Notice Board
Press Releases & Notices 2008
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Equine Barefoot Trimming - Development of National Occupation Standards for the UK (added 29th December 2008)
Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based industries, is holding an initial consultation meeting in February which looks to improve one core activity - National Occupational Standards (NOS).
Currently there are no National Occupational Standards for this area of work and their development was a key recommendation from Lantra's Paraprofessionals research report: titled 'An investigative study of Barefoot Trimmers and Equine Dental Technicians'.
Lantra's industry partnership manager for the equine industry and Professions Allied to Veterinary Science, Lisa Jarvis said:
"National Occupational Standards describe the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to do a particular task or job. One of the uses for these standards is using them as building blocks for qualifications, so ensuring that these are right and meet businesses' needs are vital to the industry's future and equine welfare."
Lisa adds:
"If you want to play a part in developing these standards, then join Lantra on Wednesday 4 February, at an initial consultation meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to establish industry requirements for National Occupational Standards to ensure that they are fit for purpose."
If you would like to participate in the initial NOS development meeting, please contact Lantra on 0845 707 8007 or email connect@lantra.co.uk
UK takes over presidency of the European Federation of Farriers Associations (added 26th November 2008)
Mr David Gulley, a Registered Farrier and a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, has been elected President of the European Federation of Farriers Associations. The appointment was made at EFFA’s Annual General Meeting in Saumur, France on 15 November, and is for a period of two years.
The mission of EFFA is to improve the welfare of the horse by encouraging the highest standards of trimming and shoeing. It has produced agreed standards of basic competence in farriery, and has started a process of accrediting the training and examination systems in member nations against these standards. Farriers who are recognised as meeting these standards will be entitled to call themselves Certified Euro-Farriers. In addition EFFA organises a European Farriery Championship every two years, and in alternate years arranges an educational event for farriery students and teachers.
Membership of EFFA is open to all farriery associations in all European nations, whether they are members of the EU or not. Current member nations are: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, France, Austria, Norway, Switzerland, Great Britain, Iceland, Ireland, Holland, Spain, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
David Gulley’s appointment recognises his many years experience as a farrier, both in the Army and in civilian life, his contributions to training apprentices, to competing and to judging competitions, and to supporting the work of the National Association of Farriers, Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers.
David was delighted with his election to this prestigious and influential position, and has made clear his determination to carry forward and to publicise EFFA’s work in raising standards of farriery throughout Europe.
Recognised Training Standards Needed for Paraprofessionals (added 13th November 2008)
The first ever UK-wide survey of Equine Barefoot Trimmers and Equine Dental Technicians, highlights the urgency for recognised training standards to be set.
A report produced by Lantra, together with partners from the Equine and Professions Allied to Veterinary Science (PAVS) Industry Groups, gives an insight into the two groups of paraprofessionals. Highlighted in the report is the need to develop standards of training, whilst reviewing the industry's current and future skills requirements.
Lantra's Industry Partnership Manager, Lisa Jarvis, said: "The report highlights how the development of different training options and qualifications may lead to confusion within the veterinary profession and the wider equine world as to the experience and competency of those undertaking the work. Lantra can now work with professional organisations to seek greater clarity and transparency to clearly identify how, where, what and when training is accessed and undertaken as well as review the current provision to determine if it meets the current and future skills requirements of those working within the industry and whether there are any gaps."
Lisa continues: "This report is key in allowing Lantra to work in partnership with professional organisations and Defra to develop and agree industry-wide national occupational standards for the training, skill development and qualifications required by paraprofessionals. This will ensure that people undertaking the work are suitably experienced and competent to do their job, which is key if demand for these jobs continues to rise."
Another topic for debate, drawn from the report, is that of the title of Barefoot Trimmer. Lisa adds: "The title of Barefoot Trimmer does not appear to be an appropriate job title as significant variation is visible in the range of job titles used by the people undertaking this work to describe themselves.
Lantra has begun work with these professionals to reach an agreement on one job title that reflects their work. It is important we receive your feedback on this issue, as it will provide a clear outline of the role for future industry entrants."
For a copy of the report or for more information contact Lantra on 0845 707 8007 or email connect@lantra.co.uk. You can also download a copy of the report and comment on the recommendations by visiting: www.lantra.co.uk/research
The Laminitis Clinic Launches Trial for Horses with Metabolic Syndrome (added 4th November 2008)
Metabolic Syndrome, also known as Obesity Dependant Laminitis or Peripheral Cushing’s Disease, can cause horses and ponies to suffer recurrent attacks of laminitis. These cases have high blood concentrations of cortisol and insulin which are often impossible to normalise.
