Thomas N. Trosin, CF, CTF, CJF

 The question was asked on the WCB's facebook page (I presume by Craig Trnka)

 "Do you think certification should be about about developing skill sets, or about using all the tools and equipment that you have access to in your everyday work?"

While I am going to state my personal belief I don't want it misconstrued as an AFA position. My conclusions come from my take of the American Farriers Association Study guide and in my mind the tests each ask something different. 

At the Certified level, the AFA is asking (thought the test;) can do it well enough not to hurt a horse? As well it should be considering the amount of experience that a person needs to have to take the test. At that level, I have always believed that if it is in your truck you should be allowed to use it. The fact of the matter is that the Certification Committee over the years has placed several stop gaps where a person with little skill isn't going to pass that test, even if he has a rolling machine shop.  I sight the basic clip and quote the book (figures & bullets deleted)-

"Clip is properly located. Clip is thicker at the base and tapers to a thinner peak.  Clip base is not so thick as to require excessive hot seating in order to be properly fitted, damage a nail hole, or disrupt the shape or stock dimension.  Clip is not sharply pointed. Clip has no cold shuts and the source hole is an appropriate size. Clip is approximately as high and wide as twice the thickness of the stock.  Clip is pitched at the same angle as the wall. "

If you can't make a clip to those standards, no grinder in the world is going to save you. But I am also of the opinion that if a little zap with the grinder is going to take the clip from ho hum to hey great you should be able to do that. I hold the same thoughts as to traction devices. I have been to several tests (disclaimer here I am not a tester of examiner, but I know what is good and what is crap) where I thought that the weakest modification was the application of borium as a traction device, other than that the modifications in my opinion were acceptable. I think that too falls in to the question Craig asked. The ability to run borium properly is just as important as anything else. 

Where I do agree that the only basic tools should be allowed is at the Tradesman and especially at the Journeyman level. The Association is asking for a much higher level of skill and more so, proficiency at those levels. At these stages the question is "are you the real deal?" If so and you have taken the time and effort to learn and develop your skill set to where you will pass that test.