Farrier
Level 3 · AdvancedAgriculture, environmental and animal care 3.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A Farrier apprenticeship is a highly skilled craft trade training you to care for horses' feet by trimming hooves and fitting horseshoes to keep horses sound. You work with horses of all types, from racehorses to leisure ponies, often alongside vets and trainers. Qualifying leads to registration with the Farriers Registration Council, which is required by law to shoe horses.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Anatomy and physiology of the horse's foot and lower limb
Assessment of hoof condition and foot balance
Forging and metalwork skills for making horseshoes
Hot and cold shoeing techniques
Corrective and therapeutic shoeing principles
Safe handling of horses during farriery
Business and client communication skills
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Trim and balance horses' hooves to the correct shape
Forge or select appropriate horseshoes for each horse
Hot-shoe or cold-shoe horses using correct techniques
Assess gait and movement to identify foot problems
Work with vets on therapeutic or corrective shoeing
Handle horses safely and confidently in varied environments
Keep records and manage a client diary and rounds
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
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What it’s really like
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