Update on Farrier Regulation in BC and the Association of Farrier Trainers of Canada By Rachel Vowles
WCFA VP, Will Clinging, CJF and his apprentice
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n British Columbia, all animal health care is governed by the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia (CVBC). The Veterinary Act of BC states that a person is prohibited to "perform, offer to perform, or imply that the person is entitled to perform, in British Columbia, any act described in the definition of "veterinary medicine" in section 1;" (College of Veterinarians of British Columbia, 2010). Section 1 of definitions goes on to describe "veterinarian medicine" as "the diagnosis and treatment of animals for the prevention, alleviation or correction of disease, injury, pain, defect, disorder, or other similar condition." (College of Veterinarians of British Columbia, 2010). As this act states, farriers are technically only allowed to trim horse and cow feet. They cannot receive payment without the oversight of a veterinarian for diagnosing, treating, or preventing. Therefore, a farrier cannot add shoes (without the guidance of a veterinarian) as this application is preventing pain; or tell a horse owner that their horse has thrush (without veterinarian guidance) as this is diagnosing. It is not often that we hear of a vet reporting a farrier for doing their job to the CVBC, but it is still certainly a concern. The BCAOA and the WCFA proposed the solution of regulation of the trade of Farriery in BC. This proposal strongly coincides with the BCAOA's mandate, “to promote an increased variety of wellness options available, including veterinary and complementary animal health care services.” (BCAOA, n.d.) Other groups supporting farrier trade regulation in BC are the Horse Council of BC, BCSPCA, and the Farrier's Registration Council of The United Kingdom. The members of the WCFA that are in support of regulation have stated that “regulation and registration in BC would be modeled after the Farriers Registration act of 1975 in the U.K." (Farrier Regulation BC, Facebook, Jan 2019) The WCFA Vice President, Will Clinging, CJF, stated that “this regulation would mean all farriers that practice in BC must be registered with the governing body of Farriers." (Farrier Regulation BC, Facebook, Jan 2019). The proposed model indicates new farriers entering the trade will be
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In 2019, the BC Animal Owners Association (BCAOA) and the Western Canadian Farriers Association (WCFA) joined forces to propose Farrier Regulation and Registry to the BC Minister of Agriculture in an attempt to increase animal welfare, improve consumer protection, and increase the level of skill developed amongst professionals in the trade of Farriery. "expected to complete a formal apprenticeship" (Farrier Regulation in BC, Facebook, Jan 2019) while "existing farriers will be eligible to register under a grandfather clause." (Farrier Regulation in BC, Facebook, Jan 2019). There would be three levels of certification available: trimming Farrier, Farrier, and training Farrier. All three would require completed apprenticeship hours, examinations, and continuing education hours. (personal communication, May 2019) In personal communication with the WCFA Vice President stated that the advantages of self-regulation would be: - increased animal welfare - improved consumer protection - farriers become more professional - formalized training model in place - increased level of skill developed - group insurance protection - consequences for negligent or unprofessional practice Potential disadvantages of regulation would be as follows: - regulation fees - compulsory continuing education - group oversight of individual practice - consequences for negligent or unprofessional practice - not inter-provincial regulation (Alberta farriers unable to work in BC) As Clinging states, "regulation is important to our industry so we (farriers) will have initial control of the standards we create. The potential to raise our industry into professional status will give us more credibility with the veterinarians we work with. It will give our clients more confidence in who they choose [as Farriers] will be trained, qualified, and competent." (personal communication, Mar 2020) However, in May of 2020, the government made everyone involved
