Labor Day parades: When American horseshoers marched down city streets

The first Labor Day parades in the United States featured marching horseshoers representing their local trade unions. It was a day of pride and fellowship on the city streets. But it was also a rare thing for a working horseshoer: a day off.

Research: Anti-inflammatory treatment did not decrease movement asymmetry identified in riding horses in training

Sometimes, it seems like research raises more questions than it answers, and a new study from Sweden this summer asked some very interesting questions. Research into asymmetry in horses, as identified by sensor-based gait analysis, brings into the discussion the rider's perception that a horse is sound...even if its movement suggests otherwise. 

Royal Veterinary College celebrates first graduates in Equine Locomotor Research

Great Britain's Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is proud to announce the successful graduation of all 12 students from its new Graduate Diploma in Equine Locomotor Research. Launched in January 2017, the course is primarily intended for farriers and equips them with the skills to help them produce original research in farriery.

BEVA Congress 2019 program to focus on sport horse hoofcare, lameness

"Keeping the sport horse on the road" will be the theme for the final day at this year’s British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Congress, to be held September 11-14, 2019, in Birmingham, England. The session on Saturday, September 14th will bring together leading vets, farriers and physiotherapists for an holistic look at keeping the sports horse at the top of its game.

American Farrier's Association appoints Martha Jones new executive director to replace Beth Daniels

On June 18th, the American Farrier's Association (AFA) Board of Directors announced the selection of a new executive director for the association.

Jones will be stepping into the position held by Beth Daniels for the past five years.

Research: 3D Printed Horseshoe and Hoof Scanning Trials Launched by Vet School Farriers at Utrecht University in The Netherlands

A team of vet school researchers and farriers at Utrecht University (NL) is hard at work fine-tuning how to scan the morphology of a hoof and use a 3D printer to create a shoe with specific size, shape and material characteristics to fit the particular and individual requirements of lame or conformationally-challenged horses.

First (presumed) North American cases of tick-related paralysis in horses documented at Purdue University

Figure 1 in the article shows embedded and engorged Dermacentor variabilis ticks concentrated at the base of the tail in a 3‐year‐old American Miniature horse (Horse 1).

News about ticks is seldom good news. But when the bad news is well-documented and published in a timely manner in an Open Access veterinary journal, the news could be worse.

Veterinarians at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in Indiana have published a detailed account in the peer-reviewed Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine describing the possible occurrence of two cases of tick-related paralysis in horses in North America. Until these cases, this particular type of tick-borne disease was believed to have only affected horses in Australia, and was associated with a different species of tick.

Heroes on the Hoof: Remembering military farriers who lost their lives

Every Memorial Day, I resolve to put together all my scraps of research and tally up some statistics on fallen farriers--the ones who were killed in action in US wars. I guess we all have to start somewhere, so today's fragmented salute may be the start of something much more worthwhile, one of these years.

In the meantime, this is a personal salute to some fascinating farriers who suffered tragic deaths. I met them in the small print of dusty old books and quirky Internet databases. Their names should be known and their stories should be told. Let's get started, and add to it. 

This article is by no means complete. Do you have more information? A snapshot of a gravestone? Please send any additional information you may have about farriers who died in wars, whether from disease or in action or as collateral damage.

Best of both worlds for 2019 Badminton "Farriers Prize" event horse

Farrier judge Will Hampson, DipWCF inspected the hooves of 56 horses at 8 a.m. this morning as part of an annual tradition at England's Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, Britain's 400-year old livery company charged with overseeing farriery in that country. (photo courtesy of Will Hampson; this is NOT the winning horse)

New Equine Soundness Professionals Organization Adds Key British and Australian Biomechanics and Veterinary Advisors, Plans Membership Programs

In its first 100 days, the new Equine Soundness Professionals vet-farrier group has built a solid base for future growth and membership benefits. Founder and farrier David Gilliam of Texas reports interest from around the world in the new organization, and enthusiasm from farriers and veterinarians who plan to participate in both the proposed testing program and the in-depth seminars planned for members and colleagues.

New advisors are being added, as well.

