THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF FARRIERS

Veterinary Surgeons Act (VSA) Reform White Paper

Farriery and the Proposed Veterinary Reforms

What We Know So Far – and What Has Not Yet Been Decided

There has understandably been considerable discussion about the Government’s proposed changes to the regulation of farriery.

Some parts of the proposals are now clear. Many important details are still being developed.

The Worshipful Company of Farriers (“WCF”) has therefore produced this briefing to explain, as simply and factually as possible:

1.what the Government is proposing;

2.why change is being considered;

3.what this could mean for registered farriers;

4.what has been decided in principle; and

5.what has not yet been decided.

The WCF will continue to provide factual updates as the proposals develop.

The key point

Farriery will remain a regulated profession.

The Government is proposing to change how farriery is regulated, rather than remove regulation.

The WCF’s priority is to ensure that whatever regulatory structure Parliament ultimately approves:

•properly understands modern farriery;

•protects the welfare of the horse;

•recognises the training, qualifications and professional skills of the farrier;

•maintains a clear distinction between farriers and other hoof-care practitioners;

•gives the profession a meaningful voice; and

•operates transparently and accountably.

Why change something when farriery is already regulated?

Farriery is already a regulated profession in England, Scotland and Wales under the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975, as amended.

The Government is not suggesting that farriery is currently unregulated.

The Government’s proposals form part of a wider programme to modernise veterinary regulation.

They would also:

•extend statutory regulation of farriery to Northern Ireland;

•bring equine barefoot trimmers within statutory regulation;

•modernise the wider veterinary and animal healthcare regulatory framework; and

•bring veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, farriers and other allied veterinary professionals within a more consistent regulatory structure.

The White Paper proposes repealing the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975 and dissolving the present Farriers Registration Council (“FRC”), with farriers moving into the proposed wider regulatory framework.

The Government considers that new primary legislation is required to deliver these wider reforms.

Farriers within the wider veterinary regulatory framework – Allied Veterinary Professionals

The White Paper envisages a wider veterinary team operating within one regulatory framework.

Defra uses the term Allied Veterinary Professionals (“AVPs”) for professions within this wider structure. Farriers would form part of that wider veterinary team while remaining a distinct regulated profession.

Farriers are proposed as one of the first regulated professions within the new system, alongside veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.

Is farriery the only profession whose regulatory legislation is being modernised?

No.

Similar programmes of regulatory modernisation are taking place across a number of regulated professions.

For example, dentistry continues to be regulated under legislation dating from 1984 and is also subject to wider Government work to modernise professional regulatory frameworks.

The detailed arrangements differ between professions, but the broader direction towards more modern and flexible systems of professional regulation is not unique to farriery.

Has farriery itself changed since 1975?

Yes.

In its submission to Defra, the WCF highlighted that modern farriery now encompasses materials, techniques and therapeutic applications which were not contemplated when the original legislation was drafted.

Modern practice may include the use of composite materials, adhesives, therapeutic and supportive applications and developments in the understanding of hoof biomechanics and function. The wider hoof-care sector has also developed significantly.

The WCF has therefore made the case that any future legislation should properly recognise the realities of modern farriery.

Is the law changing now?

No.

The Government has published a White Paper.

A White Paper sets out Government policy and its intended direction. It is not an Act of Parliament.

Before the existing legislation could be replaced, a Bill would still need to be:

•drafted;

•approved for introduction;

•introduced into Parliament;

•considered by both Houses of Parliament; and

•receive Royal Assent.

Detailed implementation arrangements would then have to follow.

When could the legislation happen?

There is no confirmed date.

Defra is currently working towards a timetable which could see legislation brought forward following the 2027 King’s Speech, subject to Parliamentary time and the necessary Government approvals.

That timetable is not yet confirmed.

It is therefore important not to treat 2027 as a fixed implementation date. Even after a Bill is introduced, it would still have to complete the Parliamentary process before becoming law.

