FEATURE: Forging a career in farriery neigh problem at Myerscough

The excellent on campus facilities, and links to approved employers, provide a great platform for students to ‘forge’ a career in the industry.

As a major provider of farriery courses in the UK, Myerscough plays a key role in training the next generation of farriers, to ensure standards within the industry remain as high as they can be.

Farriery is an ancient craft that dates back to the days of the Roman Empire. A modern Farrier is highly skilled and is capable of shoeing all types of equine feet. Training is lengthy, with an apprenticeship lasting several years. Farriery is a profession regulated by statute and farriers are required to be admitted on to the Register of Farriers before they may practice lawfully. Once registered a farrier may either practice as an individual or join a farriery practice to work as part of a team.

On completion of the apprenticeship, the apprentice may apply for registration and will be entitled to use the post-nominal QFS (Qualified to Farrier Standard).

Apprentices work for an Approved Training Farrier and undertake block release training and assessment at Myerscough College.

Farriery apprenticeships remain an immensely popular career choice, especially as the British are a nation of animal lovers. There are almost half a million horse-owning households in the UK, many children have grown up riding horses, and it is also a popular hobby, meaning qualified farriers will always be in demand.

A farrier is a skilled craftsperson with a sound knowledge of both the theory and practice of the craft, capable of shoeing all types of feet, whether normal or defective, making shoes to suit all types of animal and working conditions, and of devising corrective measures to compensate for faulty limb action.

Modern farriers must have knowledge of the anatomy of the horses’ feet and legs, be able to work alongside veterinary surgeons, manage and handle horses, understand and meet the needs of clients and successfully run their own business.

Myerscough College is one of just a handful of providers of farriery training in the country, and has a strong track record of learners completing the course and going onto a successful career, which, despite being an ancient craft, remains a vitally important part of the equine industry

While most farriers are traditionally men – it was a trade traditionally passed down from fathers – a growing number of women are showing an interest in the profession.

Some choose the degree level route, with HE Diploma and a top up to a full BSc Honours options available.

Myerscough also offers a Level 2 Technical Diploma in Blacksmithing -  a one year course designed to give you a broad understanding of the industry. It is the ideal qualification if you are intending to progress directly to employment in blacksmithing or may be useful if you are looking towards gaining a farriery apprenticeship.

A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by casting and forging the metal. Blacksmiths practise a highly skilled trade that requires many hours of training in order to understand the properties of metals, to master the tools to hammer, bend and cut, and to develop the skills needed to create objects, including horseshoes.

Click here for more details about the range of farriery training programmes available at Myerscough College, in apprenticeships, further education and degree level