Almost half unaware horse shoeing is unregulated in NI as Queen’s study highlights welfare risks
Monday 28 September 2026
Almost half of people surveyed as part of new Northern Ireland research did not know there is no legal requirement for someone shoeing horses here to be registered as a farrier.
The Queen’s University Belfast study has highlighted potential risks to horse welfare from inconsistent standards, shortages of farriers and difficulties for owners trying to establish whether someone is properly qualified.
More than two-thirds of respondents said they did not know how to check a farrier’s qualifications — a gap researchers warn could contribute to inappropriate hoof care, with consequences including pain, lameness and longer-term welfare problems.
Farriery remains unregulated in Northern Ireland
Farriery involves caring for, trimming, balancing and shoeing horses’ hooves. Unlike in Great Britain, the profession is not regulated in Northern Ireland.
The Farriers (Registration) Act 1975, which regulates the profession in Great Britain, does not extend to Northern Ireland. This means there is currently no legal requirement for someone shoeing horses here to be registered as a farrier.
The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Animal Welfare, surveyed 209 horse owners and equine industry professionals and also included focus groups involving seven farriers and five veterinary professionals.
It found 43% of survey respondents were unaware of the absence of a legal registration requirement, while almost three-quarters believed regulation would improve horse welfare. A total of 84% expected farriery to become regulated in Northern Ireland in the future.
Researchers identify barriers to better hoof care
However, researchers found that introducing regulation would not provide a simple solution on its own. Workforce shortages, inconsistent training and limited collaboration between farriers and veterinarians were identified as key barriers to providing effective services.
Dr Grace Carroll, from the School of Psychology at Queen’s, said:
“Our study provides evidence that can inform future discussion about how farriery should be regulated in Northern Ireland. It identifies practical changes that would need to accompany regulation, including stronger training routes, clearer professional standards, better ways for owners to verify qualifications, and improved collaboration between farriers and veterinarians.
“The findings also highlight the importance of developing a system that reflects the Northern Ireland context rather than simply adopting the existing Great Britain model. This could help improve consistency in hoof care and protect horse welfare while ensuring that owners can still access farriery services.”
Warning over workforce shortages
Professor Gareth Arnott, from the School of Biological Sciences, said the strong support for regulation had to be considered alongside practical challenges already facing the sector.
He said:
“Our study found strong support for regulation, however, the issue is not as simple as introducing new rules. And it is important to note that farriers and veterinarians included within this survey warned that Northern Ireland already faces workforce shortages and limited training opportunities, so any new system would need to be designed carefully.
“Mechanisms that enable independent verification of credentials, such as a publicly accessible register of farriers, may support informed decision-making and strengthen trust between horse owners and farriers.”
High-quality farriery fundamental to horse welfare
Dr Esther L. Skelly-Smith, from the School of Biological Sciences and an equine veterinary surgeon, said hoof balance and farriery can be central to the outcome for horses experiencing lameness and performance problems.
She said:
“As an equine veterinary surgeon, I have spent my career managing lameness and performance problems where hoof balance and farriery are central to the horse’s outcome. High-quality farriery is fundamental to equine health and welfare, and this research provides important evidence to help ensure horses in Northern Ireland receive care from appropriately trained, competent professionals.”
The researchers concluded that improving access to qualified farriers and creating more consistent standards could help reduce welfare risks. They identified education, structured training and ways for owners to independently verify qualifications as important measures alongside any future consideration of regulation.
The study was published in Animal Welfare on 11 September 2026 and was carried out by researchers Ashley Haskett, Grace A. Carroll, Gareth Arnott and Esther Skelly-Smith.
Queen’s records confirm the survey and focus-group methodology and identify workforce shortages, inconsistent training and limited veterinary-farrier collaboration among the principal barriers. The legal distinction with Great Britain is also confirmed by the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975, which expressly does not extend to Northern Ireland.
