The register

Find a Qualified Farrier About the Register Downloads & Resources

the authority

About Farriery About The Farriery Authority Objectives Committee

the school

About the School SOLAS Apprenticeships Course Overview Life in the Forge Upcoming Events

news

more info

F.A.Qs

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to commonly asked questions

General Questions

How to recognise a qualified Farrier

Check ‘Find a Farrier’ and search by county.

Currently the practice of farriery is not controlled under statute in Ireland. You can check the registration status of listed farriers on the Find a Farrier section of this website. This search will allow you to search by county and you will be able to check individual farriers profiles, qualifications, memberships and if National Apprenticeship Employers are currently hiring.

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How do I become an Employer?

Steps involved in employing and registering an apprentice

For an employer to get approved to train apprentices in Farriery, she/he must demonstrate that they have the capacity and the ability to provide quality, relevant on-the-job training to apprentices as per the requirements of the national apprenticeship programme and the statutory apprenticeship system overall.

How to become an approved employer

The employer must be approved by SOLAS in order to register an apprentice on this programme.

1) The employer must contact their local Education and Training Board (ETB) to engage with their SOLAS Authorised Officer. An assessment meeting will be scheduled to ascertain if they meet the specified qualifying criteria to become an approved employer to train apprentices on the Sales Apprenticeship.

2) The employer must be able to provide a suitable qualified person in this occupation to act as a Workplace Mentor for the apprentice for the On-the-Job elements of this apprenticeship programme. The ETB will screen all applications to confirm that the mentor minimum entry requirements are met.

3) If the employer is deemed suitable, the SOLAS Authorised Officer recommends the employer to SOLAS for approval.

4) If the employer is deemed unsuitable, the SOLAS Authorised Officer will identify what requirements remain to be met and subsequently, a re-visit can be scheduled to re-assess.

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For more information, click here.

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Useful Links;

‍Apply to be a National Apprenticeship Employer‍

Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme for employers

Jobs Portal

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How do I apply to be an Apprentice Farrier?

You must start by finding employment as an apprentice in Farriery. Your employer must be approved to train Apprentices and must register you as an apprentice within 2 weeks of recruitment.

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Check out who's hiring

Entry Requirements

The minimum age at which the employment of an apprentice may commence is 16 years of age.
The minimum educational requirements are:
Grade D in five subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved equivalent.
Or, the successful completion of an approved Pre-Apprenticeship course
Or, three years’ work experience gained over sixteen years of age in a relevant designated industrial activity as SOLAS shall deem acceptable.

Where can I study for an apprenticeship in Farriery?

The School – Farriery Apprenticeship

Established over 18 years ago, The Irish School of Farriery trains skilled apprentices in all aspects of Farriery to a professional level. Located on the Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE) campus, Kildare Town, Co Kildare. The apprenticeship in Farriery is a highly renowned professional certificate at National and International level.

The four-year apprenticeship course entails periods of full-time study, practical work shop experience and exposure to the Equine industry as you work towards a QQI Level6 Advanced Certificate in Craft – Farriery.

The purpose-built forge at the school contains eight solid-fuel fires and two welding bays. Lectures are held in a lecture room contained within the facility and online. Apprentices receive practical skills in forging, tool-making, welding, hot and cold horseshoeing, modern materials, horse management, conformation & movement and limb & foot conditions, while also learning equine anatomy and physiology, equine studies, business management and enterprenuieral skills.

Graduates of the school have already proven that they can compete with the best after securing medals at the Euroskills competition and competing successfully at international horseshoeing competitions. Many graduates are now running successful farriery businesses both here in Ireland and abroad.

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What is a Farrier?

Craft of Farriery

The craft of Farriery covers the making and fitting of horseshoes to prepared feet, with an understanding of different styles of shoeing and trimming required for various types of work, and both hot and cold shoeing techniques. Corrective foot trimming measures, remedial shoemaking and fitting, the use of alternative materials and the modification and fitting of manufactured shoes are also central to Farriery.

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What is an Apprenticeship?

Phases of training

An apprenticeship is generally made up of seven phases, three off-the-job and four on-the-job. To become a fully qualified crafts person it usually takes four years, in which time you will spend around40 weeks off-the-job training. The diagram below gives you a general outline of the phases of an apprenticeship.

