For want of a nail the shoe was lost For want of a shoe the horse was lost For want of a horse the rider was lost For want of a rider the battle was lost For want of a battle the kingdom was lost And all for the want of a horseshoe nail. The book deals with what is arguably the most important area of horse healthcare - the maintenance of healthy feet. Lameness is the biggest single cause of suffering and layoff for the horse, and 90 per cent of lameness is connected with problems in the foot.
Alison Schwabe's interest in farriery was inspired by her father who used to take her to Curtis's forge in Newmarket from the age of six. Her father was also a competent amateur archaeologist, and the family often walked through fields looking for flints and pottery. During these expeditions, Alison picked up a number of ancient horseshoes including pre-Roman ones. Alison began working at the Cambridge University Veterinary School in 1971, where she met the late Colonel Hickman author of Hickman's Farriery. They became good friends and colleagues and Alison provided both specimen shoes and photographs for the book.
Alison Schwabe teaches animal husbandry at the University Veterinary School, specializing in horses, cattle and sheep. Alison is also in charge of the welfare of a group of resident horses used for teaching veterinary students handling and clinical skills.
Paperback
Postage & packaging UK only