Farriers Registration Council

The Farriers Registration Council Election

The Registrar gives notice to all Registered Farriers that the election of four farriers to the Registration Council will take place on Monday 8 December 2014 in accordance with the Farriers Registration Council Election Scheme 1984. Full details of how to stand as a candidate, the Election timetable and a copy of the Election Scheme were included in the April/May 2014 issue of the Farriers Bulletin (Issue No: 118).
Two self-employed farriers and two employee farriers are to be elected to take office for the three years 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Every self-employed and employee Registered Farrier is eligible to stand for election as a member of the Council.
Under the Scheme, there are four elected positions, as follows:

Area 1: Northern Counties One self-employed farrier
One employee farrier
Area 2: Southern Counties One self-employed farrier
One employee farrier

All Registered Farriers are eligible to vote for all four positions, but candidates for election may only stand for the area in which their registered address lies (see Election Scheme included in Bulletin for geographical breakdown).
Interested parties should contact the Registrar for a nomination paper. If the initial contact is by telephone then the request must be confirmed in writing. The nomination paper will have to be completed and signed by the candidate, and signed by five proposers who must all be Registered Farriers but must not be serving members of the Farriers Registration Council. Completed nomination forms must be received by the Registrar on or before Friday 1 August 2014.
If you have any questions about the Election or are not sure whether or not you would like to stand as a candidate please contact the FRC Offices.

 

Informing the FRC of changes to your contact details - 2014
The Council offices are continuing to receive returned mail that has been sent to Registered Farriers, stating, ‘Addressee has gone away’ and complaints from the public asking the Council to remove their address from the Register as this has not been changed by the farrier on selling or leaving the property.
Registered Farriers are therefore asked to check that the registered details held about themselves by the Council are up to date. To change/amend any details you can either:
✍ Fill in the online form ‘Contact Us’, available on the FRC website (www.farrier-reg.gov.uk/contact-us/)
✍ E-mail the office at[email protected]
or write to us at Sefton House, 8-9 Adam Court, Newark Road, Peterborough, PE1 5PP
Please note that address changes must be made in writing by one of the above methods and cannot be accepted over the telephone.
Farriers should also inform the Council, in writing, if they wish to resign from the Register, for example, due to ill-health or if they are leaving the country – particularly at the end of the year when the Retention Fee is due. This will ensure that the Register is up to date and letters requesting payment of the annual Retention Fee are not sent and/or farriers are not removed from the Register unnecessarily.

 

Worshipful Company of Farriers
Sandy Beveridge was elected chairman of the Examinations Board in June 2013, taking over from Jim Ferrie, who had carried out this role for four years. Richard Ash is now Chairman of the WCF Craft Committee and Richard Spence was appointed a Company Judge.
The Court agreed that new holders of the Fellowship (FCWF) should be eligible to apply for the Freedom and Livery of the Company without fine, but with the requirement to pay quarterage, in recognition of their achievement.
Certificates and medals were awarded to new Master Farriers – Thomas Smith AWCF, Paul Horner FdSc AWCF, Jason Somerville FdSc AWCF and Daniel Harman AWCF in June, and to Wayne Preece FWCF and Billy Scott AWCF in September.
Admissions to the Livery include: Jeannette Allen, Chief Executive of the Horse Trust; Dr Lydia Brown, FRCVS; Nicholas Cutting, a stockbroker; John Harris, a funeral director; Lt Col Peter Koder MRCVS; Samuel Beeley, a farrier; Lt Liam Bernard, RN, a Royal Naval Officer; Craig McNeil, AWCF, a farrier; Geraldine Norris, director of operations at a charity; Lt Col Richard Parry, an Army Officer; John Pedley, a farrier and Peter Webbon, MRCVS.
Admissions to the Freedom include: Wayne Preece FWCF; Honor Woods, the Company’s book-keeper; Stewart Armstrong FWCF.

 

 

Summary of the FRC Council Meeting held on 6 December 2012

The next Council meeting will be held on 27 March 2013 at the offices of the British Veterinary Association, London, commencing
at 10.30 am.

This brief summary reflects the main items considered/discussed by the Council. The full minutes of this meeting are available on request and on the website once approved at the meeting on 27 March 2013.

