It’s critical that you know and understand the veterinary practice acts (VPA) in the states in which you perform your farriery work.

The vast majority of farriers already are limited in what you can and cannot do by state VPAs. In fact, farriery or horseshoeing are exempt from only nine states — Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

The American Veterinary Medical Association compiled a chart that summarizes key provisions of state VPAs, as well as accompanying regulations relating to complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) treatments. It also lists other exemptions from the definition of veterinary medicine.