Working with your farrier

What a farrier does

A farrier is not the same as a blacksmith. The Farriers Registration Council explains that a farrier works with horses, and trains in blacksmithing so they can make shoes correctly; a blacksmith works with iron, may never handle a horse, and isn't registered to shoe one.

Registered farriers know both the theory and the practice of farriery. They can shoe all types of feet, normal or defective, make shoes to suit all kinds of work and conditions, and devise corrective measures to compensate for faulty limb action. Shoes may be made of metal or of modern materials such as plastics and resins.

Your farrier is also the person to ask about almost any change in your horse's feet. If you're worried about your horse's comfort or hoof health, the British Horse Society suggests contacting your farrier first. They will advise you and, if needed, suggest involving your vet.

Registered farriers and the law

The Farriers (Registration) Act 1975, in force since 1 January 1976, makes it a criminal offence in Great Britain for an unregistered person to carry out farriery. The Act defines farriery as any work preparing or treating a horse's foot for the immediate reception of a shoe, fitting a shoe by nailing or otherwise, or finishing off that work. Its purpose, in its own words, is to "prevent and avoid suffering" from shoeing by unskilled people.

What that means for you:

• Only certain people may shoe a horse: registered farriers, enrolled farriery apprentices and people on approved courses, vets and supervised veterinary students, and anyone giving first aid to a horse in an emergency.
• That includes your own horse. Defra's code of practice points out that the requirement to register covers people who only shoe their own horses.
• "Shoe" means more than steel. The Council's view is that the law covers anything with the purpose of a shoe, including glue-on plastic shoes and hoof wraps.
• Trimming on its own is different. Trimming that isn't preparation for a shoe falls outside the Act's definition of farriery.
• The risks of using an unregistered person include your horse's welfare, an invalid insurance claim if your horse is lamed or injured, and possibly aiding a criminal offence. Illegal farriery can bring a fine of up to £1,000, legal costs and a criminal record.

The Act covers England, Wales and Scotland. It doesn't extend to Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.

Checking your farrier is registered

The Farriers Registration Council suggests:

• Ask to see their registration card. Registered farriers receive a new card, showing their name and the year, each year they renew.
• Search the register. The Council's Find a Farrier search lists everyone registered to practise in Great Britain, by postcode, location or name. You can also phone the Council to check.

Farrier qualifications

Farriers train through an apprenticeship that combines college study with work alongside an Approved Training Farrier. The letters after a farrier's name show their level:

The Council's full list also includes the Qualified to Farrier Standard apprenticeship assessment and military qualifications at level 3, and degrees from foundation level to PhD.

How often?

Hooves grow all the time, so regular visits keep them balanced and in good shape.

• Defra's code of practice says hooves should be trimmed or reshod as the farrier advises, usually every 4 to 8 weeks, depending on things such as health, nutrition, age and type of work.
• The British Horse Society says usually every four to six weeks for shod horses, and sometimes longer for barefoot horses.
• Don't leave it too long. The British Horse Society notes that leaving more than eight weeks between trims or shoeing may contribute to laminitis.
• Keep to the routine in winter. Hooves grow more slowly in winter, but keeping up your usual visits helps prevent cracks and chips and keeps the hoof and pastern angles balanced.

Your farrier will set the interval for your horse, taking into account its workload, the surfaces it works on, its clinical history and the quality of its hooves.

Shoes, barefoot or something in between?

The British Horse Society's view is that whatever you choose, your horse's welfare and comfort come first. Some horses need shoes for support and others do well without, and some do best with a mix, such as shod in front and barefoot behind. Defra's code of practice adds that horses ridden or driven regularly on roads or hard, rough surfaces will mostly need to be regularly shod, and that a horse shouldn't be asked to work beyond what its hooves can cope with.

Never remove shoes without a plan to keep your horse comfortable, and have a backup plan in case it becomes sore or lame. Some horses need shoes while they recover from a problem.

Getting ready for the farrier

The Farriers Registration Council asks owners to:

• Teach your horse to have its legs held, so trimming and shoeing don't distress it or put the farrier at risk. A companion horse nearby, but not close enough to get in the way, may help.
• Bring the horse in beforehand, with clean, dry feet and legs. A dry hoof is safer to work on.
• Use a well-fitting headcollar and a good rope, tied to a secure ring with breakable string, which will snap if the horse panics.
• Provide a safe place to work: clean, dry, level, non-slip and well lit, ideally sheltered from wind and rain.
• Have a competent handler available in case the farrier needs help.
• Avoid distractions: shut dogs away, and silence mobile phones.

For a horse that worries about the farrier, the British Horse Society suggests practising between visits: standing for longer, having its legs lifted and held, and getting used to the noise by tapping its hooves with the blunt end of a hoof pick. A qualified equine behaviour professional can help (see How horses learn), and your vet can advise whether light sedation is needed.

After a visit

Occasionally a nail is placed too close to the sensitive tissue inside the hoof, which the British Horse Society calls nail bind. Signs can appear straight away or up to a week later: lameness, from a slight dip in performance to obvious discomfort, often with heat in the hoof and a stronger digital pulse. Contact your farrier first, or your vet if it is serious or doesn't settle. Early attention usually leads to a quick and comfortable recovery.

Keep your horse's tetanus vaccination up to date too. The British Horse Society notes that any hoof problem involving pressure or a wound can increase the risk of tetanus.