As a hoof care professional, I am always seeking to improve my knowledge and skills to better help the horses I work on. One of the best venues I have found is The International Hoof Care Summit (IHCS), held annually in Cincinnati, Ohio. The IHCS is one of the leading conferences for equine hoof-care professionals. Farriers and veterinarians come together to learn techniques and share ideas to address trimming and shoeing horses. If you look closely at the following video you will catch me and a few others from the Daisy Haven Farm crew in attendance.
I have attended the IHCS each year since 2005, each year benefiting from the experience of the speakers, wide variety of content covered, networking opportunities and the extensive trade show. This year over 950 farriers attended.
Some of the broad range of topics covered at the IHCS included:
- Hoof Morphology
- Hoof Function
- Hoof Trimming
- Shoe Making and Placement
- Using Glue and Plastics
- Pathologies: Laminitis, Navicular, Ringbone, P3 Fractures, Flexural Deformities, etc.
- Business Topics
- Client Management
- Body/Hoof Connection
- Case Study Presentation
- Locomotion/Gait Analysis
- Conformation
- Nutrition
I was honored to be a moderator and speaker at the 2013 IHCS. I moderated a roundtable discussion on “When to use Barefoot Rehabilitation in Your Practice”, which turned out to be a lively discussion well-attended by a diverse crowd. While the conversation became heated at times, everyone’s opinions were heard and respected. A lot of good information was exchanged.
I also presented a Hoof Care Classroom on “Maintenance vs. Rehabilitation Trimming and Shoeing and Gaining Your Clients Confidence” which was also well attended with a great Q & A session at the end. I presented several case studies demonstrating the process by which we make our decisions when to safely apply maintenance work vs. rehabilitation work at Daisy Haven Farm. Thank you to the American Farrier’s Journal for asking me to speak. A wonderful group of our students and Team Members helped me rehearse my presentation the day before.
The International Hoof Care Summit has always challenged and expanded my thinking. I highly encourage you to attend next year! You may not always agree with every speaker, but there’s always something to take out of the experience to help the horse!
Just a few among many of the amazing people and groups I’ve had the privilege to connect with by attending the International Hoof Care Summit:
- Dr. Esco Buff (www.EscoBuff.com)
- Gene Ovnicek (https://www.edsshoofcare.com/gene-ovnicek)
- Dr. Mike Steward (http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2009/08/aqha-laminitis-download-link-for.html)
- ELPO (http://www.e-hoofcare.com)
- AAPF (http://professionalfarriers.com)
- Dr. Steven O’Grady (http://www.equipodiatry.com)
- Dr. Brian Hampson (https://www.equinesciencesacademy.com/esa_00006e.htm)
- Mike Salvoldi (https://www.americanfarriers.com/articles/11835-hall-of-fame-inductee-mike-savoldi)
- Hayden Price (https://www.vetpd.com/about/speakers/haydn-price)
- Dr. Ric Redden (www.nanric.com)
- Dr. Amy Rucker (https://mms.professionalfarriers.com/members/directory/profile_aapf.php?mid=523418939)
- Chris Gregory (http://heartlandhorseshoeing.com)
- Mitch Taylor (https://khs.edu/staff/)
- Pat Burton (http://www.hoofpros.com/about.html)
- Steve Teichman (http://www.steichmanfarrier.com)
- Red Renchin (https://www.americanfarriers.com/authors/9-red-renchin)
- Dave Richards (https://www.americanfarriers.com/authors/207-dave-richards)
- Dr. Dick Mannsman (http://equinepodiatrync.homestead.com/resume.html)
- Bob Smith (https://www.americanfarriers.com/authors/14-bob-smith)
- Fran Jurga (http://hoofcare.blogspot.com)
- Dr. Bob Bowker (https://www.equinesciencesacademy.com/esa_000070.htm)
- Dr. M.W.“Tookie” Myers (https://www.hoovesandhorses.com/about-tookie.html)
- Dr. Meike van Heel (https://www.americanfarriers.com/authors/78-meike-van-heel)
- Dr. Hans Castelijns (http://www.farriery.eu)
- Dr. Donald Walsh (https://www.americanfarriers.com/articles/keyword/1069-donald-walshl)
- Dr. John Stewart (http://www.johnthevet.co.uk)
- Rob Sigafoos (http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2007/11/upenns-rob-sigafoos-receives-lifetime.html)
- Dr. Deb Bennett (http://www.equinestudies.org)
- Dr. Tracy Turner (https://www.turnerequinesportsmed.com/?fbclid=IwAR28EzQ382mEBBso7vuc4UwLheWWb2tHjuYDReJ6F3qlxmC-MN0YxQktKyI)
- David Nicholls (https://www.americanfarriers.com/articles/11833-hall-of-fame-inductee-david-nicholls)
- Tab Pigg (https://www.americanfarriers.com/authors/121-tab-pigg)
- Dr. David Hood (http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2011/04/dr-david-hood-launches-hoof-diagnostic.html)
- Dr. Jay Merriam (http://www.massequine.com/?page_id=184)
- Dr. Andy Parks (https://www.vetpd.com/about/speakers/andrew-parks)
- Mike Wildenstein (http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2010/10/friends-not-at-work-wheres-mike.html)
- Steve Kraus (https://www.americanfarriers.com/authors/19-steve-kraus)
- John Crothers (http://www.meredithmanor.edu/farrier/john.asp)
- Roy Bloom (https://www.americanfarriers.com/authors/4-roy-bloom)
- David Farmillo (http://horsefarrier.com.au)
- Martin Kenny (http://www.thehoofcenter.com)
For more information on the International Hoof Care Summit, please see: http://www.americanfarriers.com/pages/International-Hoof-Care-Summit-Homepage.php.