Is the Farriers Registration Council being abolished?

That is the Government’s current proposal.

The White Paper proposes:

•repeal of the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975; and

•dissolution of the Farriers Registration Council.

Farriers would instead be regulated within the proposed wider veterinary regulatory framework.

This does not mean that regulation of farriery would disappear.

What happens between the FRC and the new system?

There would need to be an orderly transition.

Defra is engaging with the FRC in relation to the transfer of relevant knowledge and experience into whatever future arrangements are established.

The final operational and staffing arrangements for the future regulator have not yet been determined.

Government has indicated that those who are already regulated should move into the new arrangements with minimal disruption.

Will I still be able to work as a farrier?

The intention is that existing registered farriers will transfer into the new system through appropriate transitional arrangements, causing minimal disruption.

There is nothing in the proposals suggesting that existing registered farriers will have to retrain or requalify.

The detailed transfer process has not yet been determined, including whether any evidence, conditions or additional steps will be required in particular cases.

Will the title “farrier” remain protected?

The Government intends regulated professional titles to remain protected and linked to the future licensing framework.

Farrier is specifically identified as one of the professions proposed for regulation within the new system.

What is a licence to practise?

Under the proposed model, the current registration approach would be replaced by a licence-to-practise system.

Practitioners would be required to obtain and maintain a licence to practise.

The detailed requirements for obtaining, renewing and maintaining a licence have not yet been finalised. These may include matters such as:

•an eligible qualification;

•professional competencies;

•fitness to practise;

•Continuing Professional Development (“CPD”);

•revalidation; and

•payment of the appropriate fee.

The detailed requirements for farriers will be developed as the future framework progresses.

What happens to farriery qualifications and apprenticeships?

This is an important area which is still being developed.

The future regulator is expected to have responsibility for matters including:

•qualification standards;

•Day One Competencies;

•requirements for entry to the profession;

•CPD;

•revalidation; and

•the activities which each profession may undertake.

The Government’s proposals envisage profession-specific requirements rather than one identical standard applying to every profession.

The WCF believes that those with appropriate knowledge and experience of farriery should be fully involved as those standards are developed.

How might scope of practice be determined in future?

The White Paper proposes that detailed professional scopes of practice would be set and kept under review within the future regulatory framework, rather than being fixed entirely in primary legislation.

This could allow professional scopes to evolve over time as knowledge and practice develop.

No specific changes to farriers’ current day-to-day scope of practice have yet been proposed in the White Paper itself.

The detailed future scope for farriers remains to be determined.

Fitness to practise is the replacement to the current disciplinary process.

The proposals are different to both what the FRC and the RCVS currently do and are more akin to those by the General Medical Council (GMC) and other regulators.

The regulator will develop policy and guidance about how it will apply the definition of ‘current impairment’. Broadly, this will look at the current risks to the public, animals, and the reputation of the professions, rather than solely focusing on past misconduct.

The Fitness to Practise is a 3-stage process looking at whether a professional has a current impairment or not ie they have done something in their practise (or outside of that but could affect their ability to practise/reputation of the profession) which either is still affecting them or that it was in the past but the severity means that it is still impacting their work or reputation of the profession etc.

Will barefoot trimmers become the same as farriers?

No. Regulation does not mean equivalence.

The White Paper proposes bringing equine barefoot trimmers into statutory regulation as a separate profession.

Farriers and equine barefoot trimmers would therefore remain distinct professions.

The future regulator would need to determine separate:

•qualification standards;

•professional competencies;

•scopes of practice;

•codes or professional requirements; and

•licensing arrangements.

Regulation of a barefoot trimmer would therefore not, in itself, make that individual a farrier or give them the same qualification, training or scope of practice as a qualified farrier.

Why regulate barefoot trimmers?

At present, registered farriers operate within statutory regulation while barefoot trimming practitioners do not have an equivalent statutory regulatory framework.

The White Paper proposes bringing equine barefoot trimmers within regulation.

