No foot, no horse.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: No foot, no horse Recognising the critical interdependence between farriery and equine health, this reflective piece documents a veterinary student's practical immersion into farriery practice, undertaken as part of the Worshipful Company of Farriers' award scheme. During a week-long placement with an experienced farrier in Scotland, Stevenson gained direct exposure to the diagnostic reasoning, technical decision-making, and problem-solving that underpins daily farriery work. Her observations highlight the sophisticated assessment skills farriers employ when evaluating hoof health, conformation, and gait—insights often unavailable through conventional veterinary training pathways. For equine professionals across disciplines, this work underscores why collaborative understanding between vets and farriers fundamentally improves outcomes; farriers' frontline perspective on foot condition, wear patterns, and functional biomechanics provides essential diagnostic data that shapes treatment protocols and long-term soundness. Enhanced cross-disciplinary communication and mutual respect for the technical knowledge each profession brings to horse health will strengthen the standard of care delivered to the animals in our charge.

Read the full abstract on PubMed

Key Findings

• •A veterinary student's observational learning experience with an equine farrier highlights the practical importance of farriery in equine health
• •The interdisciplinary nature of farriery requires understanding of anatomy, biomechanics, and horse management