Researchers Seek Input From Professional Farriers And Vets

PUBLISHED

June 11, 2024
1:02 pm

WORDS BY

Lisa Slade

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies are asking equine veterinary practitioners and professional farriers to participate in a study that aims to quantify key aspects of hoof knowledge, care and maintenance.

Responses will be collected from participants using an online survey, which is now open. Equine veterinary practitioners and professional farriers from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are invited to participate.

Topics include: demographic information, hoof education and knowledge, perceptions of collaborative efforts among the surveyed populations, as well as questions on hoof mechanics, recommendations for hoof specific pathologies and/or injuries, and defining certain associated terms.

You can access the survey via this link or with the QR code below until the closing date of July 15.

Participation in the study is voluntary, and all submissions will be completely anonymous. No personal identifying data will be collected within the survey, and all information will be stored according to the Data Protection Act and GDPR principles.

The Goal Of The Study

“No hoof, no horse,” is a phrase commonly used by horse owners, associated professionals and enthusiasts alike, but why?

The significance of proper hoof care and maintenance cannot be overstated for the equine, with upwards of 80% of lameness determined to arise from an issue or issues emanating in the hoof. Equine veterinarians are charged with the overall medical care of equines, including supervision, assessment and an assurance of the hoof’s proper maintenance—the latter is a skill principally undertaken by farriers, who specialize in equine hoof care and procedures including trimming, balancing and application of shoes through specific interventions.

However, most veterinary schools offer limited instruction on hoof care and maintenance, and requirements to practice farriery—including education, instruction and licensing—vary throughout the globe. How much hoof knowledge does each group have, how was it gained, and how do they define common phrases and terms often used to communicate on collaborative endeavors intended for the horse’s wellbeing and benefit? These are among the questions the study aims to help answer.

It will seek to provide clarity on terms such as “balance and “breakover,” important hoof-specific terms that are often loosely or erroneously defined. Recommendations and opinions on the execution of certain hoof-specific interventions—including shoeing prescriptive plans to treat an injury and/or pathology—also tend to vary among equine veterinarians and farriers, all requiring some clarification. The study will also assess perceptions of collaborative efforts between equine veterinarians and farriers that are often required for the horse’s wellbeing.

The study has received ethical approval from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies Human Ethical Review Committee and has been assigned the following unique identifying number: HERC_2024_057.