With an economy of movement, harmonically pounding a square-headed nail in a crescendo of dinks, the horseshoer attaches a steel shoe to the foot of an amiable 12-year-old mare named Missy.
She is placidly standing on three feet in the University of Wisconsin-Madisonâ??s Veterinary Sciences Large Animal Clinic. Her fourth foot is wedged between Dean Johanningmeierâ??s leather leggings, resting perfectly on a metal stool called a hoof stand.