The American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) House of Delegates (HOD) approved its Model Veterinary Practice Act (MVPA) after 3 years of delays surrounding objections to various issues, including the farrier exemption.

While the MVPA retains the exemption, a push was not only made to strike it down but also to seize control of farriery.

“The AVMA worked on this MVPA in 2022, but due to many issues and objections in various areas of veterinary medicine, there was no vote on it,” Dr. Frank Reilly tells American Farriers Journal. “One of the issues was stopping the farrier exemption and putting farriery under veterinary medicine, with farriers under the supervision of veterinarians and possibly requiring farrier licensing.”

The Unionville, Pa., veterinarian informed the International Association of Professional Farriers (IAPF) Board of Directors, of which he was a member at that time, about the possibility.

“The IAPF Board asked me to contact the equine representative of the House of Delegates in 2022,” Reilly says. “We let them know the loss of the exemption would be a big problem and it’s important to keep the exemption in place.”

JAVMA reported in its September 2025 issue that the revised MVPA was adopted. There was no mention of the farriery exemption. However, when reviewing the updated MVPA, Section 14.1 and 14.1.7 state, “This Act shall not be construed to prohibit: … Any individual lawfully engaged in the art or profession of farriery.” The language remains unchanged from the 2019 MVPA.

“It’s great news that the exemption stayed in place,” Reilly says. “The independence of farriers as part of the team of professionals helping horses is maintained. No recommendations or requirements for farrier licensing has been added to the 2025 AVMA Model Practice Act. This is a great example of veterinarians and farriers working together to protect horse health.”

Although the MVPA is not law, it’s used as a guide for preparing or revising a practice act in state statutes. State lawmakers can refer to commentary contained within the MVPA to determine intent.

The 2019 MVPA was adopted following a lengthy review process. Initially, the farrier exemption was removed. The exemption was reinstated after the farrier industry, veterinarians and horse owners publicly rallied against its omission.