No foot, no horse.

This research article talks about the experience of Edinburgh vet student Karis Stevenson who spent a week learning about the craft of farriers by shadowing professional farrier Stephen Newman.

Experience of Shadowing a Professional Farrier

• The author, Karis Stevenson, is a veterinary student from Edinburg. As part of receiving the Worshipful Company of Farriers’ equine veterinary studies award, she got an opportunity to shadow a professional farrier for a week. This enables students like Stevenson to gain firsthand experience and insights into this skillful craft which is crucial for horse care.
• The professional farrier she worked with was Stephen Newman, who is based near Paisley. The time spent with Newman would provide a deeper understanding of what the job entails and the techniques used in maintaining and improving a horse’s hooves.
• This shadowing experience not just enabled her to learn the mechanics of farriery but also to nurture an appreciation for the work farriers do. The adage ‘No foot, no horse’ underscores the importance of a farrier’s work in maintaining the health and performance of horses.

Emphasizing the Importance of Learning Farriery

• By sharing her experience, the author highlights how crucial learning farriery is for anyone involved in horse care. As an aspiring veterinary professional, this experience would serve a significant role in her future career.
• She also underscores the importance of understanding farriery work, which involves not only technical skills but also a deep knowledge of horse’s anatomy, specifically the structure and function of their hooves. This understanding underscores the saying ‘No foot, no horse’ which is often used in the equine industry to emphasize the importance of hoof care
• Therefore, this shadowing experience and the deeper understanding of farriery it provides is not only valuable for the author as an aspiring equine veterinarian but also for the broader audience who may be considering careers in equine care or are simply horse enthusiasts wanting to improve their knowledge and skills.