When he qualified as a farrier in the United Kingdom in 1983, Haydn Price says he had “soul searching questions.” He began searching for answers and started accumulating case studies and research on his own work. Price wanted to share the information, but felt it wouldn’t be taken seriously because the material wasn’t peer reviewed, lacked publication and he had no formal academic training in research.

About 20 years ago he had a meeting with a professor of human anatomy and physiology, showing him the work he collected. The professor’s encouraging response motivated Price to move forward with research.

“The professor said if there was an equivalence to human medicine of the work I’ve done, he would do anything to extrapolate that information,” he recalls. “He told me to never be put off that I don’t understand statistics or am unable to undertake a complete research study,. Instead, he said my work is valid in the real world.”

Price discussed evidence-based farriery and shared his own experience on crafting a study while presenting at the International Podiatry Conference, held at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky.

An example of using off-the-shelf software to measure angles. Evaluate the software before incorporating it in your research. Photo: Royal Veterinary College

Research vs. Practice

Price acknowledges that the basic principles of farriery have not…