The detailed qualification standards, competency requirements and scope of practice for barefoot trimmers have not yet been decided.

The important point is that regulation of another hoof-care profession does not mean equivalence with farriery.

What changes for Northern Ireland?

The current Farriers (Registration) Act applies to England, Scotland and Wales and does not provide the equivalent statutory farriery regulatory framework for Northern Ireland.

The Government proposes bringing farriers in Northern Ireland within the new system.

This would create a UK-wide statutory regulatory framework for farriery.

The detailed transitional and qualification arrangements for existing Northern Ireland farriers have not yet been finalised.

What about existing farriers in Northern Ireland?

Because Northern Ireland is not presently within the same statutory farriery framework as England, Scotland and Wales, existing practitioners may have different backgrounds and qualification routes.

The detailed arrangements for transition into the future licensing system have not yet been decided.

This will require further clarification as the legislation and regulatory arrangements develop.

What about farriers from the Republic of Ireland working in Northern Ireland?

The detailed arrangements for farriers based in the Republic of Ireland who undertake work in Northern Ireland have not yet been finalised.

This includes questions around:

•cross-border practice;

•recognition of qualifications;

•temporary practice; and

•future licensing requirements.

Further clarification will be required as the proposals develop.

Will the role of the farrier change?

The final statutory scope of the profession has not yet been determined.

No specific changes to farriers’ current day-to-day work have yet been proposed in the White Paper itself.

The WCF has, however, already told Defra that future legislation should properly recognise the work undertaken by the modern farrier and the importance of appropriate collaborative working between farriers and veterinary surgeons.

Will veterinary surgeons supervise farriers?

No.

The proposals do not say that individual veterinary surgeons will supervise or manage farriers.

The proposal is for one wider regulatory framework covering veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and Allied Veterinary Professionals, including farriers.

Farriers and veterinary surgeons have different but complementary areas of professional expertise.

The detailed arrangements for profession-specific representation and decision-making within the future framework remain undecided.

In recent clarification, Defra has emphasised to the WCF that its intention is that farriers will not be working under vets, nor will their working relationship change to one in which they work alongside vets in any hierarchical sense. Farriers will also not need to be referred by vets or work under delegation or supervision unless, in the future, there are specific areas where the future regulator considers this necessary. The relationship between vets and farriers will therefore remain broadly as it is now, with most activities carried out separately, particularly those relating to preventative hoof care. Continued vet–farrier collaboration will, however, remain important and expected.

What happens to CPD?

The future regulator would be responsible for setting CPD and revalidation requirements for licensed professionals.

Some form of CPD requirement is likely to remain or develop further, but the exact requirements for farriers have not yet been published.

Matters still to be determined include:

•the amount of CPD required;

•acceptable forms of CPD; and

•reporting or recording requirements.

Will regulation cost more?

We do not yet know.

The future regulator would have powers to set fees, but no future licence fee for farriers has been published.

It is therefore too early to say whether regulatory costs for individual farriers will rise or fall.

The WCF will continue to seek clarity on the financial implications as the detailed arrangements develop.

Will farriery businesses also be regulated?

The White Paper proposes regulation of businesses as well as individual professionals within the wider veterinary framework.

Exactly how business regulation would apply to sole-trader farriers and farriery practices has not yet been finalised.

The detailed requirements for farriery businesses have not yet been finalised.

What happens if someone complains about my work?

The White Paper proposes a fitness-to-practise model based on “current impairment”.

The intention is to allow proportionate responses according to current competence, risk and circumstances.

The detailed arrangements for:

•investigation procedures;

•available sanctions; and

•appeals

Who will regulate farriers?

The Government proposes a single regulatory framework covering veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and Allied Veterinary Professionals, including farriers.

The detailed governance arrangements have not yet been finalised.

This includes:

•the level of direct representation for farriers;

•how profession-specific decisions will be made; and

•what specialist committees or structures may be established.

The WCF will continue to engage with Defra and those involved in developing the future framework.

