The Role And Importance Of Farriery In Equine Veterinary Practice
The history of the veterinary and farrier professions is unique as they had their origins as one. These two ancient and honorable professions spring jointly from mankind's effort to provide care and support to his most long-lived and faithful companions, his horses. In ages past, as science and medicine embraced technology and traveled different paths, they split. Each developed their own practice, science and ethics and now in many ways are coming together again. The earliest veterinarians were farriers, men with iron and fire at their fingertips. Their goals of enhancing and enabling their charges abilities were legend. Vulcan shod the horses of the Gods, and in a modern age, lent his craft to better tires! With their cautery, poultices, blood letting and bold strokes, farriers led humans into an age where medicine became integral to society. With an intimate working knowledge of horses, it is logical that farriers were the first shamans, from which both professions ascended.
As knowledge of medicine and science grew, a parallel course developed, with those who worked with iron, developing the technical strength to meet the changing needs, while the vets followed a course of medicine and physiology, where they began to treat and prevent the ills that plagued civilization. The real split came as horses were abandoned for autos, and farriery became a technologically driven means of expanding the Iron Age. Veterinarians became doctors concerned with herds of animals, or individual pets, while farriers became smiths, working under horses acquired for competition and pleasure instead of for work. As a result, the gulf grew until it seemed as though there was little reason for the professions to communicate.
After the Second World War, in an age of affluence, equine sports suddenly became ascendant and the remnants of the Cavalry began to supply the US Olympic Team with horses, riders, farriers and veterinarians. Suddenly, a group of Army Veterinarians started the AAEP and a bunch of Army farriers began to teach a new generation of learners the secrets of an ancient craft. My first x-rays of a foundered foot were read to me by Sgt. Murphy, just after my first serious dissection classes, which were also led by him. My grandfather, a retired cavalry officer, was laughing all the way.
Today, after decades of revolutionary research into the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the equine hoof, our two professions are closer than ever before to joining ranks and reaching an understanding of many of the fundamental pathologic conditions of the equine foot. Both are driven by education and technology. Many of our clients have come to expect and, often, to demand this relationship. We are now faced with the task of applying our new volumes of knowledge to relieving the pain of a lame horse and keeping a sound horses’ feet healthy with appropriate technology. There is no better way to apply what we’ve learned than to work jointly in the cause of disease prevention and better hoof health. Applying farriery principles to our daily equine practice is now, more than ever, a service and benefit for our mutual clients, and one from which we must not shrink. Preventive medicine, diagnostic endeavors and general lameness programs are all enhanced by including a “foot health” concept to our daily practice.