Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) at Ludhiana, India, is partnering with the Indian chapter of Brooke, an international equine welfare organization, to establish a farriery program.
GADVASU is the second institution in India to collaborate with Brooke: India to further equine welfare, according to The Times of India. There, farriery is passed down from parent to child with little formal training. A farrier school will provide structured training in an area where The Times says poor hoof health due to inadequate care is a common problem for working equines.
The farrier program’s goals are to increase education, reduce lameness in horses and mules and promote farriery as a sustainable profession. It will serve as a regional hub for training for veterinarians and farriers in Punjab and neighboring states, such as Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Jatinder Paul Singh Gill, vice chancellor of GADVASU, says the collaboration is crucial for equine welfare, particularly those owned by low-income individuals whose livelihoods depend on horses. He noted that while horse owners who keep animals for breeding purposes generally provide good care, working mules often suffer from neglect.
The Times of India says that the decline of traditional farriery and the increase in paved roads have made working horses more susceptible to hoof injuries. The farrier program will provide a much-needed resource and offer training on shoeing techniques and animal care.