Will the regulator itself be accountable?

The Government says that greater transparency and accountability are important objectives of the reforms.

The White Paper proposes greater Parliamentary and independent oversight of the regulator and clearer governance arrangements.

It also proposes checks and review mechanisms intended to ensure that the regulator operates effectively, proportionately and in the public interest.

What is the WCF’s wider role?

Regulation and professional leadership are different functions.

Alongside the regulatory reforms, the WCF will continue its wider work in support of farriery, including:

•promoting excellence;

•supporting education and professional development;

•recognising achievement;

•promoting the craft;

•encouraging knowledge and research;

•representing professional expertise; and

•engaging with Government, the veterinary profession and the wider equine sector.

Where the future regulatory system requires detailed standards for farriery, the WCF believes that the knowledge and experience of the profession should be properly represented.

Why are so many questions still unanswered?

Because the White Paper sets out the direction of Government policy, rather than every detail of the final regulatory system.

Some matters will have to be settled when the Bill is drafted and considered by Parliament.

Others are expected to be developed later through secondary legislation or by the future regulator following consultation with the professions.

It is therefore entirely possible for a question to be important but not yet have a final answer.

The WCF will not speculate where the detail has not yet been decided.

What do we know at this stage?

The White Paper does not specify when legislation will be introduced, stating only that this will depend on Parliamentary time. In subsequent communications with the WCF, Defra has indicated that it is working towards a possible legislative opportunity in the next Parliamentary session; however, no Bill slot or date for introduction has been confirmed.

WE KNOW

•Government intends to introduce new legislation, subject to Parliamentary time.

•Government proposes repealing the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975 and dissolving the FRC.

•Farriery will remain a regulated profession.

•Farriers are proposed for the first tranche of professions entering the new framework.

•Northern Ireland farriers are proposed to come within statutory regulation.

•Equine barefoot trimmers are proposed to be regulated as a separate profession.

•Government proposes a licence-to-practise system.

•Existing registered farriers are intended to move into the new arrangements through transitional provisions.

•Qualification, competency and scope requirements are intended to be developed for individual professions.

WE DO NOT YET KNOW

•the exact date on which legislation will be introduced;

•the final governance structure of the regulator;

•the final licence fee for farriers;

•the precise qualification and entry requirements under the new system;

•the detailed CPD and revalidation requirements;

•the final scope of practice for farriers;

•the final qualification and scope requirements for equine barefoot trimmers;

•exactly how farriery businesses will be regulated;

•the detailed arrangements for existing practitioners in Northern Ireland;

•the detailed arrangements for Republic of Ireland farriers working across the border in Northern Ireland;

•the final transitional arrangements between the FRC and the future regulatory system; or

•the final representation arrangements for farriers within the new structure.

These details matter, and the WCF is actively engaging as they are developed.

The WCF VSA Consultation Working Group

The Worshipful Company of Farriers has established a specialist Working Group to follow the reforms, engage with Government and other organisations, and ensure that the knowledge and interests of the farriery profession are properly represented.

Christopher Wynterbee-Robey – Renter Warden and Working Group Lead

Christopher brings strategic and governance experience and is leading the Company’s engagement on the proposed legislative changes.

Jocelyn Habershon-Butcher – Assistant and Veterinary Surgeon

Jocelyn brings an equine veterinary perspective to the Group, particularly in considering the future relationship between farriery, veterinary practice and the wider animal healthcare framework.

Stephen Kielt – Working Group Member and practising farrier

Stephen brings the perspective of the working farrier and an understanding of the practical implications that regulatory change may have for those practising the craft.

The Working Group is supported by the Clerk’s Office and the Company’s Senior Registrar.

What can I do as an individual?

If you wish to make your views known, you can contact your local Member of Parliament and ask them to raise the issues that are important to you as the proposals develop.

The WCF will continue to engage with Defra and those involved in developing the future regulatory framework and will provide factual updates as further information becomes available.

September 2026

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