Frequently Asked Questions
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to see if it's already been asked and answered. If you can't
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Q: Who are the main bodies involved in the
governing and regulation of all UK Farriers?
A: The three bodies involved in UK Farriery are;
The Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF) is the
governing body that regulates all Farriers in the UK. The WCF
was first established in 1356 and still carries out the same roll
today as it did then. For more information on the WCF
click here or on the crest.
The WCF website is very informative and well worth a look.
The Farriers Registration Council (FRC). The details of all registered Farriers in the UK are
held by the FRC who's
website now has an easy to use feature allowing you to search for a
Farrier by name or by area post code. This can greatly help
you as a horse owner to either check to see if your Farrier is
registered or to simply find a Farrier in your area. As with
the WCF website, the FRC site is also worth a look. To find
out more about the FRC
click here or on the FRC logo.
The Farriery Training Agency (FTA), formerly known
as 'The Farriery Training Service' or 'FTS' is responsible for
overseeing the training of all Farriery apprentices in the UK.
If you would like any information on becoming a Farrier then
click here to take a
look or click on the FTA logo.
Q: Do you have to be qualified to carry
out Farriery within the UK?
A: Yes. All
Farriers in the UK have to have attained at least the D.W.C.F
qualification (Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers). This is the minimum legal requirement to carry
out Farriery in the UK. If your Farrier is not registered then
they are breaking the law!
Q: How often should
I have my horse shod?
A: It depends on each individual horse and the work you are doing
with it. As a general rule, most horses are shod at 6 to 8
week intervals.
Q: Do I need my
horse shod as often if I'm not riding it very much?
A: Even if you are not riding your horse very much, it's feet still
grow. The average horse grows a sufficient amount of hoof over
a 6 to 8 week period that it will needs them trimmed, even if the
shoes aren't worn out. Feet that are left to 'long' will lead
to lameness in the horse.
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