Over flow from the 'good shoeing' thread.

[amandap]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=513676

Apologies for the title of the thread but I didn't know what to call it. I'd like it to be open but not deteriorate into shod v barefoot. However my skills at controlling posts are infantile so I hope it can be kept informative and provide opportunity for questions etc. not appropriate for the good shoeing thread. I know very little about shoeing but am interested in knowing more about farrier training and their CPD (continuing professional development) structure.

I will throw the thread open with a quote from moorman on the other thread if I may.

I could not agree more with all you have said.
But if this thread has proved anything to me it is that if all owners were to go and study all equine disciplines there would still be a great variation in opinions.
The finest owner I ever worked for was an eminent London lawyer, who decided to take up riding, he got a vet, myself, and a saddler in his yard, asked us to look at a horse he was thinking of buying and to advise him on where he went from here. The professionals got together and realised we were going to be responsible for the wellbeing of this animal, a job we all took, and still take very seriously.
We all keep in touch with each other and will voice any concerns we have.
The vet remarked just after Xmas that in the 6 years we have looked after this client horses he has spent less than all his other equine clients.
What I am trying to say is that if the owner is skilled in delegation it does relieve the need for knowledge, and can lead to a successful outcome.
My point is I don’t think I should have to study plumbing in order to know if I have had my boiler fitted correctly, I have at some point to rely on the professional who is charging for the job.
Now I fully agree that there is always the question of how do we know if we have a good vet/farrier etc, (as this thread has proved) and I can only say that I will never stop working towards trying to get a minimum standard within my profession so that an owner may chose a farrier for other reasons than competence.
Maybe we could start with a farrier having to shoe a horse all round in the way that he/her is going to do it for a living when they take there final exam, if this means using readymade shoes then’ bring them on’. We are now in the year 2012 not 1860!!!
Something about this thread really gets me going, sorry!

I think your point about professionals working as a team is very valid. There is a strong motivation to keep up to date and look more holistically as well as your work being judged by other professionals. Unfortunately I have a feeling there may be financial implications for many owners that make this approach prohibitive.