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Groups Aim to Boost Hoof-Care Research

AFA Research Committee offers insight to help improve the chances for funding a project

Second in a Series

This is the second in a series on researching the equine foot. The first, "Bringing The Hoof To Scientific Research," was published in the December 2017 issue. The third article, “Farriers Research Each Day, Why Not Document It?,” was published in the March 2018 issue. 

How much research is being published each year that focuses on the equine foot?

Given the importance and interest, one might believe that there’s quite a bit that’s being generated. Yet, that’s not necessarily accurate, Renate Weller says.

The professor in comparative imaging and biomechanics at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in London, England, conducted a meta analysis in 2014 in which she looked at the number of peer-reviewed papers have been published in farriery. At that time, a total of 157 papers had been published.

By way of comparison, published re­search focusing on equine diagnostic research during the same period of time was at 3,841 and steadily rising.

“We are seeing 80 to 100 new publications a year in this field,” Weller told attendees during an American Farriers Journal webinar. “Whereas, in the farrier world, we are seeing between two and a maximum of five a year.”


Renate Weller, professor in comparative imaging and biomechanics at the Royal Veterinary College in London, England, found that in 2014 only 157 peer-reviewed papers were published in farriery compared to 3,841 in the field of equine diagnostic research.


Why the discrepancy? Weller be­­lieves one reason is a lack of research skills.

“Every farrier…

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Jeff cota 2023

Jeff Cota

Jeff Cota has been a writer, photographer and editor with newspapers and magazines for 30 years. A native of Maine, he is the editor of American Farriers Journal.

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