Industry Bodies
Worshipful Company of Farriers
The Worshipful Company of Farriers is a City Livery Company which has its origins in 1356, when it was established as a Fellowship to oversee farriery within the cities of London and Westminster.
Six and a half centuries later, the Company still has the responsibility for securing adequate standards of competence and conduct among persons engaged in the shoeing of horses.
The company also actively promotes and encourages the art, science, training and education of farriery.
Founded in 1605, the Worshipful Company of Farriers is number 55 on the register of the City of London Livery Companies.
For more information visit their webiste at: www.wcf.org.uk
Farriers Registration Council
The Farriers Registration Council (FRC) is responsible for the regulation of farriery within Great Britain. The FRC was established by the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975 (as amended). It is an Act to prevent and avoid suffering by and cruelty to horses arising from the shoeing of horses by unskilled persons; to promote the proper shoeing of horses; to promote the training of farriers and shoeing smiths; to provide for the establishment of a Farriers Registration Council to register persons engaged in farriery and the shoeing of horses; to prohibit the shoeing of horses by unqualified persons; and for purposes connected therewith. The Act applies to England, Wales and Scotland and any persons engaged in farriery, including shoeing their own horse, must be registered.
The FRC administers the Register of Farriers and carries out related functions concerning the standard for registration, undertakes consideration of complaints of serious misconduct according to a statutory process and promotes public awareness of the regulatory processes. A full list of Registered Farriers can be located on the ‘Find a Farrier’ section on the Council’s website: www.farrier-reg.gov.uk and also by contacting the office on 01733 319911.
Other tasks conducted by the FRC include responsibility for visiting farriery colleges and qualifications across the country and overseas to give approval for the purposes of registration. The FRC is the Competent Authority for the profession of farriery under the EC Directive 2005/36. Finally, in addiition to its statutory obligations it investigates reports of illegal farriery and takes out prosecutions when there is sufficient evidence to do so.
Farriery Training Agency
The Farriery Training Agency (FTA) is a Managing Agency established by the FRC to oversee the training of Farriery Apprentices in Great Britain. The FTA is responsible for the administration of the terms and conditions for the training of Farriery Apprentices, including:
• The induction and approval of candidates for apprenticeship
• Obtaining funding for such apprenticeships and discharging the responsibilities set by the funding agencies
• Arranging an adequate level of supervision of the apprentice
• Liaising with the awarding bodies on examinations
Acting as arbiter for all matters relating to the training of Farriery Apprentices.
For more information visit their website at: www.farrierytraining.co.uk
National Association of Farriers Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers
The National Association of Farriers, Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers (NAFBAE) looks after the interests of its members. Its head office is at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on the site to the National Agricultural Centre where it has an administrative office, a seminar room, a meeting room and a forge facility for competitions and workshops.
The Executive Committee comprises of six farriers who meet regularly to promote the interests of the Association's members. NAFBAE also has a craft committee for farriery. NAFBAE offers its members a number of benefits including insurances, legal advice, discounts on vans as well as help and advice in cases of hardship or disciplinary procedures.
For more information visit their website at: www.nafbae.org.uk
