In 2017, the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) launched a Graduate Diploma in Equine Locomotor Research. After successfully launching this program for farriers in the United Kingdom, the program expanded a second course in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania.

The aim of this course is to equip working farriers (as students) with the necessary skills and knowledge to conduct research. During this course, participating farriers will pursue a research project and publish a paper based on this work. The course takes a minimum 2 years, with a maximum 5 years to complete. Participants will take part in residential weekend sessions.

One of the inspirations for generating this course is to expand evidence-based farriery. There are several reasons why this subject is underrepresented. Recently, faculty affiliated with this program published an editorial in the Equine Veterinary Journal on the reality of evidence-based farriery. This editorial provides some of the reasons why evidence-based footcare research is lacking, and also examines the progress of improving on developing more research on this subject.

As indicated by this editorial, by generating this program and training farriers, the RVC will help increase research related to farriery. We recently spoke with one of the authors of this editorial, Dr. Renate Weller, about the progress of this program and to get her thoughts on getting farriers involved in research. Listen to this interview here: 

Pleased with the progress of this program, the RVC is requesting applications for the second Graduate Diploma in Equine Locomotor Research course in the UK. Instruction will begin in January 2019.

The qualifications for this program include 2 years of farriery experience, including hands-on experience with advanced hoof-care issues. Applicants must be eligible to register with the U.K.’s Farriers Registration Council. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30, 2018.