Worshipful Company of Farriers


The Worshipful Company of Farriers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Farriers, or horseshoe makers, organised in 1356. It received a Royal Charter of incorporation in 1674. Over the years, the Company has evolved from a trade association for horseshoe makers into an organisation for those devoted to equine welfare, including veterinary surgeons. It also supports general charities, as do other Livery Companies.
The Farriers' Company ranks fifty-fifth in the order of precedence for Livery Companies. Its motto is Vi et Virtute, Latin for By Strength and by Virtue.
Today, the Company is one of the few Livery Companies still to play a formal role in its ancient trade. Section 1 of the Farriers Act 1975 enshrined the Farriers' Company with continuing duties outside the traditional City of London jurisdiction that normally applies to livery companies. It provided,
"The Worshipful Company of Farriers shall have the general function of securing adequate standards of competence and conduct among persons engaged in the shoeing of horses and shall promote, encourage and advance the art and science of farriery and education in connection with the said art and science".

Past Masters

The Master of the Company serves for one year. The annual installation of a new Master for the Worshipful Company of Farriers takes place in September.
YearMaster-
2000–01Lady Graham-
2001–02Simon John Curtis, FWCF, HonAssocRCVS-
2002–03Raymond Edward Greatorex, FCA-
2003–04Richard Frank Wallis, FCA-
2004–05Brigadier Paul George Henry Jepson, BVSc, MSc, MRCVS-
2005–06David Martin Valentine Short-
2006–07Pauline Ann Halliday, OBE-
2007–08Colonel Richard Dennis Kinsella-Bevan, MA, FRGS-
2008–09Carl Bettison, AWCF-
2009–10Reginald George Howe-
2010–11Jeremy Fern, TD DL-
2011–12Stephen John Warham Scott-
2012–13Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, KCVO OBE DL-
2013–14Simon John Fleet-
2014–15Wayne Edwin Upton, AFCL-
2015–16Guy Nicholas Hurst-
2016–17Selwyn John Peacock-
2017–18Brigadier Neill Patrick Scott O'Connor-
2018–19David John Buckton-
2019-20Steven Wilson FRSA FIoD FIED-
2020-21John Hamilton Wilsher MIMI-
2021-22Lt Col Mark Houghton
2022-23Martin Russell MBE MStJ DL FCT-
2023-24Mrs Heather Clabon-
2024-25John Chilman AFCL-
2024-25John Cowper-Coles BA FCSI-