diff --git a/src/io/ipc/read/reader.rs b/src/io/ipc/read/reader.rs
index be8668de929..d8f09c0e9bf 100644
--- a/src/io/ipc/read/reader.rs
+++ b/src/io/ipc/read/reader.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use arrow_format::ipc;
 use arrow_format::ipc::flatbuffers::VerifierOptions;
+use arrow_format::ipc::File::Block;
 
 use crate::array::*;
 use crate::datatypes::Schema;
@@ -87,6 +88,48 @@ fn read_dictionary_message<R: Read + Seek>(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn read_dictionaries<R: Read + Seek>(
+    reader: &mut R,
+    schema: &Schema,
+    is_little_endian: bool,
+    blocks: &[Block],
+) -> Result<HashMap<usize, Arc<dyn Array>>> {
+    let mut dictionaries = Default::default();
+    let mut data = vec![];
+
+    for block in blocks {
+        let offset = block.offset() as u64;
+        let length = block.metaDataLength() as u64;
+        read_dictionary_message(reader, offset, &mut data)?;
+
+        let message = ipc::Message::root_as_message(&data).map_err(|err| {
+            ArrowError::OutOfSpec(format!("Unable to get root as message: {:?}", err))
+        })?;
+
+        match message.header_type() {
+            ipc::Message::MessageHeader::DictionaryBatch => {
+                let block_offset = offset + length;
+                let batch = message.header_as_dictionary_batch().unwrap();
+                read_dictionary(
+                    batch,
+                    schema,
+                    is_little_endian,
+                    &mut dictionaries,
+                    reader,
+                    block_offset,
+                )?;
+            }
+            t => {
+                return Err(ArrowError::OutOfSpec(format!(
+                    "Expecting DictionaryBatch in dictionary blocks, found {:?}.",
+                    t
+                )));
+            }
+        };
+    }
+    Ok(dictionaries)
+}
+
 /// Read the IPC file's metadata
 pub fn read_file_metadata<R: Read + Seek>(reader: &mut R) -> Result<FileMetadata> {
     // check if header and footer contain correct magic bytes
@@ -138,43 +181,14 @@ pub fn read_file_metadata<R: Read + Seek>(reader: &mut R) -> Result<FileMetadata
     let (schema, is_little_endian) = convert::fb_to_schema(ipc_schema);
     let schema = Arc::new(schema);
 
-    let mut dictionaries = Default::default();
+    let dictionary_blocks = footer.dictionaries();
 
-    let dictionary_blocks = footer.dictionaries().ok_or_else(|| {
-        ArrowError::OutOfSpec("Unable to get dictionaries from footer".to_string())
-    })?;
-
-    let mut data = vec![];
-    for block in dictionary_blocks {
-        let offset = block.offset() as u64;
-        let length = block.metaDataLength() as u64;
-        read_dictionary_message(reader, offset, &mut data)?;
-
-        let message = ipc::Message::root_as_message(&data).map_err(|err| {
-            ArrowError::OutOfSpec(format!("Unable to get root as message: {:?}", err))
-        })?;
+    let dictionaries = if let Some(blocks) = dictionary_blocks {
+        read_dictionaries(reader, &schema, is_little_endian, blocks)?
+    } else {
+        Default::default()
+    };
 
-        match message.header_type() {
-            ipc::Message::MessageHeader::DictionaryBatch => {
-                let block_offset = offset + length;
-                let batch = message.header_as_dictionary_batch().unwrap();
-                read_dictionary(
-                    batch,
-                    &schema,
-                    is_little_endian,
-                    &mut dictionaries,
-                    reader,
-                    block_offset,
-                )?;
-            }
-            t => {
-                return Err(ArrowError::OutOfSpec(format!(
-                    "Expecting DictionaryBatch in dictionary blocks, found {:?}.",
-                    t
-                )));
-            }
-        };
-    }
     Ok(FileMetadata {
         schema,
         is_little_endian,
@@ -230,14 +244,6 @@ pub fn read_batch<R: Read + Seek>(
     let message = ipc::Message::root_as_message(&block_data[..])
         .map_err(|err| ArrowError::OutOfSpec(format!("Unable to get root as footer: {:?}", err)))?;
 
-    // some old test data's footer metadata is not set, so we account for that
-    if metadata.version != ipc::Schema::MetadataVersion::V1 && message.version() != metadata.version
-    {
-        return Err(ArrowError::OutOfSpec(
-            "Could not read IPC message as metadata versions mismatch".to_string(),
-        ));
-    }
-
     let batch = get_serialized_batch(&message)?;
 
     read_record_batch(