Ridden Horse Ethogram: New Sue Dyson study confirms viability of behavioral observation system to identify musculoskeletal pain in horses under saddle

This horse is demonstrating signs of musculoskeletal pain as described by the Ridden Horse Ethogram: 1) Ears are behind the vertical for more than five seconds; 2) Intense stare; 3) Mouth is open, exposing teeth for ten seconds; 4) Hindlimb toe drag.

As flight animals, horses instinctively remain silent in the face of pain, A new study, published earlier this month by Dr Sue Dyson in the peer-reviewed journal Equine Veterinary Education, shows that they however do have a "voice" if observers are trained to "listen".

Thank you and good-bye: US laminitis research charity Animal Health Foundation ceases operation

Did you feel a little shudder pass through the barn today?  Laminitis research lost one of its main lifelines with the closing of the Animal Health Foundation, a charity in Missouri, USA today. A big page of hoofcare history turned as one of the most trusted equine health charities in the world closed its doors. It's time for us all to sit up straight and realize that nothing lasts forever, no matter how well-meaning, successful, and respected it is. The decision to close was a personal one and the Board of Directors opted not to continue. The closure comes with funds still in the bank. Who'll pick up the slack? Don and Diana Walsh deserve a resounding "Well done!" salute but the job they started 35 years ago is still a work in progress. But progress it has been!

• • • • •

If your horse survived laminitis, or if you have struggled successfully to prevent laminitis in your horse, you may owe some degree of gratitude to a veterinarian and a generous group of horse owners from St. Louis, Missouri.

Did horse feet evolve for endurance travel at the trot rather than speed at the gallop?

Fight or flight. Run or be eaten. We were all taught that horses evolved to have single toes because they were the prey of predators. A single hoof made them one of the fastest animals on earth. The successful survivors were the fastest ones, because they could outrun lions and tigers and bears. But a new group of researchers published an alternate point of view on April 12, which we share thanks to the University of Bristol in England. According to the authors, they weave "together information from equid evolutionary history, foot anatomy, and locomotion, which provide the essential background information that informs our novel proposition". They suggest that horses' feet evolved for efficient trotting during grazing, rather than for speed to evade predators. But isn't it possible that the single toe aided both survival gaits?

Equine Research Live at the 2019 FEI World Cup: Swedish university students measure velocity of world's top show jumpers

Jump crews work hard at a horse show. At next week’s FEI World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, one unique jump crew will be working hard in hopes of getting a good grade.

For the fourth consecutive year, Sweden’s premier horse show will have a mini research lab set up, right in the ring. But this year is a little different, since the Gothenburg Horse Show will also include the FEI World Cup finals in dressage and show jumping.

Equine Soundness Professionals Kickoff Seminar in Wellington, Florida Launches New Vet/Farrier Organization

Special report by Ellen Staples, CJF

Equine Soundness Professionals’ first annual podiatry seminar held in Wellington, Florida left attendees eagerly anticipating the next event held by the budding organization. Lecturers Dr. Raul Bras of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Kentucky and Florida, farrier Pat Reilly of Penn Vet New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania, and farrier Shane Westman of the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine presented the topics of laminitis, navicular disease, and white line disease to both farriers and veterinarians gathered in the elegant ballroom of The Wanderer’s Country Club.

Laminitis Prevention Survey Result: Along with weight gain, shoeing cycle and trimming schedule are factors in risk

Although excess weight has long been considered a primary risk factor for laminitis, new research continues to sort through the many risk factors and look for patterns of horsecare or links between the factors themselves, as well as that weight gain is most likely to be associated with laminitis.

A relatively large study, by equine science standards, was conducted in the United Kingdom and gave researchers access to data on more than 1000 horses in "real time" by receiving monthly reports for more than two years from owners about the same horses. The sole purpose of the study was to gather data on laminitis and the horsecare factors that may contribute to it.

Out of 1,070 horses followed in the study, 97 experienced 123 episodes of laminitis over the 29 months the data was collected.

The bottom line conclusion was that weight gain more than doubled the risk of developing laminitis, but other horsecare practices, including hoofcare, should not be ignored.

