Dr. Dan Carter is Countryside Equine’s hoof expert, and he holds a significant distinction among veterinarians – he’s also a certified journeyman farrier (CJF). This combination is an unusual one – he shares it with only eight other veterinarians in the U.S.
After finishing his undergraduate studies in animal science at the University of Wyoming, Dr. Carter obtained his farrier certification through the American Farriers Association, the nation’s preeminent hoof care organization. He was introduced to the craft when he saw horses being shod on a ranch out West, and he was hooked. He soon realized he hated his “real job” after college and began apprenticing with Bill Sanders, CJF, in Colorado. As Dr. Carter’s shoeing skills grew, so did his client book.
He ended up working exclusively as a shoer as he made his way through vet school at the University of Georgia.
Dr. Carter found that vet school allowed him to meld his animal science knowledge with an affinity for the hoof. The fact that he has a background in equine podiatry gives him a unique perspective and invaluable knowledge when approaching hoof care from a veterinary standpoint today.
“I’ve dealt with it on both sides,” he says. “I understand how the hoof affects the limb and how the limb affects the hoof.”
Rightfully so, Dr. Carter appreciates quality podiatry when he sees it in the field.
“If I’m dealing with a certified journeyman, I know their level of education,” he explains.
Equine lameness diagnosis and treatment appointments consume the vast majority of Dr. Carter’s daily schedule. He’s treated a wide variety of orthopedic problems ranging from tendon and ligament injuries to degenerative joint disease and congenital orthopedic issues. His experience with these issues dates back to his internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, KY. Dr. Carter spent a year at the state-of-the-art facility working alongside some of the world’s most distinguished clinicians while getting hands-on experience in equine medicine and surgery.
The fact that Countryside can handle such a range of lameness issues in-house is one of the things Dr. Carter considers most significant about the practice. In-house procedures include treatments such as intra-articular regenerative medicine using orthobiologics, orthopedic and arthroscopic surgeries, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT).
Undergrad: University of Wyoming
CVM: University of Georgia