Horners Ralph Anderson Lecture

The subject of his talk is:
Iron or Plastic – is that really the Question?

How two distinctly different industries farriery and plastics have grown together for the betterment of a horse’s wellbeing.

Farriery, or the shoeing of horses, is an ancient craft, believed to have been practised first in the Roman Empire.

A farrier is a skilled craftsperson with a sound knowledge of both theory and practice of the craft, capable of shoeing all types of equine feet, whether normal or defective, of making shoes to suit all types of work and working conditions, and of devising corrective measures to compensate for faulty limb action.

David will share his extensive experience from the last decades having recognised the fact that the iron horseshoe produces a vast range of negative consequences in the equine world. He will impart how plastics are contributing to ‘hoof mechanics’ aiding how the horn capsule interacts with the horse’s natural motion.

Does there exists a need for a lightweight, shock absorbent, abrasion resistant, partially flexible horseshoe that will provide therapeutic advantages to the horse