National Farrier Training Agency Management Board (NFTAMB) (23 October 12)
Neville Higgins, Operations Manager of the Board, reported on the recent activities including action with respect to the FRC Strategic Review of the Farriery Apprenticeship, possible changes to the Farriery Access Course, movements in ATF numbers, possible changes to intake dates, mandatory CPD for ATFs, an analysis of apprentice accidents, an update on the possible introduction of e-portfolios and plans for roadshows. Members of Council also considered the NFTA’s Operational and Financial Plan for 2013 and this was endorsed.
Regarding appointments and demits, the Council endorsed that John Gilliver BVSc MRCVS, the veterinarian on the Board should serve a second three-year term from 1 January 2013 and that Chris Pardoe PhD AWCF would become the WCF appointee from 1 January 2013 replacing Simon Curtis BSc (Hons) FWCF HonAssocRCVS.
The Council was also informed that Andrew Middleton had resigned from the Board for personal reasons and a new Chairman would be appointed by open competition following advertisement in the New Year. Potentially interested farriers are advised to log onto the FRC and NFTA websites for further information.
Report of the Farriery Training Strategy Review Working Group and Approved Training Farrier Qualifications
It was agreed that the Working Group’s recommendations coming out of the review would be published on the FRC website. Some were being progressed and it may be useful to receive feedback on the others in the context of the current debates concerning the future of training.
One of the recommendations was that new ATFs should hold higher qualifications and Council was asked to consider whether this should be introduced. Some members expressed the view that more information was needed before a decision could be made, for example of the success rates of ATFs with different qualifications. All the farrier members of Council, including those who did not hold higher qualifications, were in favour of the proposed change. There was a view that younger ATFs did not always have sufficient experience or the skills to be training and the purpose of the change was to try to up-skill the next generation. Taking a higher examination would give the next generation a greater time interval to become established in business, a greater understanding of training and standards, and would encourage CPD. It was recognised, however, that if implemented a reasonable period of time should be allowed so that those already in the process of applying could complete and therefore the implementation date should not be in 2013.
Following considerable discussion it was agreed by majority vote, with one abstention, that ATFs should be encouraged to obtain higher examinations. From 1 January 2014 all farriers applying for ATF status should hold higher qualifications (the AWCF, FWCF or an equivalent to either of these), and have been registered for at least four years.
Council further agreed the following qualifications would count for the purposes of the above: Associateship of the Worshipful Company of Farriers and WCF equivalents, the Foundation Degree in Farriery, the Bachelor of Science Degree in Farriery and the Military Training Farrier qualification issued by the Army.
Further information will be available from the NFTA as soon as possible.
Investigating Committee Meeting (2 October 12)
Ron Jones, Chairman of the Investigating Committee reported that nine cases had been considered and four of these had been referred to the Disciplinary Committee. Professor Jones also provided an update regarding action taken in respect of Notifiable Occupation reports and the prosecution of illegal farriers. Following advice from Pennington Solicitors, Council members also agreed a document setting out the current conventions adopted by the Council with regards to the constitution of its Investigating and Disciplinary Committees and this was approved for publication on the website.
Registration Committee Meeting (2 October 12)
Andrew Roache, Chairman of the Registration Committee, reported on his committee’s meeting. Brigadier Roache explained that there were two recommendations. One was that new registrants, as a group, should be required to make a sworn declaration to their profession at the Diploma and Registration Award ceremonies and this was approved. Secondly, a statement concerning the Council’s views regarding shoes made from modern materials was agreed for publication on the website to confirm the Council’s interpretation. In this context it was reiterated that the legal action taken by the Council with respect to ‘hoof wraps’ had been taken in the interests of equine welfare and the FRC’s action was supported by the RSPCA, the British Equine Veterinary Assocation, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and World Horse Welfare.
Report of the Disciplinary Committee Meetings (11 September, 8 November and 7 December 2012)
The Chairman, Tony Fox, presented a report on the various cases heard since the last meeting. It was also noted that Council members had attended a training workshop at Penningtons Solicitors on the role and responsibilities of the Investigating and Disciplinary Committees on 27 November.
Finance Committee Meeting (13 November 12)
Ron Gulliver, Chairman of the Finance Committee, reported on the meeting of the Finance Committee and presented the budgets for the FRC and NFTA for 2013, which were approved. It was noted that the FRC were predicted a very small surplus and the NFTA a balanced budget for 2013.
Visitation Panel
The Chairman of the Panel, Chris Nixon, reported on the Panel’s visit to Myerscough College in October and spoke positively about the College’s staffing and resources. The College was approved for a further three years until October 2015.
Farriers (Registration) Act Review Working Group
It was reported that Professor Jones and the Registrar had met with the Minister of State for Defra, David Heath MP CBE, in October, to discuss the need for reform of the Farriers (Registration) Act. Following this, the Minister informed the Chairman that the Ministry of Justice had accepted the proposal to include text in their possible Third Session Repeals Bill, which will address the replacement of CoSIRA as an appointing body on Council and the Minister also encouraged the Council to continue to work with Defra to identify proposals for change that might be made by way of a Private Members Bill. Council therefore agreed that the Working Group should continue to put together proposals for the Council to consider.
Other matters discussed by Council included a possible health protocol policy and support helpline for registered farriers, and the supervision of apprentices at race courses. Regarding the latter, the Council noted that the British Racehorse Authority would be at liberty to require apprentices working at race courses to be supervised. Council also noted the WCF appointees to Council with effect from 1 January 2013 would be Commodore Richard Bridges (Chairman elect), J Chalmers FCA and Lt Col Mark Houghton. Finally, Professor Jones (Chairman), Ron Gulliver and John Chilman, were thanked for their service and support to the Council during their respective terms of office and presented with small gifts to mark the occasion.

