Horses in Wiltshire and Somerset, in numbers
Official counts of businesses in this trade, council area by council area, and how they've changed. Every figure links to where it comes from.
Veterinary businesses
210 based in Wiltshire and Somerset's five council areas in March 2026, up 50% since 2010. Across England: up 23%.
| Council area | 2010 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Wiltshire | 45 | 55 |
| Swindon | 15 | 10 |
| Somerset | 55 | 90 |
| Bath and North East Somerset | 10 | 35 |
| North Somerset | 15 | 20 |
| All five | 140 | 210 |
What this counts: SIC 75000. All vets, not only equine practices.
Animal production support, including farriers
100 based in Wiltshire and Somerset's five council areas in March 2026, up 43% since 2010. Across England: up 81%.
| Council area | 2010 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Wiltshire | 30 | 35 |
| Swindon | 5 | 5 |
| Somerset | 30 | 55 |
| Bath and North East Somerset | 0 | 0 |
| North Somerset | 5 | 5 |
| All five | 70 | 100 |
What this counts: SIC 01629. Farriers working on a fee or contract basis, plus other farm animal support services.
What we list
We list 9 professionals based in Wiltshire and Somerset. Official counts and our list measure different things: the count covers every registered business with this industry code, and we only list firms whose details we could check. See the list
A short history
Before 1975, the Worshipful Company of Farriers ran farriery examinations. In the 1970s it and the National Association of Farriers, Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers concluded that professional regulation would serve horse welfare 1.
The Farriers (Registration) Act 1975 followed. The Farriers Registration Council first met on 11 September 1975. The Act took effect on 1 January 1976 1. The Act created the Council to regulate the profession and prohibit the shoeing of horses by unqualified persons 1. A 1977 amending Act changed the entry qualifications. In 2007 the rules were extended to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The Farriers (Registration) Act 2017 separated regulatory policy from conduct casework 1.
Vets have a longer history. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons was created by Royal Charter in 1844. The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 is now the main law. It requires the College to keep the Register of Veterinary Surgeons and to oversee education and conduct 4. Since a 2015 Supplemental Charter, the College also keeps a register of veterinary nurses 4.
Equine dental technicians sit in a grey area. The British Equine Veterinary Association says all diagnostic and treatment procedures in a horse’s mouth are acts of veterinary surgery under the 1966 Act. Its stated exception is manual removal of small overgrowths and sharp enamel points with hand instruments 5. Its category 1 also covers examining teeth 5.
The sources used here give nothing specific to Wiltshire or Somerset.
What it costs
No published price for farriery, equine vet work or equine dental work could be found from an official or regulator source. Prices vary by firm.
Who checks the trade
Farriers. The Farriers Registration Council is the regulator. Farriery is a reserved activity in Great Britain. The title “farrier” is protected. Anyone other than a listed group who carries out farriery risks a fine of up to £1,000 plus costs 3. You can check a farrier in three ways 2:
- Ask to see their annual Registration Card.
- Use the “Find a Farrier” search on the Council website, by name or postcode.
- Phone the Council on 01733 319911, Monday to Friday, 08:45 to 17:00.
Vets. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons keeps the Register of Veterinary Surgeons and the Register of Veterinary Nurses 4.
Equine dental technicians. The BEVA page says category 2 procedures have a so-called “amnesty” for qualified technicians, but are still acts of veterinary surgery. It sets out three categories of procedure, and says category 3 (all other procedures) is restricted to vets 5. Ask which category a task falls into before you agree to it.
Sources
- UK Business Counts (enterprises by industry), Office for National Statistics Counts are published in multiples of 5. Each figure counts enterprises live at a reference date in March. Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 14/10/2026.
- 50 years of farriery regulation Farriers Registration Council (farrier-reg.gov.uk). Checked 15/10/2026.
- Ways to recognise a registered farrier Farriers Registration Council (farrier-reg.gov.uk). Checked 15/10/2026.
- Farrier (regulated profession) GOV.UK (Regulated Professions) (regulated-professions.service.gov.uk). Checked 15/10/2026.
- Royal Charter and legislation Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (rcvs.org.uk). Checked 15/10/2026.
- Current regulations on equine dental procedures British Equine Veterinary Association (beva.org.uk). Checked 15/10/2026.