Farriery is defined in the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975 and is controlled by the Farriers’ Registration Council in all areas outside of Northern Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland.  It is defined as ‘any work in connection with the preparation or treatment of the foot of a horse for the immediate reception of a shoe thereon, the fitting by nailing or otherwise of a shoe to the foot or the finishing off of such work to the foot’.  Some Farriers are also involved in blacksmithing and farriery supplies.

Farriery makes an estimated £100 million contribution to the UK’s Gross Domestic Product.  The Farriers Registration Council, there are currently 2,900 registered Farriers and apprentices in the UK.  The majority of farriers run their own business or work within a small company.

The majority of farriers and student farriers are male, white and British.

Recruitment is not an issue in farriery.  Competition generally for persons seeking an Apprenticeship in Farriery is extremely high.

Job-specific skills are of primary importance in farriery, combined with business management skills.  Flexibility, initiative and willingness to learn are seen as increasingly important, together with customer service and communication skills.  Owner’s managers need business and people management skills, mentoring and coaching skills.

Current and future skills needs include:

• high level technical skills in the craft of shoeing all types of feet
• ability to work in adverse conditions
• animal welfare skills in response to new legislation and the associated duty of care
• business management skills
• managerial skills for larger farriery businesses

Farriers are highly-skilled, and have to maintain their skills as a farrier in order to continue practising.  Across all occupational categories, there is an increasing demand for higher level skills.

Those wishing to enter the workforce need problem solving skills, willingness to learn, flexibility and initiative, together with 4 GSCEs of Grade C and above including English language and mathematics.

Industry drivers affecting future work and employment include:

• modernisation of laws requiring higher professional standards and duty of care  for all handling animals
• extension of the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975
• changing consumer lifestyles and tastes
• increasing technological changes and use of new materials
• changing employment and business legislation
• the need for more efficient working practices to remain competitive

Source: Sector Skills Agreement Stage 1: Key Drivers of Skill Demand 2005 and Farriery Industry report 2005