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American Farriers
Convention
March, 2002
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| Dan Bradley
Dan Bradley (in visor) led a
discussion group that examined feet that had been
"half-trimmed" by different barefoot hoof theorists
(including Ric Redden, Gene Ovnicek, Lyle Bergeleen, KC LaPierre,
Hiltrud Strasser, etc.). One side of the foot was trimmed, then the
feet were freeze-drie and finally cross-sectioned so farriers could
see how changing heel height and hoof angle affected (or did not
affect) the palmar angle of P-3 and sole thickness. An interesting
aspect was how much--or how little--of the bars were resected by
various experts.
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| Dr. Al Kane
Dr. Al Kane (blue shirt) covered the
gamut of affects that laminitis has on horses, including compromise of
the coronary corium in sinkers and cases with a lot of rotation;
different approaches to providing frog and sole support; the indications
for and prognosis for tendonotomy; prognosis for ponies vs. light horses
vs. draft breeds; the relationship between diagnosing/treating systemic
illness (endotoxemia, cushings etc.) and providing mechanical support to
the foot.
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| Dr. Ric Redden
Dr. Ric Redden brought his own xrays,
viewers, and hoof castings to discuss how important radiography is to
precision hoof trimming and the application of therapeutic shoes. His
new book on hoof radiography debuted at the AFA Convention
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| Dr. Gayle Trotter
Dr. Gayle Trotter of Colorado State
University's College of Veterinary Medicine represented the American
Association of Equine Practitioners at the AFA Convention. He is the
AAEP's official Board representative to the AFA. His table's discussions
were on the role of tendons and ligaments.
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Gene Ovnicek. a
well-known farrier and author from Colorado, (at left)
discussed natural balance principles with his group. Gene will be
speaking in April at the Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio. |
Dr. Tracy Turner |
Dr Tracy Turner of
the University of Minnesota was the featured veterinarian lecturer at
the 2002 AFA convention. He spoke on palmar heel pain; at the anatomy
lab, he focused on explaining the navicular region and the ways that
different hoof models demonstrated clearly what can go wrong in that
area, from ligament abnormalities to tendon adhesions to bursa damage
and bone remodeling. What the models couldn't show was if the horses
were lame from the damage in their feet. |
 Kristin Becker and
Patty Stiller
Dr Kirstin Becker and Patty Stiller
combined for a one-two punch at the international table. Dr Becker
(middle, standing), from Germany, is the author of the new book,
Alternative Hoofcare, (available only in German at this time) and is
devoted to studying and comparing hoof theories around the world. While
she speaks very good English, the three-hour discussions were exhausting
for her. Patty Stiller, (right) a farrier from California, is well-known
for her hard work to promote and "interpret" natural balance
principles. She spoke, Kirstin nodded and smiled.
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Jacob Butler |
Jacob Butler,
a farrier from Colorado, sat in for his father, farrier/author
Doug Butler and discussed hoof anatomy and function. Everyone
remembered Jacob's table...he brought a fresh leg for discussion
and frequently pulled it out for comparison with the prepared
models. |
| Mimi Porter is
the leading equine therapist in the Lexington, KY area and is the
author of the textbook "The New Equine Sports Therapy".
She is the head of the equine therapy program at nearby Midway
College and runs the website www.equinehealthcare.com.
Her discussions were focused on the therapy she performs for
tendon and ligament injuries as well as the limits of therapy for
club-footed yearlings. She is a specialist in preparing
Thoroughbred yearlings for sales. |
Mimi Porter |
Mike Savoldi is a researcher from
California State Poytechnic University in Pomona, California and the
chairman of the AFA's Equine Research Committee. His table focused on his
advanced theories of the role that uniform sole thickness plays in optimum
hoof function.
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Mike Savoldi |
Myron McLane |
Myron McLane was
everywhere during the AFA convention. He chaired an anatomy lab
discussing evidence of the damage that laminitis can do to horses'
feet and explained how, possibly, early intervention and advanced
shoeing and trimming techniques might have saved the horses from pain
and chronic lameness. |
Russ Vanderlei
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Russ Vanderlei of Illinois had
an innovative program on mismatched front feet ("high-low"
or what Russ calls "up-down" feet). He explained how the
syndrome affects the whole horse's balance and movement, including the
effect on diagonal pairs as well as bi-lateral. |
| Rick Burten's
presentation on club feet centered on his basic principles for
correction to support the frog, bars, and underlying structures;
he stressed proper heel support and breakover, as well as
re-orienting the frog to take advantage of ground proprioception. |
Rick Burten
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© 2002 Hoofcare & Lameness
All rights reserved |