The American and International Associations of Professional Farriers (AAPF/IAPF) has added to the first step of their continuing education plans with the addition of “stackable or discipline credentialing.” The first discipline of this new level of credentialing available to farriers is the hunter/jumper discipline.

The foundation credential was first developed in 2016 to encourage farriers to reach new levels of education that had not been previously available to them in the farrier industry. Earning the credential requires completion of a 395-question, open book multiple-choice exam that comes with an accompanying study guide written by Plymouth, Calif., farrier Bob Smith. To date, more than 300 members have completed the initial foundation credential. To be accredited, members must obtain 24 continuing education credits per year.

The stackable credential — also referred to as discipline, breed or specialty credentials; the newest addition to farrier education through the AAPF/IAPF. These new credentials are designed to challenge farriers to continue their education and are viewed as a method of showing one’s competence in a discipline or specialty.

The hunter/jumper discipline is the first stackable credential the association is offering, and it is open to all farriers who are AAPF/IAPF members. This credential has three levels of participation. Each of these levels will include a study guide/reference manual…