Farriery CPD
Farriery, alongside medical and veterinary science, is constantly moving forward in knowledge, technique and skill. To reflect this many
farriers have furthered their education to keep up to date with these developments through organising and attending clinics and conferences. In turn this has provided them with the advanced skill to deal with conditions of the hoof effectively and employ therapeutic methods as necessary.This conscious development of professional competence and knowledge within an individual’s chosen career is known as Continuing Professional Development (CPD). It recognises the individual is continuously seeking to improve and keep their knowledge up to date and ensures that the standards required to have gained their professional qualification are, at the very least, maintained. Introduced into the veterinary profession in 1997, formally recognised CPD was introduced to the farriery industry in 2008.
“Pursuing Excellence in Farriery” is the phrase coined by the farriery CPD Steering Group (CPDSG) which consists of representatives from the Worshipful Company of Farriers, the National Association of Farriers Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers, the Farriers Registration Council and the Farriery Training Agency. The CPDSG has been established to ensure that CPD is provided to suit the needs of the farrier and the farriery profession and reports from the CPD office suggest that the response has so far has been extremely positive.
CPD is being taken up by many professions, particularly those that are regulated by law such as Dentists, Doctors and Teachers, for which it is mandatory. Vets have a professional obligation to participate in 105 hours of CPD over 3 years, with an average of 35 hours per year. CPD for farriers is not compulsory under the Farriers Registration Act 1975 and to make it so would require a change in the law. It is however recommended that farriers obtain 10 CPD points a year averaged over a three year period. (During the introductory years it was recommended that five points were gained in 2008, eight points in 2009 and from 2010 onwards 10 points per year). Farriers are provided with a certificate annually showing the CPD completed in the past year, and the points awarded over the past three years.
CPD Points are awarded for a number of endeavours to encourage farriers to participate in a wide range of activities ensuring an individual is ‘well-rounded’ in all aspects of their professional life. Examples of such events include shoemaking courses and competitions, conferences, clinics, health and safety, first aid and computer competence in addition to reading books and subscriptions to periodicals, attending business courses and giving presentations to Pony Clubs and Riding Clubs. Perhaps the ultimate CPD is the study for and acquisition of higher farrier qualifications such as the Associate and Fellowship of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. Organisers of CPD events can apply to the CPDSG to have their event accredited and the booking and recording of CPD activity can be done online through the CPD website at www.farrierycpd.org.
Although rapidly increasing in number the current provision of CPD events is such that it does not allow for every farrier in the UK to acquire 10 points a year. Many organised CPD events are centrally located for national attendance and there is currently a push to introduce more events at a ‘local’ level to lift geographical restrictions. This has already begun with branches of the National Association and other local groups such as the Yorkshire Farriers Education and Demonstration Association becoming more proactive. Factors such as time taken off work and the cost of attending such events are also issues to be examined.The introduction of any new concept is not without its teething problems however active participation in CPD will ultimately result in better looked after clients; human and horse. Carers of equines have a right to expect that a farrier’s knowledge is kept up to date and that the standards gained at graduation have at least been maintained. Whilst not exclusive, the accrual of CPD points goes some way to formally recognise this. Farriers actively advancing their expertise will ultimately be better equipped to deal with a more diverse range of ailments, and business scenario’s, and perhaps even give them the competitive edge!
