News
Diploma Presentation Ceremony
2nd September 2010
The Master of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, Mr Reg Howe, and the Chairman of the Farriers Registration Council, Professor Ron Jones, OBE JP DVSc FRCVS, presided at a Presentation Ceremony in the Long Room at The Honourable Artillery Company, London on Thursday 25th February 2010.
The Master presented a scroll marking the formal affiliation between the Company and the Royal Veterinary College, and Professor David Church from the RVC presented a print of 'Eclipse' to the Company.
The Master addressed the assembly and presented the Company’s Associateship to two AWCF candidates, one having travelled over from the USA with his family following the Company’s first set of examinations in Lamar, Missouri, USA last November.
The Master also presented the Diploma to forty two candidates, one of whom, Andrew Smith, achieved Honours. He was awarded the silver Oliver award by Mr Oliver, together with a cheque for £100. Five more received Distinctions and received cheques for £50 each.
The David Llewellyn Prize for the best written paper went to Miss Abigail Hardy DipWCF.
The Mike Seckington Prize for the best practical shoeing went to Miss Olwen Starkey DipWCF.
Mr Howard Cooper FWCF(Hons), the chairman of the National Farriery Training Agency Management Board, awarded the prize for the best portfolios, together with a shield to Myerscough College for the best overall portfolio.
The examinations for the Company’s Diploma took place in July at Herefordshire College of Technology, Warwickshire College, and Myerscough College.
The Chairman of the Farriers Registration Council also addressed the assembly.
Representatives from the Court of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, the Farriers Registration Council, the National Farriers Training Agency, the National Association of Farriers, Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers, the colleges, and the Company’s Examinations Board were also present.
A Church Service, led by the Reverend Jennifer Potter, the Minister at Wesley's Chapel, was held at Wesley’s Chapel immediately prior to the Presentation Ceremony. The recipients were supported by their Approved Training Farriers, together with their families and friends. Altogether, some 240 persons attended the event.
The photographs are all courtesy of Gerald Sharp Photography. The full set can be viewed at http://www.sharpphoto.co.uk/. Click on 'Galleries' then 'Livery Company', and then 'Farriers Company Presentations' for the correct date. For those looking for ideas for Chrismas presents or cards for special occasions, there are excellent photographs of all WCF events on the Sharpphoto web site.
Master Farrier
7th May 2010
The WCF has now registered the Mark 'Master Farrier' and that title may therefore only be used by qualified persons as detailed in the regulations for that Registered Mark. For full details and an application form, please see the Master Farrier item under 'Quick Links'.
David Gulley - new Chairman European Federation of Farriers
17th December 2008
Mr David Gulley, a Registered Farrier and a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, has been elected President of the European Federation of Farriers Associations. The appointment was made at EFFA’s Annual General Meeting in Saumur, France on 15 November, and is for a period of two years.
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The mission of EFFA is to improve the welfare of the horse by encouraging the highest standards of trimming and shoeing. It has produced agreed standards of basic competence in farriery, and has started a process of accrediting the training and examination systems in member nations against these standards. Farriers who are recognised as meeting these standards will be entitled to call themselves Certified Euro-Farriers. In addition EFFA organises a European Farriery Championship every two years, and in alternate years arranges an educational event for farriery students and teachers.
Membership of EFFA is open to all farriery associations in all European nations, whether they are members of the EU or not. Current member nations are: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, France, Austria, Norway, Switzerland, Great Britain, Iceland, Ireland, Holland, Spain, Hungary and the Czech Republic. David Gulley’s appointment recognises his many years experience as a farrier, both in the Army and in civilian life, his contributions to training apprentices, to competing and to judging competitions, and to supporting the work of the National Association of Farriers, Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers. David was delighted with his election to this prestigious and influential position, and has made clear his determination to carry forward and to publicise EFFA’s work in raising standards of farriery throughout Europe.
Details of Certified Euro-Farrier Released
26th August 2008
In November 2008, the European Federation of Farrier Associations (EFFA) will announce the launch of the Europe-wide qualification Certified Euro-Farrier. Working farriers who have completed a course of formal training and have achieved those national qualifications which are recognised as meeting EFFA’s Basic Standards of Competence will be entitled to put CE-F after their names, will be awarded a Certificate and from 1 January 2009 will receive an annual vehicle window sticker.
EFFA’s standards were developed by the member nations with assistance from the European Commission’s Leonardo da Vinci project. Countries currently registered as being eligible are Switzerland, Holland, Austria, Great Britain, Denmark and Finland. Other countries will be accredited as they reach the necessary standard. The farrier associations in each country will be responsible for submitting the names of those eligible and for keeping the record up to date with additions and removals. Names and contact details of CE-Fs will be published on EFFA’s website – www.eurofarrier.org.
The aims of the Certified Euro-Farrier scheme are to:
• Provide recognition for those who have achieved the necessary standards of competence.
• Provide a means of identifying competent farriers from other countries. This is particularly important for horse owners in view of EU legislation allowing farriers to practise in other countries purely on the basis of experience.