Off-the-job training phases 2, 4, 6 are provided by;

Phase 2 – Farriery Ireland
Phase 4 – Farriery Ireland
Phase 6 – Farriery Ireland

Theon-the-job training phases are provided by your employer, who must be qualified and recognised by SOLAS as a National Apprenticeship Employer (NAEs).

Check the Farrier Register – NAEs

Off-the-job training

The ‘off-the-job’ apprenticeship training and assessment programme delivered by the Farriery School is validated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and successful graduates receive an Advanced Certificate in Craft – Farriery at Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). Apprentices attending the school receive tuition in the theoretical aspects of farriery as well as practical skills.

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Accomodation

Their is no accommodation provided for apprentices on-site, however accommodation can be found locally. In some cases, the ETB will contribute to accommodation costs.

How can I apply?

Step1. Make sure you meet the entry requirement

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Step2. You must be hired by an Apprenticeship Employer who has been formally approved by SOLAS in advance.

· Check the Farriery Register for a list of SOLAS approved Apprenticeship employers, check who is currently hiring.

· You can also search the apprenticeship vacancies on the Jobs Portal.

· Alternatively, your local Education and Training Board may have details of employers looking to employ an apprentice.

*Apprentices get a formal contract of employment as part of their apprenticeship.

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Step 3. Once you find employment as an apprentice in Farriery. Your employer must register you as an apprentice at your local Education and Training Board within 2 weeks of recruitment.

Step 4. When registered with SOLAS, an apprentice must:

Attend your off-the-job training when scheduled.
Complete any outstanding off-the-job training assessments.
Return your on-the-job phase results on time.
Familiarise and comply with your obligations under the Apprenticeship Code of Practice on www.apprenticeship.ie

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Apprenticeship Training Allowance

Employment Salary (On-the-job)
The employer pays you a salary while you are being trained on-the-job. The rate of pay is agreed between you and your employer.

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Training Allowance (Off-the-job) – Under Engineering
A training allowance is paid by the local Education and Training Board (ETB) while you are attending the off-the-job training.

In some cases, a contribution towards travel or accommodation costs may be paid.

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Off-the-Job Training Allowance - Farriery

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Click here for further information

For more information on your next steps, click here‍

Do I need equipment?

Yes, a full list of essential tools and equipment will be provided once you have secured employment.

Apprenticeship Fees

There is no fees associated with the Craft in Farriery apprenticeship.

Do I need experience?

While experience is not essential, it is beneficial to have a background in Science, Equine Handling and Care.

How to find the nearest ETB office?

Click here to find your local ETB Office

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How do I find an employer?

First step is to check the who's hiring in the 'Find a Farrier' section.

When does the course begin?

Apprenticeship Structure

What is the course content?

Who Can Apply?

The minimum age at which the employment of an apprentice may commence is 16 years of age.

The minimum educational requirements are Grade D in five subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved QQI equivalent award.

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If you don't have the required qualifications, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning (RPL) where work and other experience is taken into consideration. Please contact your local Apprenticeship Provider Generation Apprenticeship

Alternatively, in some cases, you may be able to do a preparatory, ‘pre-apprenticeship’ course.

In the case of mature students (over 23 years), an industry interview is required.

Previous experience of the following subjects would be an advantage but not essential: Craftwork, Technology, Biology and Science, Equine Husbandry and Handling.

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Why Apply?

After successful completion of your apprenticeship you may:

· Become self-employed in the equine industry

· Work nationally and internationally

· Work in all sectors of the equine industry

· Use your qualification to continue learning in advanced technology and management courses

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Join the Farriery Ireland Community

Signup up to our monthly newsletter to keep informed with all the latest farrier news.

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Farriery Ireland
Curragh House, Dublin Rd,
Curragh, Kildare, Co. Kildare,
Ireland
R51 YF51

+353 45 520765

info@farrieryireland.ie

Opening Hours

Mon - Fri :

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Saturday :

Closed

Sunday :

Closed

Latest News

The Irish Farriery Authority becomes Farriery Ireland

Feb 1, 2021

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Dec 17, 2020

Get in the inside story - Q&A with a current apprentice - Eoin O'Connell

Dec 8, 2020

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