Throughout this series, I have illustrated the concept of systems anatomy. Veterinary education and that of traditional farriers are based on regional anatomy, which studies regions and the anatomical components of each. The perspective of systems anatomy is that bodies are organized hierarchically, i.e. building up from small functional units (for example, cells or single tissues) to subsystems (for example, organs), which work together to make up a major system such as the nervous, circulatory or musculoskeletal system.

Every case presents farriers with variables that influence the decision on trimming and shoeing a horse. The impact of these factors are weighed, some more influential than others. Ignoring any of these may result in the failure of an otherwise reasonable decision.

Foot-related lameness is one of the most frequently encountered problems in the equine industry. Therapeutic shoeing is a frequently-used preventative discipline for the treatment of many causes of lameness.1-3 The primary goal for therapeutic applications is to offset the mechanical limitations of the foot and enhance the healing environment.

Two years ago, the gross annual income for full-time farriers crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time in the American Farriers Journal Farrier Business Practices Survey. For 2019, the full-time farrier yearly income increased by an $14,283 compared with that 2017 figure.

Manufacturers provide farriers with a solution for many of the challenges horses present us. And while a product is suitable for one problem, it may be ineffective or detrimental when applied as a solution for another.

Using a “big picture” approach of assessing the whole horse — from topline to toes — can identify factors in the animal’s body that might affect hoof shape and condition. Paying attention to how a horse uses its body can provide a farrier with practical insights into the best way to trim or shoe the animal to maximize its performance potential, says Mike Stine, a Marshville, N.C., farrier and own­er of Equine Dy­namics.