Hoofcare and Lameness Magazine -- Mustad ("The Hoofcare People") Fund Permanent Farrier Facility At University Equine Research Center

The following summary statement has been issued by Michael Wildenstein, resident farrier and instructor at the Cornel University College of Veterinary Medicine, who served on the panel at the recent Tufts conference on hoofcare. The panel was asked to evaluate Dr Strasser's presentation on her program of natural horsekeeping and barefoot hoof management.

Statements published are the opinions of the author listed and do not represent any position of Hoofcare Publishing or its employees.

Michael Wildenstein's statement:

It was a privilege to attend a hoofcare clinic given by Dr Strasser. This clinic could have been called an equine husbandry clinic. The hoof trim Dr Strasser prescribes was a small portion of the information presented.

Dr Strasser informed us that the present state of equine management is all wrong, and that if her guidelines were followed, horses would have a better quality of life.

In preparation for this clinic, I read Dr Strasser's book for a second time and made notes of comments that I did not agree with. I then found several research papers on each area of disagreement to back my position.

Dr Strasser informed me: "the research does not matter, what matters is what I have done." I consider research to be important in preventing mistakes and improving our knowledge.

The areas of disagreement between the panel and Dr Strasser were many. Time limitations did not allow for a complete exchange of ideas and theories. Dr Strasser's presentation was complete and well-articulated with her Powerpoint presentation.

Dr Strasser showed pictures of neglected, diseased, and poorly-shod horses and presented them as average equines of today. I cannot agree with all that Dr Strasser presents, although I do admire her ability to present her theories so eloquently in a foreign language in a foreign land.

Further research will give us a great understanding of the complex equine hoof.

All of those attending the clinic had equine welfare in mind, and the exchange of ideas benefited us all.

--Michael Wildenstein

Click here to read the Guild of Professional Farriers President's Position Statement on Strasser Method, issued May 28,2002
Click here to a summary statement from Montana farrier/veterinarian Tia Nelson
Click here to read the comments of "natural hoof" barefoot trimmer Pete Ramey
Click here to read a summary statement from American Farrier's Association President Craig Trnka
Click here to see a foot trimmed by Dr Strasser and analyzed with Metron software
Click here to read a letter from a horse owner who has experience with the Strasser method.
Click here to read the summary statement of Dr Judith Shoemaker.