New Chairman and FRC Council Members
Commodore Richard Bridges RN has been appointed by the Worshipful Company of Farriers as the new Chairman of the Farriers Registration Council with effect from 1 January 2013. Cdre Bridges replaces Professor Ronald Jones OBE JP DVSc FRCA FRCVS whose term of office ended in December 2012. As Chairman, Cdre Bridges automatically chairs the Investigating Committee, and will be a member of the Finance and Registration Committees.
Cdre Bridges was born in Ireland and was educated at Gordonstoun in Scotland. He joined the Royal Navy in 1960. After a career spent initially as a Commando Helicopter pilot in the Far East and Norway he flew in the Antarctic before commanding a helicopter squadron. Involved in both the Falklands and the Iran/Iraq wars, his final posts were Commodore Amphibious Warfare and command of HMS Raleigh. On leaving the Navy in 1996, Richard worked briefly in Salisbury before setting up a consultancy business involving foreign firms working with UK companies to supply field camp infrastructure and chemical decontamination equipment to the MOD. He joined the Worshipful Company of Farriers in 1995, and was elected to the Court in 1999, serving as Chairman of the Craft Committee for three years, and as Renter Warden. He also chaired the CPD Steering Group from 2009 to 2011.
Lt Col Mark Houghton, RA has been appointed to serve on the Council by the Worshipful Company of Farriers with effect from 1 January 2013 to replace John Chilman AFCL who finished his term of office at the end of December 2012. Lt Col Houghton is a keen horseman, has commanded the London District Personnel Recovery Unit and acted as a National Technical Official for Equestrian Three Day Eventing at London 2012. He is an experienced national and international Eventing Steward involved with the planning and conduct of horse trials, with key roles at Burghley and Blenheim Horse Trials and other national competitions. He has held a range of appointments during his 36-year Army career and has commanded The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Lt Col Houghton will be a member of the Disciplinary Committee.
Gerry Chalmers, FCA has been appointed to serve on the Council by the Worshipful Company of Farriers with effect from 1 January 2013 to replace Ron Gulliver LLB FCA who finished his term of office at the end of December 2012. Mr Chalmers is a self-employed accountant. He has worked in various roles within the financial industry including stockbrokers and management consultants. Mr Chalmers will become Chairman of the Finance Committee and a member of the Disciplinary Committee.
Yogi Breisner has been appointed to serve on the Council by the Jockey Club to replace Toby Balding OBE. Yogi Breisner was appointed World Class Performance Manager and Chef d'Equipe to the British Eventing team in 2000. Yogi has since led teams at the 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games in addition to enjoying many successes at both European and World Championships. Aside from his duties as British Eventing's National Coach, he is much in demand in National Hunt Racing, training both jockeys and horses. Mr Breisner has become a member of the Investigating Committee.

