MAKING STRIDES IN MALAYSIAN FARRIERY


‘No Foot, No Horse’ goes the adage, highlighting the essential role of farriers in ensuring that the horses we ride are able to do the work expected of them. Farriers, of course, have been a fixture on the racing circuit but as horse riding becomes increasingly popular as a sport as well as for recreation, their services are being sought by uniformed units as well as riding clubs.

While it is essential to upgrade the skills and certify farriers, it is also important to educate the public on the benefits of shoeing horses by trained professionals.

THE NEED FOR TRAINING

The farriery trade around the world has progressed tremendously in the past 15 years. There has been a lot of research and development in products; the simple horseshoe itself has developed to cater for all breeds and types of riding and nails have been redesigned to suit any shoe or hoof.

Malaysian farriers now are faced with the challenge of keeping themselves up-to-date with such progress. In the words of Ian Johnson, Farrier Supervisor with Majlis Ekuin Malaysia (MEM), “They need to understand the how and why of using such products. Results can be disastrous if farriers are not trained to understand what they are working with. Without education comes confusion.”

The MEM recognized the need to train farriers as far back as November 1996. A pilot course was organized but it came to an abrupt end when the farrier-in-charge had to return to Australia. Training were resume with a course conducted by the Brisbane Institute of TAFE (BIT), Australia. Successful candidates were awarded a Statement of Results as well as Certificate of Registration from MEM. To-date, 11 candidates have been designated as Registered Farriers.

MALAYSIAN FARRIERY TRAINING PROGRAMME

Malaysian interested in a career as a farrier can now obtain an internationally recognized qualification through the Malaysian Farriery Training Program set up by MEM in collaboration with the Equine Industry Development Project, LTM.

A new MoU has been signed between MEM and Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE, whereby the Institute will provide full ongoing support for the delivery of the training and accreditation of farriers.

RPL III MALAYSIA

Developed and introduced in Australia in 1994, the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program aims to certify farriers who have had no prior formal education in farriery. The program has been brought to Malaysia by MEM. The Malaysian Racing Association has since announced that, by end-2005, all farriers shoeing race horses have to obtain their RPL III certificates.

Racing clubs involved in the RPL III program are the Selangor Truf Club (20 farriers), Perak Truf Club (14) and Penang Turf Club (13). Uniformed bodies supporting the program are Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (2), Polis Diraja Malaysia (1) and Skuadron Istiadat Berkuda (1). There are also candidates from the National Stud Farm (2), Racehorse Spelling Station Cameron Highlands (2) and Institut Haiwan Kluang (1).

SPREADING THE WORD

While it is essential to upgrade the skills and certify farriers, it is also important to educate the puiblic on the benefits of shoeing horses by trained professionals. The MEM has been giving farriery demonstration at various show and events during the year to put this message across. These events include Karnival Sukan Berkuda, Kota Bharu, Kelantan on 21-22 May 2004 and the National Horse Show in Penang on 3-6 June 2004.

In the spirit of ASEAN cooperation, MEM has been lending its developing farriery expertise to neighboring countries. During the year, trips were made to Myanmar and Vietnam to assist the racing clubs there.

PASSING THE TEST

To measure the success of MEM’s training efforts, Peter Stafford, Farriery Supervisor from Racing Victoria, Australia, was invited to conduct independent assessements of the farriers in the program.

In August, Peter conducted a practical test on 16 selected farriers from the three turf clubs. Eight farriers achieved pass marks of 21 points and above. Peter also found that all three racing clubs met the standards of the Australian farriery trade. In the following month, 24 farriers were put through a challenge Trade Test and all 24 passed. Twenty of these farriers are now at a level to sit the RPL III challenge test.

Peter was reported to have been both surprise and pleased at the professional standards achieved by the farriers, proving that MEM’s farriery training program is on the right track and on course.

Selected Registered Farriers in Malaysia