Simon Moore - What is going on with Farriery in the UK? Part 2

In part two of The Farrier Project interview, Simon Moore explains how the Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF) lost FRC approval in 2023 to run the EPA after an IT supplier change left insufficient exam software support, and says FRC also removed approval for the AWCF to count toward Approved Training Farrier status without a council vote, prompting his resignation. He outlines how EPAO’s are approved, why farriery likely supports only one EPAO commercially, and why exam fees rose as costs increased and the WCF aims to break even. Simon describes the Trailblazer/EPA steering group’s origins, unpaid workload, and current review led by David Hall, including debate over shoemaking in the final assessment. He clarifies FRC’s role as a public-and-horse regulator, discusses temporary licenses and barriers for overseas farriers, and links low apprentice/ATF numbers to unsustainably low UK pricing, urging better business practices and boundaries.