The BWFA cross country tour of 2005 dealt with many issues, including the debated topic of farrier licensing. At the 2005 convention in November, the BWFA wrapped up the farrier licensing discussion with a vote of it's membership, which stood strongly against farrier licensing. For information about farrier licensing, please refer to the topics within our web portal . Although this discussion will be tabled for the time being, you can count on the BWFA to keep you informed if any other news regarding Farrier Licensing should come to light.

The following article as was placed in the American Farriers Journal, on www.horseshoes.com, on www.BWFA.net and in the 2005 Summer Bulletin

Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association, Inc.

AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE BWFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 

Farrier Licensing has become a hot topic of discussion in recent months. It is a raging battle of opinions that the BWFA did not start, but has been forced to be a part of. Many of our members, have asked for a statement and some groups have made assumptions regarding our stand on farrier licensing, without bothering to ask what we really believe. Therefore, we have made the following statement to clarify where we stand.

Concerning proposed Farrier Licensing, Regulating Horseshoeing Schools in the United States and the proposals made by AFA task forces and their committees:

#1 The BWFA Board of Directors do not support

farrier licensing.

#2 The BWFA Board of Directors do not want to

regulate horseshoeing schools in the United States.

#3 The BWFA Board of Directors will not recognize

small self appointed committees.

The BWFA board members feel issues of such magnitude should not be discussed behind closed doors. We feel these issues should be examined and voted on by the entire farrier industry out in the open with the majority of farriers, farrier vendors, farrier schools and with the large population of farriers who do not belong to farrier associations. They should all have the opportunity to hear the pros and cons of such issues that will affect their livelihood and the future of the farrier industry.

We would like to set the record straight that the BWFA membership consists of over 8,000 individuals, making it the largest farrier association. (Contrary to previous reports by non-BWFA individuals and groups.)

Therefore, this November at the BWFA convention we are inviting ALL FARRIERS, regardless of their affiliations, to come vote on these issues. We feel that this is only fair and that the majority should rule.

In conclusion, the BWFA Board of Directors is publicly inviting the following persons to attend the convention and speak on these issues both pro and con. There will be no secret agendas and it will be done out in the open for all to see and hear.

This is a preliminary list as of June 28, 2005:

We expect this list to grow as BWFA President, Ralph Casey travels across the U.S. meeting with horse owners and farriers on his Cross Country Tour 2005 in support of the BWFA, Horseshoe’n Time television show and the BWFA 2005 Annual Convention.w.horseshoes.com and on www.BWFA.netThis ad was plac

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