Farriery is a profession that relies on know-how. But if you’re like most horse owners, you haven’t given much thought to when and where your horseshoer acquired his skills. That’s okay if your current farrier is reliable, understands your horse’s hoof-care needs and communicates well.

The meaning of credentials becomes more important, however if you ever need to find a new hoof-care professional. Then, an understanding of farrier certifications can help you to find the best person for your horse’s needs.

In Great Britain, that process is simpler. The Worshipful Company of Farriers (founded in 1356) oversees the horseshoeing profession. Since the passage of the Farriers (Registration) Act of 1975, the shoeing of horses by uncertified persons has been prohibited.

In contrast, here in the United States there is no comparable legal framework governing farriery work. Nor is there a unified system for certifying farriers. In other words, anyone with the right tools can set up business as a farrier here, with or without training. That means you need to do your homework on the various farrier credentials out there and what they mean.

Accreditation versus licensing

Word of mouth is still a time-tested way to find out how well a farrier knows his business. However, any farrier who puts forth the additional effort to improve his or her skills is likely to be better for it.

American farriers have several options when seeking to achieve nationally recognized credentials indicating a certain level of competence. Whether or not he or she chooses to pursue this status is usually a personal choice.

It’s important to note, however, that farrier licensing is a separate issue in this country. Don’t confuse licensing with certification or accreditation.

Although the United States has no unified system for training and certifying farriers, various state horse racing and wagering boards have instituted a licensing system for racetrack farriers. This includes a competency exam and a background check. But these licenses only pertain to work done on racehorses or at racetracks.

So here’s a look at several types of certifications and accreditations you’re likely to encounter when shopping for a sporthorse or pleasure-horse farrier.

Certificate or Certification?

Armed with knowledge about national farrier training programs, you’ll be better able to tell the difference between a farrier school diploma, a certificate (which merely recognizes the passing of a course) and full-fledged professional certification.

If a farrier claims a certification, ask for specifics. You can verify the claim by either calling the organization or visiting its website. Also beware of overseas farriers migrating to the United States and claiming bogus European certifications.

Also remember that some certificates simply signify attendance at short seminars or clinics—usually held over a weekend and often for limited to hoof trimming. Some horse owners take these clinics because they want to work on their own horses. However, it takes a lifetime to learn about equine feet and true farriery skills cannot be learned over a weekend.

 American Farrier’s Association (AFA)

The oldest nationally recognized program of its kind in the United States, the AFA’s certification program was first developed in the 1980s. AFA certifications are achieved through practical and written examinations of increasing difficulty. They start with the basic level of Certified Farrier (CF), then on to Certified Tradesman Farrier (CTF), and finally progressing to the top level of Certified Journeyman Farrier (CJF). Farriers can also earn specialty endorsements such as the Therapeutic Endorsment (TE), the Educators Endorsment (EE) and the Forging Endorsement (FE).

The AFA certification exam consists of several parts. The theory portion covers anatomy, function, conformation, hoof diseases and horseshoe usage. The practical shoeing exam is scored on 25 different aspects of how hooves are trimmed, how shoes are fitted and how they are nailed on. In the practical forging exam, farriers must be able to produce 11 common horseshoe modifications fitted to both front- and hind-hoof patterns. The Journeyman-level exam requires all shoes—including a bar shoe—to be hand-forged to specifications.

The AFA’s Certified Journeyman Farrier designation is also recognized in Great Britain.

The American Farrier’s Association Certification Committee administers and updates exams with a specially trained group of examiners. State chapters of the AFA usually hold certification clinics and exams. See www.americanfarriers.org.

Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association (BWFA)

Another organization offering professional certification is the BWFA. The organization has its own slate of testing procedures and can claim a worldwide membership. The BWFA prides itself on providing certification for farriers at all stages of learning—including right out of the horseshoeing schools—to help encourage them to continue training in this profession.

 The BWFA was the first professional farriers’ organization to offer six certification levels (including Master Farrier after 15 or more years of experience and Master Educator for Horseshoeing School Owners/Instructor). An Associate’s Degree in Farrier Science is also available after 25 years or more of experience through the Farriers’ National Research Center Inc., which only allows BWFA certified members to apply.

 The BWFA website provides educational resources for farriers of all levels, as well as the lay public. It also offers information about membership and testing requirements. See www.bwfa.net.

Equine Lameness Prevention Organization (ELPO)   

ELPO offers workshops, courses and a farrier school, as well as certifications for trimming feet and shoeing.

The certification program starts with Live Sole Hoof Mapping Certification (LSHMC) and proceeds to Certified Barefoot Trimmer (CBT). A Certified Farrier Practitioner (CFP) has passed the first two levels and the tests required for applying shoes. In addition, ELPO offers Certified Farrier GLUE Practitioner (CFGP) accreditation for individuals following ELPO farrier guidelines using composite or other “shoe” materials attached with adhesives.  

A Certified Lameness Specialist (CLS) has completed further testing that deals with pathologies and treatment of the hoof and leg.

The horseshoe modifications required in ELPO tests are not as extensive as those required in the AFA tests. The organization’s website describes what each level of its certification entails: https://www.lamenessprevention.org.

International Association of Professional Farriers (IAPF)

The IAPF (formerly the American Association of Professional Farriers) administers an accreditation program that keeps track of continuing education (CE) credits obtained by attending approved clinics and conferences across the country. This accreditation program encourages farriers to keep up with the latest hoof-care products and research and learn new techniques.

An IAPF Accredited Farrier (AF) has a minimum of two years of hands-on experience and maintains 24 approved AAPF/IAPF CE credits per year. An IAPF Accredited Professional Farrier (APF) has a minimum of three years of hands-on experience and has maintained 24 approved CE credits per year.

The IAPF also offers a credentialing program to recognize the skills needed to shoe for specific riding disciplines. After acquiring the foundation credential, a farrier can stack on other specialty credentials. The first set of credentials is for Hunter/Jumper shoeing, followed by the Dressage credential. These credentials assure that credentialed farriers know the shoes, techniques, common problems and competition rules for each discipline.  See www.professionalfarriers.com.

On a personal note: I became an AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier in 1983, one of the first four in New York State. I have been to 45 AFA Conventions, most of the International Hoof-care Summits, most of the International Laminitis Symposiums and countless regional clinics.  I see many of the same farriers repeatedly at these events. Most are either certified or accredited, and they are some of the most successful farriers in the world. On the other hand, many farriers never attend any continuing education events. In my opinion, these farriers would benefit from even one symposium, convention or clinic.

So would the horses in their care.

About the author: Steve Kraus is Head of Farrier Services and Senior Lecturer and Farrier Section Chief at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. He has a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and more than 50 years of experience working as a farrier. In 2016, Kraus was inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame. His book, Shoeing the Modern Horse: The Horse Owners Guide to Farriery and Hoof Care, was published in 2022.