Conor O’Regan Farriery Service

Conor O’Regan Farriery Service Diploma in the Worshipful Company of Farriers (UK)

📍 Kanandah Stables, Connewarre
📍 UOM Werribee Equine Clinic

THE SYMPTOM IS IN THE FOOT. THE CAUSE IS OFTEN SOMEWHERE ELSE.A horse becomes footsore.The natural assumption is that th...
02/06/2026

THE SYMPTOM IS IN THE FOOT. THE CAUSE IS OFTEN SOMEWHERE ELSE.

A horse becomes footsore.

The natural assumption is that the problem must be in the foot.

Sometimes that's exactly what's happened.

An abscess is in the foot.

A puncture wound is in the foot.

A crack is in the foot.

The problem and the symptom occupy the same place.

But not always.

A horse lands toe-first.

What you see is in the foot.

The cause may be hock arthritis.

A horse starts wearing one foot faster than the others.

The symptom is in the foot.

The cause may be a change in how the horse is loading its limbs.

A horse repeatedly loses a shoe from the same foot.

The symptom is in the foot.

The cause may be a movement pattern that has changed because the horse is uncomfortable elsewhere.

A horse develops bruising in the same area over and over again.

The symptom is in the foot.

The cause may be altered movement from joint disease higher up.

A horse develops contracted heels.

The symptom is in the foot.

The cause may be persistent avoidance of loading part of the limb because something else hurts.

A horse grows noticeably uneven feet.

The symptom is in the feet.

The cause may be asymmetry elsewhere in the body changing how those feet are loaded.

A horse struggles on hard ground.

The pain shows in the feet.

The cause may be endocrine disease affecting the lamellae.

A horse develops laminitis.

The pain is in the feet.

The damage is in the feet.

Yet the process often begins with insulin dysregulation or other hormonal disturbance long before the foot shows it.

A horse develops recurrent abscesses.

The symptom is in the foot.

The cause may be chronic lamellar damage that has been present for months or years.

A horse struggles to turn.

The symptom may look like foot pain.

The cause may be the hocks.

Or the stifles.

Or somewhere else entirely.

A horse doesn't want to go forward.

The feet may be blamed.

The cause could be orthopaedic pain.

It could be gastric disease.

It could be respiratory disease.

It could be something else altogether.

The point is not that the feet are unimportant.

Quite the opposite.

The feet are often the first place the horse reveals that something is wrong.

But they are NOT always telling us where the problem started.

One of the most valuable habits in equine healthcare is learning not to stop at the first thing you can see.

The foot matters.

But it is attached to a whole horse.

And sometimes the foot is not the problem.

It's the messenger.

Credit: Hoofology

As the business grows and August is now part of the team, it’s allowed me to create some additional capacity within the ...
21/05/2026

As the business grows and August is now part of the team, it’s allowed me to create some additional capacity within the business and open availability for a limited number of new clients and horses.

This growth means I’m able to continue focusing on the standard of care, communication and remedial case management the business is known for, whilst now accommodating a small number of additional bookings.

As always, I’m incredibly grateful to our existing clients and veterinary teams for their ongoing support and trust in my work.

For enquiries or availability, please feel free to contact the page directly, or Laura on 0466 242 343

Conor

Big news from the team! 🔨🐴As of the start of May, our third-year apprentice, August, will be heading out on the road to ...
15/04/2026

Big news from the team! 🔨🐴

As of the start of May, our third-year apprentice, August, will be heading out on the road to take on trimming appointments.

August has been working hard fine-tuning his skills in the trade under Conor’s guidance, and his dedication, attention to detail, and positive attitude has not gone unnoticed.

Trims will be available on Mondays in Geelong and surrounding areas. If you’d like to book in, please get in touch on the business page or by messaging Laura on 0466 242 343.

Please note we are overseas from the 16th to 25th of April and will respond to all inquiries to get you booked in as soon as we’re back down under 🇦🇺

We appreciate your support as August begins building his own client base.

Nice way to finish the week 👌This little lady presented with compromised hoof walls off the back of laminitis, so keepin...
03/04/2026

Nice way to finish the week 👌

This little lady presented with compromised hoof walls off the back of laminitis, so keeping things supportive, protective and comfortable was the priority.

Fitted with squish pads to provide uniform support, reduce concussion, and help distribute load through the back of the foot while allowing the hoof to function as naturally as possible.

Simple, effective, and most importantly — keeping her comfortable and moving forward in the right direction 👌

Broken back HPA + long toes = strainPLR Avanti + Plexus 3D pads = angles restored and a much happier horse 🐴👌
02/04/2026

Broken back HPA + long toes = strain
PLR Avanti + Plexus 3D pads = angles restored and a much happier horse 🐴👌

Pretty good reminder why I love what I do!Some days the office just happens to be the zoo.. 🦓 🦒 🐘
16/03/2026

Pretty good reminder why I love what I do!

