continuing professional development
Yorkshire farriers work
together to achieve AWCF
Pursuing Excellence in Farriery
By Steven Hewitt, AWCF
Forging ahead – I write this, firstly, to offer encouragement to groups to get together and
work towards achieving higher exams and, secondly to thank all those who gave their
time so generously to help us. We started as a group of nine, of which half have now
successfully passed their Associate level examinations of the Worshipful Company of
Farriers and the others are partially qualified. CPD
Working together is so much more rewarding than studying alone. You encourage one
another, share ideas and keep the momentum going. There is a lot of help to be had out
there to get you started. We found that by grouping together we had enough people to
INFORMER
attend day courses at local forges, and we were particularly lucky to be given the use of
Follifoot Forge, the home of Chris Pedley, AWCF, a successful graduate of the scheme!
Weekly discussions
We met at Follifoot every week to attend a discussion group. This proved to be a great
forum for swapping ideas and discussing the revision we had (hopefully) done during the
week. We would take along a shoe we had made, present it and discuss its use and
effectiveness. This enabled us to gain practice in our presenting skills in preparation for the
oral part of the exam.
It was also useful to have the help of experienced vets and farriers such as Hugh Davies
CPD events will be advertised on the
and Richard Stephenson, who, as veterinary examiners, helped us in our preparation. Doug
website www.farrierycpd.org and in Forge,
Bradbury FWCF came and spoke to us about what we were letting ourselves in for. He
(p44) and any CPD updates will be published
obviously inspired us as we all duly enrolled and sat the exam.
there. The more farriers who make use of these
One-day courses and practical days
events the easier it will be to run them, creating a
As we got into the course we had immeasurable help from Richard Ellis FWCF who helped
us with advanced shoe making and fitting. And a ‘modern materials’ day with Andrew
virtuous circle of improved skills and expertise.
Poynton FWCF aided by Ross Mackie AWCF and Jon Stanley AWCF brought us up to
speed with the latest developments.
CPD Points Remarks
Our thanks also go to Minster Veterinary Practice at Poppleton for help with radiography
Sitting AWCF Module 6
Passing AWCF Module 6
and so on, thereby building a vet/farrier working relationship. AWCF brush-up course (per day) 3
Sitting FWCF Examination 8
The days spent with Martin Deacon FWCF, offered the opportunity to run through the Passing FWCF Examination 8
practical aspect of the exam, while a two-day course with Simon Curtis FWCF HonAssoc
Farriery Degree Course 10 Successful completion of each year
Completing Farriery Degree Course 10 Successful Completion (awarded BSc)
RCSV and Stephen Gowing AWCF put us through our paces in a mock exam. Course/Module completion* (one day) 4 Farriery or business related
Course/Module completion* (half day) 3 Farriery or business related
All of these exercises were held at Follifoot, which enabled us to spread the cost across the Course/Module completion* (evening) 2 Farriery or business related
group making it good value. Mark Watson AWCF helped us with the theory part of the exam
Shoemaking course (per day) 3
Participating in Shoeing/
technique at Melton Mowbray. Mark is an inspiring teacher, and we are indebted to him for
Shoe Making Competition 1 Max 3 points per year
his help and patience in putting up with us!
Farriery Conference/Presentation
(one day/per day) 4 Max 10 points for multi day events
Farriery Conference/Presentation (half day) 3
We also gained support from the Registrar of the Worshipful Company Farriers, Captain
Farriery Conference/Presentation (evening) 2
David Goodall, RN, and this was much appreciated. I found him to be a great source of help
Farriery Related Courses (one day) 4
Farriery Related Courses (half day) 3
with numbers and contacts, and he offered great encouragement for what we were doing.
Farriery Related Courses (evening) 2
Presenting at Conference 5 Limited to once per year
Following suit
Presentation to Pony/Riding Clubs etc 1 Max 3 points per year
Overseas Events (AFA, EEFA, etc) 4 Evidence and Programme needed
Jonathan Nunn has now started a group in Staffordshire area, which I hope will be the start
Demonstrations at Shows 1 Max 3 points per year
of many to follow. Ours was created under the umbrella of the Yorkshire Farriers Education
Commercial Presentation/Trade Show 1 Purely commercial presentation
Complete WCF/FTA/NAFB&AE surveys 1
and Demonstration Association, and it would be marvellous if other groups such as
ATF Course or L11 Course 3
NAFBAE could follow suit. It’s a great way of making new friends and better farriers, apart
Know Foot Know Horse Downloads
(each video) 1 Max 3 points per year
from having fun while you’re doing it.
Know Foot Know Horse Annual Sub 3
Farriery Project 3 Evidence related points.
Our aim now is to start a new group and help the last few to get those all-important letters
Attend NAFB&AE event** (one day) 4 Including Local meetings etc
Attend NAFB&AE event** (half day) 3 Including Local meetings etc
after their names. This is a challenging exam, which takes time and commitment, not to
Attend NAFB&AE event** (evening) 2 Including Local meetings etc
mention an understanding wife or partner.
Reading Books and
Subscriptions to Periodicals 1 Max 3 points per year.
Writing Book Review 2 Max 4 points per year
What next?
Writing Farriery related articles 1 Max 4 points per year
* Farriery related HSE or business courses, including topics such as First Aid;
There are new heights to scale. We hope to sit our Fellowship next. I shall be there and
fire awareness; miscellaneous business courses etc.
hopefully so will the rest of our group. Chris, you had better get stocked up with tea and
** Excluding purely social events.
NOTE: There are a number of activities which may not be counted as CPD.
biscuits! These include, but are not limited to:
Any activities which could be considered as ‘normal work’, eg College
The successful members of our group received their AWCF certificates at the WCF Tutors tutoring or preparing college or teaching programmes, or
ceremony on September 3, in London. They are: Chris Pedley AWCF, Dave Lynch AWCF,
Committee Members carrying out committee work.
Stewarding, Judging, or acting as Duty Farrier, or similar, at shows or
Sam Beeley AWCF and myself, Stephen Hewitt AWCF, and hopefully the others will soon
other events.
Organising meetings or events (although subsequent attendance at the
follow.
event may be counted).
Purely social events.
CPD Points
2 May 2009
Contact: Vicki Davitt, Recruitment & CPD Manager or Sarah-Jane Millard, Recruitment and CPD Administrator
Sefton House, Adam Court, Newark Road, Peterborough PE1 5PP.
Tel: 01733 341393 Fax: 01733 319771 Email: info@farriercpd.org website
www.farrierycpd.org
Forge | October 2009 19
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