Lameness cases can be very complex. When they are, the more detailed you are in your examination, the better. That’s the lesson to be learned from a case study presented by David Nichols during the International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio, earlier this year.

Nichols, from Worthing, England, is an associate of the Fellowship of the Worshipful Company of Farriers of Great Britain and a certified journeyman of the Guild of Professional Farriers. Much of his work is done at two equine hospitals in England, where he’s well known for therapeutic work and problem solving.

This particular study involved a high-end sport horse. Nichols indicated that he was almost surprised when the horse was brought into the hospital because of the reputation of the horse’s regular shoer.

“When you look at this farrier’s shoeing, you realize at once that he does excellent work,” says Nichols. “He’s very methodical and extremely strict about the way he treats horses’ feet. It’s very rare to see any of his cases in the hospitals. In fact, when I’ve filled in for him when he’s been on holiday or has been injured, I’ve always been concerned that my work doesn’t look as good as his does.”

Lameness Issues

But the horse, which competed internationally in…