Some days the office just happens to be the zoo.. 🦓 🦒 🐘

Big Gryff is currently managing a collateral ligament injury, so the primary aim with this shoeing package is to improve...
13/03/2026

Big Gryff is currently managing a collateral ligament injury, so the primary aim with this shoeing package is to improve the efficiency of the breakover and reduce that torsional stress within the hoof capsule.

For this cycle we’ve applied Visani Full Roll shoes, which provide a true multidirectional roll across the solar surface. This design significantly reduces the lever arm through the toe and quarters while allowing the foot to disengage from the ground earlier in the stride.

In cases involving collateral ligament pathology, controlling rotational forces within the distal limb becomes particularly important. The full-roll profile allows the limb to self-select breakover rather than being forced through a fixed pivot point, helping to minimise torsional loading through the DIP joint and associated soft tissue structures.

The intention is to decrease strain on the collateral ligaments while maintaining stability and comfort as the horse progresses through rehabilitation.

Big welcome to the newest member of the team — August 👋Some of you may have already met him at Connewarre, others will o...
11/03/2026

Big welcome to the newest member of the team — August 👋

Some of you may have already met him at Connewarre, others will over the coming weeks.

August has recently joined us after transitioning across from another placement and is currently finishing up the end of his second year of his apprenticeship. He’s a keen young farrier with a great work ethic, solid foundations, and a genuine interest in developing his skills the right way.

You’ll be seeing him more and more alongside me as he continues to develop and build his experience across a range of horses and cases.

Great to have you on board — looking forward to the journey ahead 💪🐴

Over the last several months I’ve been asked to look at a number of horses that have been struggling with soundness, hoo...
04/03/2026

Over the last several months I’ve been asked to look at a number of horses that have been struggling with soundness, hoof distortion, or simply haven’t been moving as freely as they previously were..

What’s been interesting is that many of these horses all appear to have had very similar trimming applied — a “template” style trim often referred to as a 4-point trim.

This trim involves creating four specific weight-bearing points on the hoof (two at the heels and two at the toe pillars) while “floating” or relieving the quarters.

It’s often promoted as a method designed to mimic the wear pattern of a wild horse’s hoof, encouraging natural breakover and hoof mechanics.

There is theory and potential benefit behind this approach in certain situations. However, when applied as a standard template rather than a case-specific trim, it can lead to issues such as reduced wall support, increased sole loading, and in some cases progressive thinning of the sole.

One of the key concerns is that the quarters play an important role in stabilising the hoof capsule and distributing load through the foot. Removing too much support in these areas can allow the capsule to distort and concentrate forces elsewhere within the hoof.

While the ‘wild horse model’ has helped shape some modern trimming theories, the conditions domestic horses live and work in are very different. Our horses often work on varied surfaces, carry riders, and many are in regular work.

What works for a feral horse travelling miles a day across abrasive terrain does not always apply to domestic performance horses living in managed environments.

It’s also important to note that the 4-point trim was originally intended as a specific therapeutic or corrective approach for particular hoof problems, not as a universal trimming template to be applied to every horse. The problem with template trimming is.. horses aren’t templates.

Every horse has different conformation, movement patterns, workloads and hoof structures. What works for one horse can be completely wrong for another.

Unfortunately in Australia there is also a growing perception that hoof trimming is something anyone can simply learn to do themselves. I regularly see posts suggesting trimming feet is easy, something owners should just do at home, and short courses claiming to teach people how to trim in a day or two.. And unfortunately, they all seem to be very ‘template trim’ focused..

The reality is that good hoof care is a skilled trade.

It took me five years of training to become qualified, and more than twenty years of experience since then to continue refining those skills. Every trim involves decision-making based on anatomy, biomechanics, pathology, and the individual horse in front of you.

Every action taken with a rasp or knife has consequences.

When trimming is reduced to a simple template or something that can be learned overnight, the complexity of the hoof — and the potential consequences for the horse — are often overlooked.

Good farriery has always been about balance, support, experience, and adapting to the individual horse.

Because the reality is simple..

If hoof trimming was easy, horses wouldn’t keep ending up lame from the same contributory factors.

When your work performance drops just enough to trigger on-site catering..Chicken salad rolls and top-tier care from the...
12/01/2026

When your work performance drops just enough to trigger on-site catering..
Chicken salad rolls and top-tier care from the girls 😅🙌

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Geelong, VIC
3024

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Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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+61466242343

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