The Hoof of the Horse

The Hoof of the Horse’ will take you on a journey tracing the development of the equine hoof, from its beginning in the mare’s uterus all the way to old age. It is written in three sections which explore; the physical nature of the hoof, the five ages of the hoof, and affects upon the hoof. We know that the shape of the hoof is linked to soundness and good health: why and how the hoof changes its form is explained in detail.

There are 250 beautiful colour illustrations which will illuminate the text. It is a book to be read by anyone interested in the horse and how its unique hoof works. Much of the information in this book has not been published elsewhere. Ten years of scientific research into the hoof are explained simply giving the reader a deeper knowledge of the hoof than has ever been possible before.

About the author

Dr. Simon Curtis has been a practicing farrier in Newmarket for 44 years. He has lectured and demonstrated farriery in more than 30 countries on 6 continents including the USA, Australia, India, Russia, and Brazil. He is an author of 4 text books on farriery. He has been published in numerous journals. Simon is the only farrier to have been awarded an Honorary Associateship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He is a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (2001-2002) and has chaired the Farriers Registration Council (2006-9). He is a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers by examination (FWCF) and is currently an examiner. Simon is a 4th generation farrier; his family have been farriers and blacksmiths on the Cambridgeshire and Suffolk border for at least 150 years. In 2005 Simon was inducted into the International Farriers Hall of Fame at the Kentucky Derby Museum. He gained a First Degree, Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Farriery through Myerscough College, University of Central Lancashire in 2011 and completed a PhD degree in Equine Physiology and Biomechanics in 2017. In 2018 Simon Curtis was presented with the Sir Colin Spedding award for his contribution to equine knowledge, and published The Hoof of the Horse.