Information on the Registered Master Farrier Level and RMF Application

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What is a Registered Master Farrier?

The Registered Master Farrier™ (RMF™) designation exists for veteran farriers who have developed knowledge of farriery well beyond what is required to be considered fully competent, as well as the ability to express this knowledge to others effectively. Registered Master Farriers are considered qualified to train apprentices, both in clinic and apprenticeship situations.

The purpose of the RMF designation is to help establish a more extensive educational structure for the profession of farriery, with qualified Masters who can guide and assist serious apprentice-level farriers.

Registered Master Farriers are expected to uphold a high professional standard, and to organize and participate in educational events for farriers.

Who can become a Registered Master Farrier?

Before applying to become a RMF, a farrier must establish himself in the Guild’s Registry as a Registered Journeyman Farrier™ (RJF™). The RJF is awarded to full-time professional farriers with a minimum of four years’ experience as a practicing farrier and the ability to pass the RJF examinations.

The RJF examinations include written, forgework, and live shoeing phases. All phases of the exam are oriented on practical field practice rather than contest guidelines and speed.

These exams, combined with the prerequisite experience and professional status requirements, verify that the Registered Journeyman Farrier has the range and depth of knowledge and skills to practice as a full-service, professional farrier.

How can I become a Registered Master Farrier?

Registered Journeyman Farriers with a minimum of eight years in practice may apply for RMF status by submitting to the Registration Chairman an outline for an original project or thesis that illustrates the Applicant’s learning from experience in advanced farrier practice and his ability to clearly explain the various aspects of the work.

If the Registration Chairman determines that the proposed project/thesis is appropriate, he will advise the Applicant to complete the work and submit it.

The Registration Chairman will examine the submission, remove or obscure anything in the materials that could identify the Applicant, then send the project/thesis to the Registration Committee Members who will evaluate the material without knowing who submitted it. The Registration Chairman will not score the submissions himself.

Notes about the RMF™ designation:

Horseowners should be aware that the first Guild RMF credentials were issued after September 1st,1998.

If you have encountered other “Master Farriers” prior to that date, they are not ours. There are many horseshoers who may call themselves “masters” in America, but very few entitled to use the RMF title.

Any farrier’s Registration status can be verified by contacting the Guild.

Farriers should note that there is no form of grandfather program for becoming a RMF. All farriers wishing to attain RMF status will go through the same process, regardless of prior certifications.