The route, drawn out
DWG C8A1 · 5 stops · 4 years to qualify-
Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
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Year 2 Training continues, pay rises min. £21.2k+
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4 years Fully qualified around £30k
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+3–5 years Experienced up to £48k
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Then Your own business you set the rate
The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.
What the job is
Farriery is one of the few trades in Britain where it is a criminal offence to practise without registration. You serve a four-year apprenticeship with an Approved Training Farrier, learn forge work, anatomy and hoof pathology, and qualify by examination before joining the Farriers Registration Council register.
It is hard physical work with horses that do not always cooperate, and almost all farriers are self-employed with their own round. The barrier to entry is high, which is exactly why qualified farriers are never short of clients.
A typical day
- Trim and balance hooves and assess conformation
- Forge, shape and fit shoes hot and cold
- Diagnose and treat hoof conditions with the vet where needed
- Work safely with horses of varying temperament
- Run your own round: bookings, travel, invoicing and equipment
How you get in
- You must find an Approved Training Farrier willing to take you on — this is the hard part
- GCSE grade 4 (C) in English, maths and a science is usually expected
- Substantial prior experience around horses is effectively essential
- Registration with the Farriers Registration Council is a legal requirement to practise
Where it leads
- Registered farrier, then building your own round
- Approved Training Farrier, taking on apprentices yourself
- Remedial and surgical farriery working alongside vets
- Competition and specialist sport horse work
Where to train for this
5 colleges and training providers on our list cover Farrier training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.