Bisphosphonates Ban: Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton and Ocala Breeders’ Sales Ban Off-Label Use of Popular Navicular Disease Medication in Young Thoroughbreds

Bisphosphonates are a type of medication used to treat osteoporosis in humans. They have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration since 2014 for treatment of navicular disease in horses older than four. Research in Europe, conducted by Professor Jean-Marie Denoix and others, has also investigated the possible expanded use of one bisphosphonate, tiludronate (Tildren) for other lameness problems, such as bone spavin and osteoarthritic lesions of the thoracolumbar vertebral column. Professor Denoix also led the initial research on Tildren for navicular disease in older horses.

Dual Surveys Compare Veterinarian and Horse Owner Priorities for Equine Research

Colic (gastrointestinal diseases) is considered by both equine veterinarians and horse owners as the most important equine health care problem in need of more answers, according to the results of parallel research surveys conducted by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation and the American Horse Council (AHC) Foundation.

Women's History Month: Saluting nameless women farriers from the past

The oldest image in the Hoofcare and Lameness archives is this engraving from France. The title at the bottom translates roughly to: "To shoe the mule the people are usually intelligent." (Corrections are welcome.) Script at the top states that women understand that the mule responds to caresses more than to force. Image from the University of Texas library archives.

It's International Women's Day. The Internet is buzzing with salutes and tributes and memories of famous women and their contributions to history. While the Hoof Blog honors women today, as everyday, the archive has been opened so we can salute some anonymous women instead of famous ones.

Where in the world are the top-ranked veterinary colleges?

We're used to hearing about Harvard vs Yale, Michigan vs Ohio State, Army vs Navy, and Alabama vs Auburn, but vet school vs vet school?

ESP 1.0 Event: First Equine Soundness Professionals seminar details for March 16 in Florida

Veterinarians and farriers have a chance to be part of history on Saturday, March 16 when the new Equine Soundness Professionals ("ESP") organization hosts its first open seminar in Wellington, Florida. Advance registration is required to attend.

Possible environmental chemical link found to equine metabolic syndrome and related laminitis in Welsh ponies and Morgan horses

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in a horse’s environment may play a role in the development of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), a leading cause of laminitis. This finding, made by Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers at The University of Minnesota, could explain some of the variability in EMS severity that can’t be explained by other commonly measured factors, such as diet, exercise and season.

Laminitis Research Videos: Advances in endocrinopathic laminitis diagnosis, treatment and science

Last week,  31 laminitis research articles, collected from recent editions of the prestigious Equine Veterinary Journal, were made freely available to the public. All 31 articles may be read and downloaded without charge for the next year.

What could make this better? A summary--or three of them, in fact. Today we offer an overview of the research, in the form of three short, concise videos by three of the authors. Each provides an overview of the articles in his or her area of research.

Continuing Education: Rood & Riddle will host 2019 International Equine Podiatry Conference in Kentucky

On April 12-13, 2019, the curtain will rise on the first Rood and Riddle International Equine Podiatry Conference. Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky will host an in-depth education and skill development experience for 60 advanced veterinarians and farriers.

EVJ Provides FREE Online Access to Latest Research on Endocrinopathic Laminitis

Hoofcare Publishing is happy to share news of a valuable archive of endocrinopathic laminitis research articles now available to readers. All of these articles have been previously indexed and linked by the HoofSearch monthly reports, but they are now available in one place on the Equine Veterinary Journal website--to everyone! Here are the details: 

100 Years Ago in Hoof Science: Quittor was the urban horse's biggest foot problem

HoofSearch, the index of equine hoof research, has been compiling a bibliography that documents the progress of hoof science on a year by year basis. What were the leading publications back in 1919, and who were the authors?

Laminitis Research: Is IGF-1 the missing link between insulin and laminitis in the horse's foot?

Veterinary researchers in Australia have identified a possible mechanistic link in the horse's foot that may explain how high levels of the hormone insulin cause equine laminitis.

British Horseracing Authority delays requirement of hind shoes on jump horses

Background: In the middle of the 2019 jump racing season in the United Kingdom, a major rule change that had been scheduled to take effect on February 1 is now postponed. The rule would have required all horses to race with shoes on all four feet. This follows a similar 2016 rule change in flat racing, that similarly required all horses in flat turf races to be shod on all feet, unless a declaration is made 48 hours before the race. Today the jump racing rule change was delayed. 

