Illegal Farriery??

Hels_Bells

Hels_Bells

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Does anyone know are people allowed to shoe their own horses?? Is it just when they try to make money out of unlicensed farriery that it that it's a problem??

I know someone near me who is not a qualifited farrier and actually shoes their own horses - I always wondered if it was actually allowed or not!?? They also have a lot of non-riding horses that they trim, but I'm fairly sure that trimming is allowed??
 
All i know is that if you use an unregistered farrier your insurance is nul and void should there be any problems relating to the shoing or preperation of the foot.
This will apply for the man doing his own horses too.
'Barefoot trimmers' are different and dont come under this law, as this is just trimming and is not trimming to prepare the foot to recieve a shoe.
 
Ha it's a woman doing her own shoeing!! ;@) I did wonder if it is allowed??!! I doubt very much she has insurance as she's also running a stud from premises that are registered as a farm (i.e. not paying business rates!) so I guess the nul insurance won't worry her too much!!

We had an american "placement" farrier at our farrier's a few months ago and they don't need qualifications either anyone can shoe a horse there too! It's such a large country I guess you can't expect people to travel 100/200 miles to the nearest farrier every 6 weeks!!!!
 
The only people legally permitted to shoe a horse is a registered farrier who has undergone the 4 years and 3 months training or a vet.
 
Is it seriously four years? Had a feeling it was two, but probably completing wrong.

Many insurancce policies state that trimming must be carried out by a registered farrier even if horse is not shod. However it is not illegal to trim a horses hoof if not registered but will invalidate insurance.

However doubt someone who shoes their own and has several has insurance so this wouldn't be an issue.
 
Anyone can trim a horse's hoof, it is not illegal however only a registered farrier can prepare a hoof to receive a shoe (in UK).

There were two brothers prosecuted a short time ago for carrying out illegal shoeing. They had been trained over the years by their father, who is a registered farrier but it was never done officially & they never sat any exams or practical tests to have their work assessed. In fact I think they continued shoeing after being prosecuted & were prosecuted for a second time.
 
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Many insurancce policies state that trimming must be carried out by a registered farrier even if horse is not shod. However it is not illegal to trim a horses hoof if not registered but will invalidate insurance.


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I think this is a bit of a myth - I've yet to see an insurance policy that actually stipulates that. I've always insured with Petplan and it certainly isn't included as a condition of their policies. In fact many insurance companies are now looked to barefoot rehab as legitimate treatment for navicular syndrome and similar conditions. If the insurance companies are prepared to pay for barefoot treatment I don't see how it can also invalidate the insurance
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just as another point vets can trim etc a hoof (and dig for abscesses etc) however cannot prepare a hoof for a shoe nor apply one!!!
but we can take them off, but for it to be reapplied it is supposed to be done by a proper farrier!

She can trim the horses feet but if anything oges wrong then she is a bit scuppored really, she also shouldnt be applying any shoes!
 
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Many insurancce policies state that trimming must be carried out by a registered farrier even if horse is not shod. However it is not illegal to trim a horses hoof if not registered but will invalidate insurance.


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I think this is a bit of a myth - I've yet to see an insurance policy that actually stipulates that. I've always insured with Petplan and it certainly isn't included as a condition of their policies. In fact many insurance companies are now looked to barefoot rehab as legitimate treatment for navicular syndrome and similar conditions. If the insurance companies are prepared to pay for barefoot treatment I don't see how it can also invalidate the insurance
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It's not a myth - I read the small print of several policies when insuring my horse and it was in more than one of them.

I just googled 'horse insurance' and one of the first links was Stoneways, who have it as a specific clause in their terms and conditions of insurance: PDF of Ts&Cs

If that link doesn't work, then http://www.stonewaysinsurance.co.uk/claimforms.asp and click on Horse Insurance Terms and Conditions at the bottom left - it's clause 4b under General Conditions on Page 5, and it is worth noting that Stoneways is underwritten by Allianz who also underwrite PetPlan - so I would be wanting something in writing from petplan stating that they would not exclude conditions if the horse is trimmed by someone other than a registered farrier.....
 
Interesting... Stoneways isn't a company I've ever considered using. Now I know why! Hello 21st century!

I just phoned Petplan to check and they said trimming by a farrier wasn't a stipulation in their policies - she even went and checked with her line manager to make sure. The navicular case I know that went to barefoot rehab paid for by the insurance company was an NFU one - so it's okay by them too. Maybe Stoneways will update their underwriters once the LANTRA guidelines are approved later this year?
 
Thing is, it isn't really about what the company say, as all claims get referred to the underwriters as I understand it, and it is they who decide whether or not the claim gets paid. That's why I'd want something in writing, if I was planning on using someone other than a registered farrier, and if my insurance was underwritten by Allianz.

As it is, my insurers underwrite themselves, and are therefore a)much more sensible about random exclusions and b)much less likely to put random stipulations in the policy!
 
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Many insurancce policies state that trimming must be carried out by a registered farrier even if horse is not shod. However it is not illegal to trim a horses hoof if not registered but will invalidate insurance.


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I think this is a bit of a myth - I've yet to see an insurance policy that actually stipulates that.

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not a myth, read it on mine this morning, it's one of their general conditions along with annual dental checks, routine vaccinations and a worming programme!
 
As it happens, just read PetPlans T&Cs and they state any treatment must be carried out by a farrier who holds a recognised UK qualification in their subject and I would imagine they would apply this to any farriery work generally.
 
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Is it seriously four years? Had a feeling it was two, but probably completing wrong.

Many insurancce policies state that trimming must be carried out by a registered farrier even if horse is not shod. However it is not illegal to trim a horses hoof if not registered but will invalidate insurance.

However doubt someone who shoes their own and has several has insurance so this wouldn't be an issue.

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Actually its more like five years because every farrier has to do a one year access course they call it to learn how to ''beat steel'' as i have heard it so elloquently put.

before it was four years it was 7 so i am not entirely sure where you got two from
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No people are not allowed to shoe their own horses but who would police it.

http://www.farrier-reg.gov.uk/document.asp?page=farrieryandthelaw
 
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