Doesn't follow that he had to be near a horse racing stable as estates and large farms would provide a steady income to a self employed man. I have several blacksmiths/farriers (it seems interchangeable on documents and new cuttings), who were well known in their locality for being able to heal sick animals, they predate the official Royal College requirement but two were referred to as "vets of local fame" in the news reports about their deaths and both died during the course of their work. One was attending to a horse and another to the injured beast of a local farmer. His death cert notes occupation as farrier, blacksmith and vet.