The information below was provided by the British Horseracing Authority.


Following the receipt of further submissions from the National Trainers Federation (NTF) and individual trainers, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has made the decision to delay the implementation of an approved rule which requires all jump racing horses to race fully shod. The rule was due to be introduced on February 1, 2019.

The delay is being implemented for a period of no less than six months, in order to allow for a number of actions to take place to further inform the debate on this matter.

The decision to introduce this rule was based on a two-year project which included evaluation of data and consultation with representative bodies including the NTF and Professional Jockeys Association (PJA).

The rule was intended to improve human and equine safety by reducing the chance of a racehorse slipping.

The rule had been agreed by the BHA Board and Rules Committee, and central to this decision were the facts influencing their rule change:

• Approximately 98% of all runners in Jump races in the UK already race fully shod;
• Data highlights that a horse racing partially shod in a jump race is over eight times more likely to slip than one that races fully shod. This equates to one slip for every 350 partially shod runners, compared with one in every 3,000 runners wearing four shoes;
• The introduction of similar requirements for flat racing has worked well and has been received positively;
• An exemption provision exists in the new rule to allow for a horse to race partially shod on legitimate veterinary grounds provided any application is supported by appropriate evidence;
• The PJA advocated introduction of the rule on the grounds of improved safety for horses and their members.

However, subsequent to the rule being communicated to trainers, the BHA has received new submissions from the NTF and individual trainers in which they raise concern about the rule’s implementation. In addition, a delegation of jump jockeys has submitted considerations on the matter, although the PJA remains in support of the rule.

As a result, the BHA has made the decision to evaluate these concerns in more detail before implementing the rule. This will include:

• Discussion at both the annual BHA Equine Welfare Agencies consultation meeting, and the BHA Veterinary Committee, specifically seeking views on the argument that wearing hind shoes increases the risk of tendon injury (particularly bearing in mind 98% of the NH population race fully shod);
• BHA Veterinary Officer Team to commence gathering data on tendon injuries suffered on a racecourse in a jump race that are the result of being struck into, in order to identify whether there is any correlation between the severity of the injury and wearing shoes behind or otherwise;
• Stewards will analyze any horse slip that occurs in a jump race and confirm the status of the horse in relation to shoes, and assess impact of the slip in the context of safety risk to jockeys;
• The NTF/Trainers who oppose the rule amendment are asked to provide any data or scientific evidence to support their view that there is a greater welfare risk to horses racing fully shod than partially.

Following the conclusion of this research, and consideration of further submissions, a final decision will be made around the implementation of this rule.

For more information, visit the website of the British Horseracing Authority.

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Equine imaging milestone at UC Davis: World's first standing PET scan of a horse's foot shows activity of bone or soft tissue at molecular level

The University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has achieved another milestone in clinical equine imaging with the first successful use of positron emission tomography (PET) to scan the foot of a standing horse. 

Equine Soundness Professionals Organization Launches Credential Testing; March Seminar Planned

After just six weeks of intensive planning and organizing, the new Equine Soundness Professionals group is ready to begin voluntary testing for qualified member veterinarians and farriers.

Laminitis Prevention: British Veterinarians Issue Alert to Prevent Spring Laminitis in Obese Horses

Links between equine obesity and laminitis are well documented, but veterinarians still report an increase in obesity; latest estimates are that as many as fifty percent of all horses in the United Kingdom may be overweight and at risk for related health problems. Today the British Equine Veterinary Association issued an official warning to owners that is valid all over the world. 

Beeman and Shannon Named Speakers for 2019 Heumphreus Memorial Lecture at UC Davis

The late Charles Heumphreus, resident farrier at the University of California at Davis, is remembered each year with a memorial lecture available free of charge to veterinarians and farriers. (UC Davis photo)

The 33rd Annual Charles Heumphreus Memorial Lecture will take place February 16, 2019 at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The event is a tribute to the vet school's longtime resident farrier, the late Charles Heumphreus.

