When Gerard Laverty started his apprenticeship in the 1970s, a friend warned him about pursuing a career in hoof care because the industry would be taken over by computers, eliminating the need for farriers. The friend reasoned that farriery was essentially unchanged for nearly 100 years, so the industry was ripe for massive change.

When encountering acute or chronic laminitic cases, the best possible outcome relies on a team consisting of the horse owner, husbandry staff, veterinarian and farrier. Every case is different, yet the principles remain the same.

Farriers already are conducting research — they just don’t realize it, according to Dr. Renate Weller. At the 2013 International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot, Weller explained that farriers conduct research with each horse.

The principle that a veterinarian-farrier team is required to help horses maintain soundness, maximize performance and overcome lamenesses is undeniable. It is a balance of knowledge, skill and an understanding of the other member’s responsibilities, as well as your own. At the early December American Association of Equine Practitioners Annual Convention, the coordination of these efforts was showcased in a podiatry workshop that called on veterinarians and farriers to discuss the management of a variety of equine foot conditions that hoof-care professionals commonly face. Among these subjects were presentations on the veterinary and farriery roles in addressing underrun heels.