One Friday a month, 30 farriers in western Pennsylvania gather at Allegheny Equine Practice. At least one, often two, lame horses are awaiting them. A veterinarian performs a lameness exam and explains the steps involved. The horses are blocked and radiographs are taken. The veterinarian provides their findings but does not indicate what they would do. One by one, each farrier shares their opinion for how they would trim and shoe the horse.

The “Farrier Fridays” establish working relationships between farriers and veterinarians. The educational event gives both professionals an opportunity to tackle tough cases and discuss treatment.

“It gives the farriers a chance to hear the different ways a lameness issue could be handled and it broadens the veterinarians’ minds on different ways of approaching things,” says Todd Allen, CJF. The Pennsylvania-based farrier worked closely with Dr. Jim Zeliff of Allegheny Equine to establish the educational events. He is also the incoming president for the Northeast Association of Equine Practitioners (NEAEP).

After each farrier speaks, the…