Farrier: Can my horse be shod during lockdown?

If you are concerned as the whether or not your horse can call the farrier to shoe your horse during lockdown, The Horse Exchange can explain using advice from The Farriers Registration Council.

On Tuesday 24th March 2020 The Farriers Registration Council confirmed that farriers can continue to provide their essential services to equines, using their judgement as to matters of priority and urgency. However they must comply with the following:-

• Any farrier showing symptoms of coronavirus should follow the NHS guidelines on Covid-19
• Farriers and horse owners should follow social distancing guidelines and maintain the 2 meter (6ft) distance at all times. Owners should allow the farrier space to work.
• Farriers should regularly wash their hands with soap and warm water, for 20 seconds, and clean their tools and equipment between yard visits.
• Registered Farriers should present their registration card and draw attention to this notice if they are stopped by police.

Registered Farriers are reminded of Paragraph 42 of the Farrier and Apprentice Code of Conduct which states:

42. Taking Over Clients
Although both farrier and client have freedom of choice, as a matter of professional courtesy and in the interests of the welfare of the horse involved, a farrier should not knowingly take over a colleague’s customer without informing the colleague in question. Farriers should not encourage clients to leave another farrier in favour of themselves or attempt to take advantage of temporary arrangements such as referrals or holiday cover to gain clients. [See section 13], and:

13. Farriers must:
d. observe professional standards in the conduct of their business.
Registered Farriers are reminded also of the direction and guidance of HM Government and the FRC, and published on the FRC website in respect of the delivery of farriery services during the current crisis. Registered Farriers should take care that their actions meet the criteria of “… provide essential services …”, and should be prepared to justify their actions if challenged. Failure to follow the direction and guidance may of itself amount to serious professional misconduct, or may amount to an aggravating feature when considering other alleged misconduct.