Farriery Discussed in House of Lords

3rd June 2008

The House of Lords debated the EU regulations on lack of qualifications ofr 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.

Presentation Ceremony for Diploma Certificates

 28th February 2008

The Immediate Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, Deputy Pauline Halliday, and the Chairman of the Farriers Registration Council, Mr Simon Curtis FWCF, presided at a Presentation Ceremony at The Honourable Artillery Company, London on Thursday, 28th February 2008.

The Immediate Past Master addressed the assembly and presented the Varnham Trophy for the best Practical Associate Candidate of 2007 to Mr E J L O’Shaughnessy AWCF. The Company’s Diploma was awarded to forty-nine candidates, one of whom, Mr M P Smailes, passed with Honours, and four others achieved Distinctions. Past Master Mr D Oliver presented the Oliver Award to these very successful candidates.  Five working Farriers from Northern Ireland and Eire achieved the Diploma and One Certified Journeyman Farrier from the USA was also Awarded the Diploma.

The Equinalysis Prize for the best written paper went to Miss L E Carey. The examinations for the Company’s Diploma took place in January at Herefordshire College of Technology, Warwickshire College, Myerscough College, Oatridge Agricultural College in Scotland, and at Enniskillen College in Northern Ireland. 

The Chairman of the Farriers Registration Council also addressed the assembly. The Chairman of the Farriery Training Agency Management Board, Mr Howard Cooper FWCF, presented the Approved Training Farrier of the Year Award to Mr J W Hughes RSS (Hons).

A Church Service, led by the Company Chaplain, Canon Flora Winfield, 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 250 persons attended the event.

The photographs are by Gerald Sharp Photography.  The full set can be viewed at http://www.sharpphoto.co.uk/.

Review of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966

27 July 2007

The House of Commons, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) has decided to undertake an inquiry into the need to replace the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. The Committee will consider whether the provisions of the 1966 Act are out of step with developments in the veterinary surgeon and related professions.

The Farriers Registration Council has been invited to provide comments to the Committee on these proposals. A meeting of the Veterinary Surgeons/Services Act Working Group with representatives from the Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF), National Association of Farriers, Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers (NAFBAE) and the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) is scheduled for 3 September 2007 in order to consider the proposals with a view to formulating a tri-partite response on behalf of all three organisations.

Registered Farriers may forward comments directly or via the FRC. Please download the full Press Release (PDF) for details or visit the Farriers Registration Council website.

Farriers Company Confers Highest Honour

24 April 2007

At a recent meeting of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, the Master, Mrs. Pauline Halliday, was pleased to confer an Honorary Fellowship on Professor Chris Pollitt in the presence of Past Master HRH The Princess Royal.

The Honorary Fellowship is the highest honour awarded by the Farriers Company and is only made to exceptional people who have made a very special and longstanding contribution to the art, craft and science of farriery. Professor Pollitt is one such exceptional person. A veterinary graduate of New Zealand, he has spent his working life in Australia where he founded the Laminitis Research Unit with the objective of discovering the biological mechanism that causes laminitis and to make this a preventable disease. With countless publications to his name, no one has done more to advance scientific understanding of the intricacies of the horse’s foot than Professor Pollitt.

Image, from left: Upper Warden, Colonel Richard Kinsella-Bevan; Past Master, HRH The Princess Royal; Professor Chris Pollitt; The Master, Mrs. Pauline Halliday; The Middle Warden, Mr. Carl Bettison and the Renter Warden, Mr. Reg Howe