All
working farriers in Great Britain (excluding the Highlands and Islands of
Scotland) must be registered with the Farriers Registration Council. Working
without registration is illegal and can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.
The
site Farriers Registration Councilis primarily intended to help horse owners wishing to
find a farrier in
their area of the UK, all you have to do is enter your postcode and press Search on this
page: www.farrier-reg.gov.uk/register_of_farriers.htm.It also gives a summary of conduct and complaint procedures
and provides initial information for those interested in a career in farriery.
Further information on the Farriers Registration Council is available at
The Farriers Registration Council
http://www.farrier-reg.gov.uk/is%20yours%20registered.htm
The Register is split into four Parts according to how farriers qualified. Those
in Part 1 have completed an approved apprenticeship and passed an examination to
demonstrate their ability.
Those in Parts II and IV are qualified by virtue of their experience at the time
the Farriers (Registration) Acts were introduced. Those in Part III are allowed
to shoe horses but are not allowed to carry out farriery by way of trade or for
reward. Apprentice farriers must be indented to an Approved Training Farrier (ATF).
RSS Registered Shoeing Smith
Diploma Worshipful Company of Farriers (DipWCF) (formerly RSS). This
examination is taken by students at the end of their apprenticeship. It
comprises a live horse-shoeing test, a written paper and an oral assessment to
establish that the candidate has the knowledge and the practical skill to shoe
horses to a safe and acceptable standard. The Diploma is the prescribed
examination for admission to the Register of Farriers.
AWCF Associateship Worshipful Company of Farriers (formerly AFCL). This
examination of candidates who already hold the DipWCF or the RSS concentrates on
therapeutic and remedial farriery as required by the equine veterinary surgeon
in everyday practice.
FWCF Fellowship Worshipful Company of Farriers. This is the highest level
of technical competence and the hallmark of a master craftsman.
NAFBAE - National
Association for Farriers, Blacksmiths & Agricultural Engineers.
The
Guide to Modern Apprenticeship in Farriery, £5, is available from the
Farriers Registration Council.
Details
about foot conditions can be found on a CD Rom available called
"The Horse's Foot" from www.lifelearn.com.
Your Horse's Feet, an Allen photographic
Guide, Author Alison Schwabe. £4.95
THE HORSE SHOEING BOOK - is a user
friendly introduction to the craft of farriery. It assumes no previous knowledge
but leads the reader from the basic principles into an understanding of more
advanced methods of shoeing.
The history of horse shoes can be found in a book
called Old Horse Shoes by Ivan G Sparks for £2.95. This book is published
by Shire Publications,
Tel: 01844 344301, Email:
shire@shirebooks.co.uk. The history of the following is also available:
Horse Brasses by John Vince £3.99
Horse Drawn Farm Machinery by D J Smith £3.95
The Harness Horse by Edward & Audrey Hart
£2.95
Stables & Stable Blocks by Christopher Powell
£2.95
National Association
of Farriers, Blacksmiths & Agricultural Engineers (NAFBAE)
Tel No: 02476 696595
Other UK related web sites include:
Ambrit Software is a
leading provider of data management software for the equine industry.
With documentation of work so vital today, Ambrit Software provides solutions
for most disciplines in the industry. Innovative solutions and full Microsoft
compatibility places Ambrit Software at the leading edge of technology.
Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association
Providing horse owners with accurate information on shoeing by professional
farriers. Promoting farrier certification and providing a database of certified
farriers. Includes a range of articles, news bulletins and more.
The Guild of Professional Farriers
The official Web site of the Guild of Professional Farriers. Here you can read
minutes of the meetings of the board meetings, find out about the advantages of
membership.
World Wide Farrier
Directory
Listing of farriers, both around the world and in the US. Listings in the US are
by state. There is also a bulletin board where you can post your hoofcare/shoeing
related questions.
Possible solution to shoeing horses/ponies with
brittle or otherwise problem feet. See
www.horsneaker.com - boots made for any individual equine - excellent - very
easy fit.
