Farrier

This Advanced Apprenticeship is the only route in Great Britain to become qualified as a registered farrier. Farriery, or the shoeing of horses and similar animals, is an ancient craft that is still in high demand.

A farrier is a skilled craftsperson who makes and fits shoes for horses’ feet according to the needs and welfare of the animal. Increasingly, farriers are working with veterinary surgeons and equine hospitals to provide corrective shoeing and surgical farriery. Though a farrier is not a blacksmith (blacksmiths cannot fit shoes to the horse), they still need training in blacksmithing in order to make or modify the shoes correctly.

Roughly 100 apprentices are taken on in the industry every year, and competition for places is quite strong. Candidates must serve a period of Apprenticeship of four years and two months while employed by an Approved Training Farrier (ATF). Apprentices will learn specialist skills, such as how to assess the needs of a particular animal, making and modifying tools and shoes by forging, and trimming and shoeing equine feet.

Once qualified and registered, you can become your own boss and work hours that suit you and your clients – you’ll also be working outdoors and visiting a variety of people and places.

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