Recognized as one of the most accomplished and knowledgeable farriers in the world, Mark Caldwell of Alsager, England, has added yet another accomplishment to his lengthy résumé — a doctor of philosophy.

Caldwell completed the PhD program at the University of Liverpool for studying the use of hoof balance metrics to test the reliability of a commonly used foot trimming protocol and their association with biomechanics and pathologies of the equine digit.

“This is the culmination of a journey that started in 1987 when I passed my fellowship exam [with the Worshipful Company of Farriers] with a thesis on pre-navicular syndrome,” Caldwell wrote in a Facebook post. “That work convinced me that as an industry, we had to re-examine the historical theories that our understanding of the foot’s biomechanical behavior was based.”

Caldwell’s career accomplishments include being an approved judge of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF) from 1990-2002, a member of the WCF Examination Board from 1997-2002, a 3-time member of the English National Farriery Team and a 2-time coach of the national farriery team. He has amassed 22 silver medals, seven bronzes and placed third a number of times while taking part in the national championships and international farriery competitions from 1984 to 2000, as well as winning National Team Member twice and was runner-up once. Caldwell was inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame in 2015.

“In achieving my own personal goal,” he wrote, “I hope that it inspires others knowing that anybody from any educational background can aspire to gain knowledge.”