New farrier/vet podiatry organization launched for US professionals

Texas farrier David Gilliam has a vision. The accomplished hunter/jumper farrier stopped talking about the way he thinks things should be and started doing something about it on December 6, when he launched a website for a new synergistic interprofessional association, Equine Soundness Professionals (ESP).

Saddle Research Trust Conference: Dyson research focuses on pain-associated behavior in ridden horses

"Horse, rider, saddlery interactions: Welfare and performance" was the theme of a landmark conference held this weekend in England.

FormaHoof Hoofcare Technology at the AAEP Convention: Is this hoof barefoot, shod...or protected?

FormaHoof is a new 3D hoof support process from Dubai. The hoof is not quite shod, and it's not exactly bare. Top farriers and equine podiatry veterinarians are singing FormaHoof's praises for not only the treatment capabilities of the molded coatings, but also the remarkable amount of sole growth and concavity they see at treatment's end. FormaHoof will be exhibiting at the American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention Trade Show, December 2-5 in San Francisco.

Whatever you call it, it has people talking. And looking. And asking questions. Until this week, FormaHoof seemed like just an interesting idea with a few slick videos on social media and a promise of results for rehabilitating hooves. “Liquid” horseshoes, some people called them. “Invisible” horseshoes, others said.

“3D” horseshoes?  We’ve heard that before, and can buy alternatives that claim the same effect, but for a lot less than the upfront investment in FormaHoof hoof treatment costs. Why, then, are farriers and veterinarians now buying and using the system?

Laminitis Survey Results: Do horse owners value science-based advice? Do they use it?

Equine research is fascinating, much-needed, and worthy of support. But are equine research findings being integrated into the care, feeding, and hoofcare of average horses? A survey in Great Britain set out to see if horse owners were applying research-based practices in their stable routines, using laminitis prevention as an example.

Palatable pergolide paste for PPID: BEVA award for Rendle presentation on clinical research into new treatment option for "equine cushings disease"

Many ponies and horses suffer from pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), known in the past as equine cushings disease.  Among the common clinical signs of the endocrine-related condition, seen commonly in older (but not exclusively older) animals are long, non-shedding coats and chronic laminitis. PPID can, in most cases, be successfully managed by the medication pergolide mesylate, which is currently only FDA-approved in a poorly palatable tablet. A recent presentation on an alternative form of the medication has been recognized with a prize from the British Equine Veterinary Association.

Research into what may one day be a significant advance in options for the treatment of horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), once known as equine cushings disease, has received an award in the United Kingdom.

Vampire Bats: Why horses should be afraid of vampires--and not just on Halloween

Vampire bats in South and Central America love horse hooves. They frequently feed at the coronet, where the blood is close to the surface. Besides being creepy, vampire bats are the leading reservoir of rabies virus in Central and South America and have recently been identified as a host that easily spreads bartonella bacteria. Newly deforested landscapes are now home to domestic livestock; vampire bat populations have flourished with the captive animals so easily available to bite. Officials in Texas are now warning that common vampire bats have crossed the Rio Grande into the United States.

Until recently, most of us only thought about vampires once a year, on October 31. But that is about to change. While Count Dracula may be a figment of literary imagination, the real-life inspiration for his story is alive and well and spreading rapidly through recently deforested regions of South and Central America.

Horses, horseowners and horse professionals: Consider yourselves warned. Like the killer bees who paved the path, vampire bats may be headed your way. And they're bringing dangerous diseases with them.

Blacksmith Buddies: Vet school students and farriers work together in Florida

What is (or are) Blacksmith Buddies? A few years ago, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine students and local farriers joined forces for mutual education and camaraderie. It was such a success that it has gained momentum and now has an extended program of both informal ridealong opportunities for students and multiple educational events for both students and farriers during the school year.

WEGucation: Horse health lectures added to FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 schedule

Can you feel the "back to school" energy in the air? As calendars turn to September, it is obvious that the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG) at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in North Carolina are just ten days away, and WEG organizers are capitalizing on the back to school mindset.

No, it won't be all competition, all the time in Tryon; an educational program will run throughout the event, which runs from September 11 to 23, 2018.

