Anerkennung als Hufbeschlagschmied oder Hufbeschlagschmiedin beantragen

You want to work as a farrier as a farrier? Then you need to be recognized. You can find out more here.

A farrier in Germany officially called horseshoeing blacksmith, is a specialist in the care (cutting) and shoeing of animal hooves with horseshoes or other materials. He or she also traditionally makes the horseshoes and horseshoe nails himself or herself in the forging process or adapts the horseshoes to the shape of the hoof. The work also includes the treatment of injured and diseased hooves.

The law places the performance of hoof and claw shoeing under special protection. Farriery and hoof shoeing may only be performed by persons who are certified and state-approved farriers.

Training to become a farrier consists of the following sections:

• A four-week introductory course at a state-approved farriery school before beginning employment
• at least two years of full-time employment, subject to social insurance contributions, with one - or divided into several - state-recognized farrier (report book required), who has been operating a trade for at least 3 years after recognition
• a four-month preparatory course at a state-approved farriery school
• anexamination to become a far rier

Examination certificates in the field of farriery and hoof shoeing obtained outside Germany may be treated as equivalent in accordance with the Farriery Recognition Ordinance (Hufbeschlag-Anerkennungsverordnung). This ordinance also regulates the procedure for state recognition of persons with equivalent examination certificates.

In the case of training completed in Germany:

• Identification document
• Proof of completed vocational training
• Proof of two years of full-time employment subject to social insurance contributions (e.g. employment contract with at least 20 hours/week)
• Proof of having successfully passed the examination after attending the required training courses
• Proof of the reliability required for the exercise of the profession (extended certificate of good conduct)

For persons with examination certificates obtained outside Germany:

• Identity document
• equivalent examination certificate,
• proof of the reliability required to exercise the profession (application for a certificate of good conduct or submission of a confirmation from the country in which the examination certificate was acquired, showing that no animal welfare violations have been committed

The state recognition as a farrier is granted if

• a completed vocational training
• two years of full-time practical work, subject to social insurance contributions, with a farrier who has been operating a farrier's trade for at least three years following state recognition as a farrier
• the attendance of the required courses and a successfully passed examination and
• the reliability required to practice the profession
  must be proven.

Is based on the respective administrative fee regulations of the state or on the fee statutes of the bodies responsible under state law.

• You submit the application, including the required evidence, to the competent body.
• The office checks whether all the requirements for state recognition are met
• If the examination is positive, you will be granted state recognition as a farrier.

If the application for recognition has been submitted, the competent body will decide on this in a timely manner.

You do not have to meet any deadlines for the application.

Any person who intentionally or negligently practices hoof and claw shoeing as a farrier or the specialized training at farrier schools as a farrier trainer without the required state recognition is acting in violation of the regulations (§ 9 HufBeschlG).

Objection (depending on state law, the objection may be excluded), administrative court action

• Farrier Recognition
• The health of hoofed and cloven-hoofed animals, in particular the efficiency of their locomotor system, is to be maintained and promoted by appropriate, professional and animal-friendly shoeing of hooves and claws.
• To this end, the authorization to practice shoeing of hooves and claws and the associated state recognition as well as the state recognition of farrier training farriers and farrier schools are regulated.
• Responsible: Depends on the respective state law

The competent authority of the federal state in which farriery and hoof trimming or a teaching activity is to be practiced for the first time is responsible for recognition.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the competent authority is the Supervisory and Service Directorate (Department 4) in Trier.

Alternatively, you can contact the Single Point of Contact in Rhineland-Palatinate.The Single Point of Contact is a public body through which you can handle all administrative procedures and formalities required for the commencement and exercise of your service activity and for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification. Further information can be found on the website of the Point of Single Contact.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the competent authority is the Supervisory and Service Directorate (Department 4) in Trier.

Forms available: No

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance required: No