The Laminitis Clinic is currently trialling a new product, which has already shown encouraging results at normalising these blood parameters, meaning that affected horses are easier to keep free of laminitis whilst enjoying a more normal lifestyle with controlled grazing periods.
TLC are currently seeking more participants for this trial. If you think your horse may be eligible and you would be interested in putting your horse forward to take part, please contact the office and speak to a member of our team on 01249 890784. Alternatively, you will find more information at www.laminitisclinic.org/Trial.htm.
***Imprint Sport Shoes Take Off! (added 19th September 2008)
On 3 August 2008 at Gatcombe Horse Trials Imprint Equine Foot Care launched the Imprint Sport Shoe. This revolutionary concept in shoeing for the performance horse is made from modern plastic materials which are flexible and light-weight and so assume a role as part of the horse’s hoof.
What impact has this development had on the world of equine sports? The following owners who are already using the system have given their feedback. Jane Holderness-Roddam introduced the Gatcombe presentation. Having had her own event horse, Ike, shod a number of times, Jane commented that she is seeing ongoing improvements in the horse’s performance and hoof condition since he was fitted with Imprint Sport Shoes. Dressage horse-owner Fiona Padfield wrote about her Catherston Limbo Dancer on 16 August, “The real proof for me … came when my trainer, unaware of the change in shoes, commented on significant improvements in the lightness of the forehand, elevation in the trot and increased freedom in the shoulder within the first week of being shod.” On 11 September, Anne Glennie, who has had several horses use the Sport Shoe, summed up their positive impact on the performance of her horses concisely: “The shoes are so comfortable for the horses. They all move better and dressage scores improve.”
As enquiries and demand from horse-owners increase nationally and internationally, farriers have been responding to the challenge to update their skills. With several Imprint Training Courses now scheduled to offer specific training in “New Techniques for the Performance Horse”, from which the farrier can earn CPD points, the Sport Shoe is set to go from strength to strength.
For more information please visit www.imprintsport.com
***Certified Euro-Farrier (added 26th August 2008)
In November 2008,The European Federation of Farrier Associations (EFFA) will announce the launch of the Europe-wide qualification Certified Euro-Farrier. Working farriers who have completed a course of formal training and have achieved those national qualifications which are recognised as meeting EFFA’s Basic Standards of Competence will be entitled to put CE-F after their names, will be awarded a Certificate and from 1 January 2009 will receive an annual vehicle window sticker.
EFFA’s standards were developed by the member nations with assistance from the European Commission’s Leonardo da Vinci project.
Countries currently registered as being eligible are Switzerland, Holland, Austria, Great Britain, Denmark and Finland. Other countries will be accredited as they reach the necessary standard. The farrier associations in each country will be responsible for submitting the names of those eligible and for keeping the record up to date with additions and removals. Names and contact details of CE-Fs will be published on EFFA’s website – www.eurofarrier.org.
The aims of the Certified Euro-Farrier scheme are to :
• Provide recognition for those who have achieved the necessary standards of competence
• Provide a means of identifying competent farriers from other countries. This is particularly important for horse owners in view of EU legislation allowing farriers to practise in other countries purely on the basis of experience
• Encourage countries without qualifications or with lower level qualifications to raise standards of farriery to meet the EFFA standard
***Manage My Horse (added 13th August 2008)
www.manage-my-horse.com is now 6 months old and already proving to be an invaluable resource for our members with new memberships averaging 100 a week! A figure that reaches far and above the anticipated membership numbers expected back in January.
So what do our members think?
With so many different areas of the equestrian industry benefiting it’s hard to tell who it benefits the most!
Top competition riders, trainers, vets, farriers, osteopaths, dental technicians and livery yard owners, to name but a few, are amongst the many different professionals in the industry already benefiting from the site. Profiling the horses that they are working with, the site allows them to not only keep accurate records on treatment given and progress made but to keep their financial accounts ‘up-to-date’ in the business section which concentrates on the costs of running the business. Detailed accounts, per horse or by business, make budgeting incredibly easy.
Francis Whittington, International Event Rider, says ……. "I think the site is brilliant and in the short time I have been logged on it is fast becoming invaluable to me as a rider and business owner."
Andy Ford, Eventing Trainer, says … “since joining the site back in January I feel I am far more organized! I tend to make notes on the horses I have trained when we start something new or something doesn’t quite go to plan! I have found it invaluable for keeping my finances in order and finding things that ordinarily I wouldn’t be able to find (usually because I hadn‘t kept a tab in the first place!). The reporting section is fantastic and I can now budget and check costs instantly!”
Horse owners the length and breadth of the country are finding it easier to keep tabs on their horse, their own development and of course costs, which, like it or lump it, are very important given the economic climate.
