The Times They Are A-Changin'

     Recent articles in Forge, the British Farrier and Blacksmiths Association magazine and the American Farrier's Journal, reported trials faced by the government sponsored British farrier apprentice training program.  The British government's Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) has challenged the effectiveness of the current farrier training scheme placing funding on hold.  Apparently no new apprenticeships will be granted until the National Farrier Training Agency develops a plan to deal with the concerns and government funding is reinstated.  It could take at least a year before any new apprenticeships are granted. 

     In the mean time prospective farrier apprentices in Britain are looking elsewhere to become qualified as farriers.  A few have contacted the American Farriers Association with questions about AFA Certification and training opportunities in North America.  In order to become a practicing farrier in Britain they must apply to The Farriers Registration Council to be placed on the Registry of Farriers after successfully complete the requirements for the Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers which include a minimum four year apprenticeship interspersed with thirty-six weeks of training at an approved national farrier training center and successful completion of the examinations of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (see No Foot, No Horse, Vol.1, Issue 6, Sep. 2012).   

     The Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers is available to members of the AFA in good standing and who are "Certified Journeymen Farriers who have two years experience since passing the AFA CJF."  This has led prospective British farrier apprentices to contemplate taking the AFA examinations as means of becoming qualified.  However the British Farriers Registration Council policy recognizing AFA Certified Journeymen Farriers is for "Overseas Applications" and requires "...two years subsequent experience regularly and gainfully engaged in the shoeing of horses outside Great Britain."  These policies were established to allow American and Canadian farriers to legally shoe horses in Britain during cultural exchange visits and international competitions, and to allow AFA Certified Journeyman Farriers access to higher level exams offered by the Worshipful Company of Farriers.      The policies initially also satisfied requirements of the European Union verifying qualifications of farriers trained outside the UK.

     The AFA sympathizes with these young people who have become frustrated in their quest to become farriers but the AFA does not encourage citizens of Great Britain to attempt to circumvent the laws of their land regarding the training, qualifying and registration of farriers.  The AFA encourages them to support their National Farrier Training Agency, work with their government officials, and pursue the excellent educational and apprenticeship opportunities that have been available in their own country.

      While there are a great number of privately operated schools as well as programs connected to public institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada, there are no specific AFA approved farrier training courses.  Schools and farrier courses vary greatly in length, quality and cost.  Non-resident students, those whose parents do not live in the state, generally pay significantly higher tuition rates for courses in public colleges and universities.  Very few graduates of these programs continue to become fully qualified farriers.  There is nothing in North America to compare to the nationally regulated farriery training program in Great Britain.

     The AFA certification program is a voluntary process.  There are no legal statutes requiring farriers to be certified.  Examinations are scheduled by local Chapters of the AFA throughout the year at a variety of locations.  The AFA Certified Farrier exams, which constitute the first level of AFA Certification, are open to farriers who are members of the AFA and who have at least one year of horseshoeing experience.  Candidates for the Certified Journeyman Farrier examination must have at least two years shoeing experience and must have successfully completed either the AFA Certified Farrier examinations or have achieved the Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (American Farriers Association Certification Guide, 2013 ed., page 23).

      It generally requires several years of repeated attempts to earn an AFA certification level.  The actual length of time successful candidates have been shoeing horses greatly exceeds the one and two year minimum requirements.  Successful candidates are for the most part skilled craftsmen who operate thriving horseshoeing practices.  After achieving AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier status an individual must have "two years subsequent experience regularly and gainfully engaged in the shoeing of horses outside Great Britain" before applying to The Farriers Registration Council to be placed on the Registry of Farriers. 

     Prospective farrier apprentices from overseas would be looking at a minimum of four years studying and working abroad after obtaining the required visas and work permits.  The costs could be significantly higher than those projected for their present situation.  The farriery training opportunities available in Britain are the envy of many an American farrier.