When discussing licensing and regulation of an industry in the United States, farriers often think of direct oversight — a government-approved agency to pass rules specific for the trade. This is a reality affecting a minority of farriers, such as certain states requiring track shoers to carry a license. However, for the majority of the industry, government regulation of the trade still doesn’t exist.

There doesn’t seem to be any momentum for advancing licensing of this trade. It isn’t part of any published agenda for federal or state governments. None of the farrier associations have promoted the cause.

Walt Taylor, probably the most vocal and active proponent of mandatory farrier standardization, addressed the Health & Regulation Committee at the 2017 American Horse Council (AHC) Convention. Despite this platform for Taylor, the AHC lobbyists haven’t taken up the cause.

So for now, licensing isn’t an immediate concern for farriers. But just because there isn’t a state or federal agency directly regulating the trade doesn’t mean regulation can’t come to farriery as unintended consequences of indirect legislation.

Who Can Become A Farrier?

We detail why California farrier school owner Bob Smith and prospective student Esteban Narez are suing the state of California in federal court. The lawsuit comes after the 2009 passage of the California Private Postsecondary Education Act mandated that all students have a high school diploma, a GED or pass a government-approved exam before entering a private trade or vocational school.

The law’s aim was to stifle “diploma mills” —…