illegal farriery!

B

Bendyhorse

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 February 2012
Messages
135
Visit site
So I have found out the farrier I have been using has been prosecuted for illegal farriery, he isnt a reg farrier nor an apprentice! I cant help but feel done over!! £55 a new set and by someone that should have been no where near my horses' feet! Im feeling very guilty and sorry to my horses that I didn't find out. He had been at the yard for yard for years and I presumed he was reg'd.

I feel a mug I paid for a professional service, was ripped off and risked my horses wellbeing!

Sorry its a bit of a rant, but I needed to vent my disbelief!

:( xx
 
Did he do a good job in the years that he was at the yard?If so were you really ripped off? I can understand you being upset, but at the same time if you have never questioned, or been unhappy with the quality of his work, then you got what you paid for. Not saying he was right or defending him, but I have seen crappy shoeing jobs from registered farriers, and, back in the day, I was happy to pay an unlicensed one, because at the time all the registered guys in my area would only travel to volume calls, and being a home horse keeper, with one old guy needing a trim, and one in work needing regular shoeing, they didn't want to come to me, and I had no transport.
 
We have a girl at the yard that uses a farrier that I keep meaning to check on as I don't know if he's registered. He's as rough as they come, charges not a lot compared to mine, but shoes completely incorrectly for a laminitic pony ie dropped heels and really long toes.
 
Sorry Big Ben maybe I wasnt clear I was off on a bit of a tangent, apologies lol :)

I think I mean "ripped off" as registered farriers have to do the apprenticeships/pay memberships and I have had registered farriers at the same cost doing a good job at other yards. You know what you are paying for. I have been ok about the job he has done but I have had to chase him up for a few things that I felt were obvious. But because he did so many in the day, maybe I made excuses for him missing things (feet needing to be shaped correctly as my WB was getting large cob sized feet ) I am disappointed in myself mostly because it isnt fair in the registered farriers who do a good job. Theres a reason it is illegal and I was annoyed I didnt look up and just went with the flow.

I would never use an unregistered dentist/vet.

hmmm :S
 
I've just changed farriers because I noticed the yard farrier had put a back shoe on a front, inside out and a back shoe on the back, the wrong way too! He wasn't registered. New farrier is fab though :)
Shame about your issue - hopefully your horse hasn't suffered
 
My registered farrier often does that with my big horse that has a tendancy to get cracks in his feet. (Back shoes on front..)

Prior to him, I had an unregistered farrier - just initially used the yard one. He had previously been registered, but struck off. He did explain why when I asked. He was the most polite, reliable, generally nice farrier I have ever met. He tended to shoe a bit long, so when one started to get lami, I changed. I still miss how down to earth he was though.
 
Must be near me then cos I used to have him for years too! He actually did a very good job too! - I must add I didn't know he wasn't registered or not an apprentice (I thought he was).

We changed farriers a few months ago anywqy for other reasons
 
Dumbo said:
I've just changed farriers because I noticed the yard farrier had put a back shoe on a front, inside out and a back shoe on the back, the wrong way too! He wasn't registered. New farrier is fab though :)
Shame about your issue - hopefully your horse hasn't suffered
Click to expand...

How can a shoe be inside out? How did you know he put a back shoe on the front?
 
It is very easy to ckeck if a farrier is registered
http://62.3.215.19/frc/findafarrier.asp?page=findafarrier

Do inform the FRC about illegal farriery
The farrier may not be insured and using him could affect your own horse insurance.

A farrier may use a hind shoe on a front hoof ie 2 clips and nails in slightly different places if perhaps a hoof is slightly damaged or he feels it would be of benefit to the horse, he may also use fewer than 7 nails for a small hoof etc.
Long toes and low heels on a newly shod hoof are a sign that the job is not being done correctly
 
The "Farrier" in question (if its the same one, as I believe 2 got done) came with the registered farrier we used & we were led to believe he was an apprentice. I didn't doubt him to check :( xx
 
Tinap. Yes I was lead to believe that too!! and yes when I thought about insurance I did think my god what if? I will be making some calls to find someone registered in the morning. Thanks cuffey for that info too :) x
 
FfionWinnie said:
How can a shoe be inside out? How did you know he put a back shoe on the front?
Click to expand...

One side of a shoe is slightly wider than the other (not sure which way). 'Inside out' wasn't a good term to use, sorry! He had just put the inner side on the outer side of the hoof.
New farrier noticed it instantly then showed me that the back shoes are a different shape and the clips are between the holes further forward.
Haven't explained it very well but ask your farrier :)

Easier to show on a photo - the top pair are fronts, bottom are hinds. Although my horse has quarter clips but you can see the slight different shape!
China_HORSESHOES_IN_ALUMINUM_ALLOY20128811303510_zps0c98bfa0.jpg
 
Last edited:
There's an unregistered farrier operating in the North West, has been for years.

He has the same name as his father who IS registered, so checking him out just confirms a lie!
 
Dumbo said:
One side of a shoe is slightly wider than the other (not sure which way). 'Inside out' wasn't a good term to use, sorry! He had just put the inner side on the outer side of the hoof.
New farrier noticed it instantly then showed me that the back shoes are a different shape and the clips are between the holes further forward.
Haven't explained it very well but ask your farrier :)

Easier to show on a photo - the top pair are fronts, bottom are hinds. Although my horse has quarter clips but you can see the slight different shape!
Click to expand...


I don't have a farrier but I was married to one so I know rather a lot about it ;)
 
Sorry to raise an old thread but I've been unhappy with my mares shoes the last twice she has been done... and on checking my farrier isnt registered either! now I have used him for at least 15 yrs off and on... would you confront him? or just change farriers?
 
Sorry but you ARE a mug! You should always check the status of any professional before you employ them, hopefully your horse is fine.
 
Check on the WCF (worshipful company of farriers) website for registered farriers. If an unregisterd farrier makes a mess of your horses feet would insurance be valid? Should registered farriers display their membership of WCF on their van? I wouldn't use a vet unless they were able to prove they were qualified, any more than I would use an equine dentist etc etc.Unless they had proof of qualification. People should be more vigilant, check these people out first!
 
Just replied but seems to have disappeared. He was registered, fifteen years ago. What has happened between then and now I do not know. I certainly don't check the register everyone I have the girls done. I hate confrontation but I know i should give him chance to explain before I report him.
 
Thankyou moana for being so blunt. He was registered fifteen years ago. God knows what has happened since. Do you check your farriers registration before every visit. yes tinap.. You are right... I will confront him, maybe there is a perfectly good reason for this... I find its best to be open minded before knowing all the facts.
 
My uncle farmed all his life and always used an unqualified vet. I can't remember what they were called -- was it a "veterinary practitioner"? It was all perfectly legal and he was able to get all the usual drugs, operate, etc. My uncle reckoned he was a lot better that a "proper" vet! Probably something similar to "grandfather rights" us oldies enjoy so we don't have to faff around taking trailer tests and such! Maybe there was such a "qualification" for farriers? I think veterinary practitioners are now a thing of the past.

I once knew a chap who would brag that he had a certificate to say he was sane and all we had was an assumption.:eek: While a piece of paper may be reassuring, I still think I'll judge by results.;)
 
Have you contacted CAB? Maybe you can take the "farrier" to the small claims court and claim your money back for the shoeings due to misrepresentation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top