Meet Vernon Purdy

During the course of his work as a professional farrier over the last 25-plus years, Vernon has had occasion to watch thousands of horses. He has done therapeutic or corrective shoeing, working with veterinarians and performance horse trainers of various sports. Just as orthotics in running shoes can help human athletes, corrective shoeing helps many horses.

But the hoof is only one part of the equation, and Vernon recognized the role that other aspects, like conformation, posture and muscle development, play in performance. Though we generally treat horses as if they are symmetrical, in fact, horses are like people in that one side of their body is slightly different than the other. The ordinary stresses of life and work, as well as the effects of an accident or muscle strain, worsen the asymmetry.

Because of his expertise in this area, Vernon works alongside vets, chiropractors and other therapists, and is often consulted by trainers who want to improve their horse's freedom of movement and performance. He has developed a system of “looking at a horse” that is helpful for professionals as well as novices. He is able to explain what “normal” is for a particular horse, which is foundational to understanding any abnormal movement or posture.

In the course of an assessment — looking at the horse standing, being lunged or turned out, and ridden — he’s also often able to suggest small changes, for instance, in bit fit or saddle placement, that help the horse to move more comfortably. He’s a big believer that the horse owner — the one who sees the horse day in and day out — can learn to recognize her horse’s natural strengths and weaknesses.

Vernon lives in Arizona, but travels to consult for clients in various parts of the country.