 

FRC Policy Statement: Shoeing Materials and Illegal Farriery
The Farriers (Registration) Act 1975 was set up to regulate the activity of farriery in the interests of equine welfare. Under the Act ‘farriery’ is defined as:
‘Any work in connection with the preparation or treatment of the foot of a horse for the immediate reception of a shoe thereon, the fitting by nailing or otherwise of a shoe to the foot or the finishing off of such work to the foot.’
It is a criminal offence for anyone other than a Registered Farrier, approved farriery apprentice, veterinary surgeon or trainee veterinary surgeon working under supervision to shoe a horse, or otherwise carry out farriery unless required because of an emergency first aid situation.
There is no definition of the word ‘shoe’ in the Act. It is the Farriers Registration Council’s view that in the interests of equine welfare the meaning should be considered in its purposive context. Horse shoes are not only available in metal, but in a wide variety of materials and styles, developed for different types of horses, the condition of their feet and the work they do. It is the function of the object rather than material from which it is made that is important. Thus the following are considered to be ‘shoes’ for the purpose of the Act:
◗ Glue-on plastic shoes.
◗ ‘Hoof wraps’ consisting of a length of bandage-like material, which is impregnated with a synthetic resin and which is soft when wrapped around the foot but having been soaked in water dries, forming a rigid, solid structure around the hoof. Screws, or glue may also be used as anchor points, or as a means to adhere the wrap to the hoof wall.
Hoofwraps are clearly intended to give protection to the hooves by providing a solid structure between the hoof and the ground, they can be left in a place for a number of weeks, are firmly affixed, solid and immoveable and need special tools to remove them.
The application of the products described above, amounts to farriery, or shoeing, for the purposes of the Act.
Farriers Registration Council, November 2012

 

FRC meeting dates

The Farriers Registration Council (FRC) meets three times a year; this year meetings will be held on 27 March (AGM), 27 June and 4 December. Meetings are open to all Farriers and to the general public. Attendance at a Council meeting provides a useful insight into how the FRC is managed, and the Council would be pleased to see more farriers or apprentices attending. Meetings usually start at 10.30 am and finish at about 3.30 pm. If you would like to attend please notify the office (in writing, by email or by telephone) at least three days before the meeting.
The Disciplinary Committee met on 29 and 30 January, and 6 and 7 February; it will also be convened on 12 and 13 February, 26 June, and 5 and 6 November this year. Additional meetings will be held if necessary.
These meetings are also open to the general public, on the same basis as the Council meetings. However, they only go ahead if the need arises, and venues vary. Prospective attendees are advised to check with the Council offices nearer the date.

FRC Prosecutions

3 September 2012 — T Bowyer

On 3 September 2012, Welshpool Magistrates’ Court found Equine Podiatrist Thomas Bowyer of Llansantffraid, Powys, guilty of having carried out unlawful farriery on two occasions by applying ‘hoof wraps’.
The Council’s case was that these wraps amounted to ‘shoes’ because they were intended to give protection to the hooves by providing a solid structure between the hoof and the ground, they were left in place for a number of weeks and were firmly affixed. Once dried out they became solid and immoveable and needed tools to remove them.
The product used should not be confused with a simple equine bandage or wrap used to protect a horse’s leg or keep a poultice in place. ‘Hoof wraps’ are impregnated with a resin type substance and set hard, like a caste, following the application of water. In some cases screws are used as anchor points for the wraps.
The Council takes out prosecutions against persons who undertake farriery illegally when the evidence is sufficient to do so and considers the application of ‘hoof wraps’, as described above, amounts to farriery, or shoeing, for the purposes of the Farriers Registration Act; such products should only be applied by Registered Farriers or Veterinary Surgeons.
Mr Bowyer pleaded guilty to both charges against him and the Magistrates Court imposed a £450 fine per offence, a victim surcharge of £15 and ordered Mr Bowyer to make a contribution towards prosecution costs of £1,000.