• Encourage countries without qualifications or with lower level qualifications to raise standards of farriery to meet the EFFA standard.
Membership of EFFA is open to all farriery associations in all European nations, whether they are members of the EU or not. Current member nations are: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain, Ireland, Holland, Spain, Iceland, and the Czech Republic.
Requests for further details or clarification should be sent to Miles Williamson-Noble, Certified Euro-Farrier Registrar at eurofarrier@btinternet.com.
Horses shod on the streets of London by Liverymen of the Worshipful Company of Farriers
19th July 2008
On Saturday 19th July Cheapside was returned to its original purpose of being Britain's oldest high street by staging a contemporary medieval market. This event was staged as part of the London Festival of Architecture. Several Livery Companies demonstrated their crafts, including the Farriers, Painter Stainers, Masons, Bricklayers, Musicians and Blacksmiths.
The Farriers had a prime site at the West end of Cheapside and the sound of hammering could be heard back at St Paul’s. We were fortunate in being loaned two horses from the City Police’s Mounted Branch thanks to their official farrier, Liveryman Tom Burch.
The beautiful mare, Lulu, stood patiently whilst her shoes were replaced amidst the cacophony of sounds around her, and clearly her police training had accustomed her to all manner of disturbances. Her stable companion, Finn had been brought to keep her company, both horses being comfortable as long as the other one was there.
Liveryman Wayne Upton manned a stall with many examples of farriery equipment on it and spent a great deal of time explaining the craft to members of the public. Children were encouraged to ‘have a go’ at hammering horse shoes, wrapped up in over-large leather aprons under the watchful eye of Liveryman Les Armstrong.
Our Clerk, Liveryman Charlotte Clifford was there with her Apprentice, Rosie Clifford, and our Craft Secretary & Registrar, Captain David Goodall RN, was our lead salesman for lucky horse shoes which raised £154 for the Charitable Trust.
We were visited by the Lord Mayor, Alderman David Lewis, who also tried his hand at shoemaking ably assisted by our other Liverymen farriers, Richard Spence and Peter Cronin. Wayne, Robin, Peter and brought their apprentices with them who did a wonderful job making shoes.
This event provided a very good opportunity to explain and demonstrate the craft of Farriery to a large cross section of the general public---all very good publicity for our Company.
Farriery Discussed in House of Lords
3rd June 2008
The House of Lords debated the EU regulations on lack of qualifications of EU farriers. Follow this link to reach the Hansard transcript.
Second Building a Successful Business event held for recently qualified farriers
18th April 2008
A one-day forum – Building a Successful Business – aimed at newly qualified farriers was held at Total Foot Protection Ltd near Horsam, West Sussex on April 18th. This was the second of these events and proved a great success, with many wideranging topics covered by some excellent speakers. It is not often that apprentices would have the opportunity to hear from a variety of farriers and representatives from essential partner organisations and get the chance to chat over their own individual needs.
The farriers that spoke – Wayne Upton, AFCL, Simon Curtis FWCF HonAssocRCVS and Carl Bettison AWCF(Hons) – have wide-ranging business experience. They all still shoe but have expanded their interests in different ways and hearing of their experiences would be, quite literally, profitable. They spoke on how to go about building a client base (without upsetting local farriers); shoeing for profit; keeping clients happy; staying ahead of the competition; and taking on an apprentice.
Reg Howe, chairman of the WCF Craft Committee, is a horse owner. He gave the farriers his view of what makes a good farrier from the owner’s perspective. Others explained what made a good owner! The key, it seems, is communication – active communication.
The photographs show Alf Hall (left) demonstrating his shoeing rig which was imported from USA, and Wilf Ford DipWCF (below)outlining the benefits of being a member of NAFBAE.
The importance of record keeping in today’s farrier practice was covered by John Fligg. He described a computer software package aimed at farriers and the ways in which it could help record information in a versatile manner, allowing farriers to record everything from shoeing intervals, contact details, and notes to photographs and treatment protocols.
Veterinary surgeon, Philip Ryder-Davies, explained how his practice works closely with Roger Clark, FCWF (Hons), to mutual benefit. He also reiterated the importance of communication and respect for each other’s professions.
Marie Beale, of the specialist insurance company Eastlake and Beachell, discussed managing business risks. She described the essential cover that farriers must have, such as public liability cover, as well as optional cover for such items as legal costs. They also talked about the insurance benefit included in NAFBAE members’ subscription – personal accident cover - and reminded the deleagates that they offered a 12.5 per cent discount. Marie Beale suggested that although recently qualified, all farriers should look to the future as regards setting pension provision in place.
At the end of the session the Panel of experts was joined by Past Master Ray Greatorex, who gave useful advice on accountancy in the farriery business.
Similar events will be held in the future at regional locations, twice per year shortly after the Diploma Presentation Ceremonies. Diploma candidates will automatically be sent details, but if you are recently qualified - or have been in business for a while and would like to check on the latest thinking - and wish to attend, you are more than welcome.
Details of future events will be published under the CPD section of this website.