Burghley's best-shod horse 2018: Records broken and handicaps overcome with farrier's one-handed excellence

For the third time in five years, an Irish Sport horse named Coolys Luxury was won England's Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials' "Best Shod Horse" prize for rider Tom Crisp and his long-time farrier James Hayter.

And not just that: Ringwood Sky Boy, ridden by New Zealand's Tim Price had been judged best-shod back in 2015.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Have you ever heard farriers brag that they could shoe a horse with one armed tied behind their backs?

That’s pretty close to what happened when the day came to shoe this horse for Burghley 2018.

Gene therapy: Second stage of research documents further success for rehabilitation of tendon injuries in lame horses

Equine surgeon Milomir Kovac performs an ultrasound on a horse; ultrasound was used to monitor healing in tendon injuries in a group of race and sport horses treated with an experimental gene therapy designed to both speed healing and improve the quality of the healed injury site to prevent recurrence. (Image courtesy of University of Nottingham)

In October 2017, The Hoof Blog reported on experimental research looking into direct-injection gene therapy for soft tissue lameness injuries in horses. The authors of the 2017 paper had successfully cured lameness in two horses and published their results in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

Dyson: Equine performance assessment tests veterinarians' ability to recognize pain-related behavior

Before the study horses were ridden, Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT) physiotherapist Jo Spear assessed each one. (Saddle Research Trust photo)

Will veterinarians succeed in using Dr Sue Dyson's new "equine ethogram" system to identify behavioral signs of musculoskeletal pain in horses?

Transitions: Hoof research innovator Renate Weller makes career move to corporate veterinary education

Professor Renate Weller (center) of the Royal Veterinary College in the United Kingdom announced this week that she is leaving academia for a career in corporate veterinary education. Weller has been a magnet in the equine industry for her inclusive and inspiring dialogues with students, horse owners, farriers and the public. She is shown here during a demonstration for an equestrian group touring the RVC's Structure and Motion Laboratory where she conducts research. (RVC publicity photo)

Professor Renate Weller, Drvetmed, PhD, MScVetEd, ACVSMR, FHEA, NTF, ECVSMR, MRCVS, has announced her decision to leave her academic teaching role at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), University of London in the United Kingdom.

HANDS OFF Safety Alert: US Food and Drug Administration reports potential health risks to people exposed to altrenogest products for horses

The following warning was issued today by the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine in Rockville, Maryland:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting veterinary medical professionals, as well as those who work with horses, that a synthetic progesterone product commonly used in these animals may cause reproductive system disorders and other adverse effects in people who become exposed to the drug. The FDA is providing this alert because of the nature of the adverse events, some of which have occurred in teenage girls.

Research overview: Preventing laminitis by studying insulin dynamics in older horses

Laminitis research comes in many forms. Recently, the emphasis has been on understanding the cause of the disease, and developing ways to prevent horses from ever knowing laminitic pain. The emphasis is on understanding how horse management and feeding can effect hormonal balances in older horses, and what recommendations might help horses live longer and healthier lives.

Australian research analyzes hoof nail holes after shoeing with steel or copper-coated horseshoe nails

The complexity of studying horse nail hole morphology and pathology is well illustrated by this foot from the study. In one foot, nail holes with a range of pathology were documented. The study documented the front feet of 11 sport horses over several shoeing cycles. (Photo © Brian Hampson and John Wilson)

Copper-coated horseshoe nails took the farrier profession by storm in 2015 when “Liberty Cu” nails were introduced by Royal Kerckhaert in Europe. A novelty at first, the new nails gained favor with many farriers who claimed they observed an improvement in the quality of the nail hole or the hoof wall itself. The nails spread to farriers in many parts of the world.

Godolphin's Masar took the barefoot route to Epsom Derby; farriers detail stable's hoof protocol

The old joke goes something like this: A tourist wandering around in New York City sees a tuxedo-clad musician getting out of a cab. He's carrying his instrument. Relieved, the tourist walks up and asks, “Can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?”

Without missing a beat, the musician says, “Practice.” And walks on.

If only horseracing was so simple.