26 November 2012—Mr D Baker

On 26 November 2012, Carmarthen Magistrates’ Court found Mr D Baker of Llanelli, guilty of having carried out unlawful farriery .
Mr Baker did not attend Court and in his absence he was fined £75 and ordered to make a contribution towards prosecution costs of £250. Mr Baker was due to commence his apprenticeship on 31 December 2012.
If Registered Farriers are aware of any continued illegal activity by the above they are requested to provide details to the Registrar.

 

FRC Disciplinary Committee Hearings -

R G Weedall

On 7 December 2012 the Disciplinary Committee of the Farriers Registration Council convened to consider a case brought against Raymond Weedall of Winsford, Cheshire. Mr Weedall is a Farrier, registered under the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975, as amended. Mr Weedall elected not to appear at the hearing.

On 18 May 2012, Chester Magistrates Court had ordered Mr Weedall to pay £50,000 to the RSPCA having been found guilty of cockfighting and animal cruelty in a total of 10 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Mr Weedall was sentenced for offences including mutilating cockerels by cutting off their wattles, and possessing sharpened metal spurs to attach to birds during fights.
The Committee heard that Mr Weedall was given a 20-week custodial sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 180 hours community service and banned for owning animals for life. The court had also ordered that all paraphernalia associated with cock fighting were to be forfeited and destroyed.
And that on 28 May 2012, at the Chester Crown Court, he had been convicted of possession of three shotguns and ammunition without a certificate .
After careful consideration of the facts, including documentation submitted by Mr Weedall, the Committee found that all offences involved cruelty and, in particular, Charges 3, 4 and 5 showed a level of cruelty at the extremes. The Committee also found that as to the charge of serious misconduct in a professional respect, involvement with and keeping birds for cockfighting inevitably involved public abhorrence and must be serious misconduct in a professional respect for a farrier. The Chairman stated ‘Animal welfare is at the heart of the Farriers (Registration) Act and the husbandry issues referred to earlier along with the cruelty and the repugnance of the public for cockfighting make it inevitable that the charges, when viewed as a whole, amount to serious misconduct in a professional respect.’ The Committee also found the charge relating to the possession of unlicensed shotguns and ammunition amounted to serious misconduct in a professional respect. The Committee directed that Mr Weedall’s name should be removed from the Register.
Therefore, in the absence of any appeal, Mr Weedall’s name was to be removed from the register on 13 January 2013.

 

S O'Sullivan

On 8 November 2012 the Disciplinary Committee of the Farriers Registration Council convened, to consider a further resumed hearing against Steven James O’Sullivan DipWCF, of Preston, Lancashire.

When the case was originally heard on 14 and 15 September 2011, the Committee heard that Mr O’Sullivan had attended a mare that was suffering from a serious infection in her off-fore foot and lower leg in May 2010 and, although he was not the owner or keeper of the horse and was not involved in its day-to-day care, the Committee found he had an obligation to advise the owner to obtain veterinary attention for the horse and had failed to do so.
The Committee went on to find that his conduct represented a breach of the central responsibilities of a farrier as set out in ‘A Farrier’s Guide to Professional Conduct’, namely to advise the owner of the need to contact a veterinary surgeon when appropriate. The Committee noted that this responsibility was placed on farriers with the aim of protecting animal welfare and found Mr O’ Sullivan guilty of serious misconduct in a professional respect.
However, the Committee decided to postpone judgement for one year in order that Mr O’Sullivan could reflect on his responsibilities and reassess them appropriately. The hearing was resumed in September 2012 at which he provided a reference from a veterinary surgeon, but nothing else. The Committee decided to postpone the hearing until November 2012 to ensure that appropriate evidence could be provided by Mr O'Sullivan from clients about where he was engaged in farriery, and confirming that his practice of farriery included adequate engagement with the veterinary profession.
At this resumed hearing the chairman explained that the Committee had considered carefully the six documents produced and was satisfied that they confirm engagement with the profession in his professional activities and that no further direction was needed.

 

If any further information is required in relation to any of these matters an enquiry can be made to the Solicitors to the Council, Ms N Curtis (Partner (Barrister)), Penningtons Solicitors, of Abacus House, 33 Gutter Lane, London, EC2V 8AR, telephone: 0207 457 3000.

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