Juliet Marshall, who owns three retired horses says … “I am now far more aware of what my horses cost to keep which is important to me given that I just got divorced and every penny counts. I realized very early on that I was spending quite a bit rather too frivolously and have now managed to sort myself out thanks to the site. I also find that all my records are now accurate and the site has totally removed the need to ‘guess’ anything!”
Lynn Cutress, Chief Executive, Redwings says, “Manage-my-horse.com gives out a strong message about taking responsibility for your horse and making sure they receive all the care it needs, which is totally in line with Redwings’ educational messages. We all have busy lives and manage-my-horse.com is a great way for owners to keep track of every aspect of their horse’s care and also highlights the level of work involved in owning one. We would recommend it to anyone who owns or cares for a horse or who is thinking of purchasing one.”
Lee Hackett, Head of Welfare at The British Horse Society "We at the BHS are in favour of anything that encourages people to plan ahead and consider the costs involved with keeping a horse. Manage My Horse enables people to keep track of every aspect of horse ownership, hopefully helping to prevent problems later down the line."
Facts and figures
The site now has nearly 3,000 members, with nearly 8,000 horses registered. Of these members 26% are registered as businesses, 36% of horses are kept at livery, 22% are kept at home and 16% are equine enthusiasts who don’t actually own a horse.
The website received over 9,000 page views per day by members that are actually logged in, with 27% of members visiting daily, 40% visiting at least once a week and 75% visiting at least once a month.
Out of the comprehensive selection of features the most popular has proved to be the expense page, where you can store every detail of your horse’s ‘spend’ – reaching over 3,000 page views per day. The journal page – your horse’s online diary where you can uniquely categorise your notes – is receiving over 1500 page views a day!
Managing Director, Cate Ashton is quietly thrilled with the response so far, “It is so rewarding to find so many people benefiting from the site already. The hard work creating the site, which took almost 2 years, now seems worth it!”
To learn more about the many benefits of the site, as well as finding out how to enter our ‘tell a friend’ competition – with a Barnsby Saddle up for grabs, visit www.manage-my-horse.com
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***Lost Sledge Hammer! (added 9th May 2008)
At Leicester County Show on 4th-5th May a sledge hammer with 'National Champion Striker' written on the hammer went missing. This sledge hammer was a prize won by the owner and it's return would be very much appreciated. Please call Jay Tovey on
07702 025466 or email Forge & Farrier so that we can arrange it's return as soon as possible.
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***EUROPEAN COMMISSION REQUIRED CHANGES TO UK FARRIERY LEGISLATION (Released: 24th April 2008, published here 8th May 2008)
Farriery is regulated in Great Britain by the Farriers Registration Act which was passed in 1975 as a Private Members Bill. There was minor amendment in 1977 and it was subsequently amended in 2002 to bring it into accord with EC Directive 99/42. In October 2007 the Commission brought into force Directive 2005/36 on the recognition of professional qualifications. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has produced Statutory Instrument (SI) 2781, bringing the EC Directive into effect in the UK. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has made SI 646 to introduce these changes to the Farriers Registration Act to comply with Directive 2005/36. SI 646 was laid before Parliament on 10 March 2008 and the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) understands that Lord Addington has lodged a prayer against it.
EC Directives 99/42 and 2005/36 have introduced a number of concepts which the FRC considers could have an adverse effect on equine welfare and which undermine the UK’s system of formal training, qualification and registration. The particular aspects over which the FRC has raised concerns are:
- Any EU member can establish themselves in another EU nation on the basis purely of experience (6 years)
- That farriery is included under metal working, not animal welfare.
- That although the Directive makes provision for the use of Common Platforms for developing common EU standards, these have not been implemented.
- That EU members established in one country may offer temporary and occasional services in another member nation on the basis of only two years experience and without any check on their competence.
That these temporary service providers must be registered without payment of any fee, unlike UK Registered Farriers, and appear to have freedom to renew their temporary status without limit.
After representations from the FRC, assurances were received from government departments that the FRC would be able to check standards of temporary service providers, where public health or safety were involved and would be able to impose appropriate restrictions on the duration and nature of the work carried out. However, subsequently DIUS reinterpreted the Directive and removed these powers. Furthermore, it was only after the Directive had been endorsed that the FRC was notified that the cost of administering these temporary applications would have to be borne by UK registrants.
Much of the FRC’s objection is to the detailed content of the EC Directives, although the Council feels that the UK has failed to use fully its discretion in interpreting those regulations, and that there is considerable room for abuse of the system. The FRC has concerns for risks to equine welfare and the undermining of the UK’s world renowned and respected system of farriery training.
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