability, and it is always a
client, rather than tradesman and customer!
centuries (the first recorded company – the
pleasure to see diplomas awarded to working
And just in case owners are not clear, it
Weavers – received their Charter in 1155).
farriers from as far afield as Australia and the
might be worth explaining that, a blacksmith
In those days, all livery companies were
USA.
is someone who works with iron but is not
formed to manage and protect their trade or There is no doubt about it, farriers are highly
trained to shoe horses, while a farrier’s
profession. qualified, valued members of the equestrian
training includes blacksmithing to enable him
community. In the next article, I will offer my
or her to make a wide variety of shoes.
Early days thoughts on how horse owners and farriers
Few horse owners understand the
Taking the time machine back to the year
can establish a good working relationship for
commitment involved in qualifying as a farrier,
1356, imagine being at a meeting where
the benefit of the horse.
or that you have worked with an Approved
the Lord Mayor of London, Henry Pykard,
Training Farrier (ATF) in order to do so. There
has summoned the leading farriers to
Acknowledgements
are 250 ATFs and, of those, around 187
demand that they ensure high standards are
are currently employing apprentices. Many
maintained within the ‘mystery’ of farriery Richard Stephenson BVMS CertVR
people mourned the demise of apprenticeship
(here, mystery is derived from the Latin CertEP MRCVS, WCF examiner
schemes and welcomed the introduction
misterium or professional skill). So the quest
of ‘modern apprenticeships’. However, in
for excellence in British farriery can trace its
Felicity Heather, Registrar, Farriers
farriery, apprenticeships never went away!
origins back over 650 years!
Registration Council
Neither do they know that that training
Nowadays, a number of livery companies still
Peter Ablett, Chief Executive, Farriery
period is four years and two months,
have a statutory or regulatory responsibility
Training Agency
and that the ATF will pass on to his or
for their ‘craft’ and one of these is the farriers.
her apprentices, the skills that they have
The 1975 Farriers Registration Act requires
David Goodall, Registrar and Craft
acquired over the years. As well as working
all farriers in England, Wales and Scotland
Secretary, Worshipful Company of
under the guidance of their ATF, apprentices
(including the highlands and islands) to be
Farriers
study at one of only three colleges that offer
registered with the Farriers Registration
farriery on their curriculum.
Council. The Council is a statutory regulator
Simon Curtis FWCF HonAssoc RCVS
So who runs the apprenticeship scheme? undertaking the responsibilities set out in the
12 Forge | October 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48