gobarefoot

Trimming a Chronically Foundered Cadaver hoof

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Equine Podiatry Students - Australia

Twenty one students  have enrolled in the inaugural Diploma of Equine Podio-Therapy, being run by The College of Traditional Medicine, based in Melbourne.

The first block of study - anatomy and physiology - was held at Merrijig  - at Chris Dunlop's trail ride outfit -   in the Victorian High Country. The venue was chosen because of the availability of  the trail riding horses and the associated lodge facilities including accommodation and a seminar room (complete with log fire).

The Diploma is one of two courses being run in Australia by government recognised Registered Training Providors. It has  attracted students from around Australia - ranging from school leavers to professional trimmers. There was a wait list for places. I was fortunate enough to enrol early, and get into the course.

It includes a requirement for 20 documented case studies, and more than a dozen written assignments on anatomy and physiology and on the distal limb.

The other course is the Certificate III in Agriculture (hoofcare) which is about to enrol its third intake of students in June. The first students from this course are completing their studies now. Two  have already graduated.

The introduction of both these courses is expected to take equine podiatry to the next level in Australia where the main impediment to more widespread adoption of the practice of barefooting horses is that there are not enough experienced and knowledgeable trimmers to meet demand.

By the time three intakes have graduated from the Tasmanian course, and the Diploma students complete their studies, there should be around 75 qualified trimmers in Australia.

Both courses have the support of the Australian Hoof Care Association, the peak body for professional trimmers in Australia.

• At the top of this post is a pic of the Diploma students and teachers, with Prof Robert Bowker from the University of Michigan's Equine Hoof Lab, at the conclusion of the first anatomy and physiology lectures.

• Above right is a pic of me with Prof Bowker after we'd deconstructed a cadaver leg.

 

Barefoot Showing...Little River Sahna & Jaime Slipais win at Newcombe

I like to post about the success of my clients. This cutey pictured is Little River Sahna, a 12 year old pally stockhorse who  took out a swag of ribbons at the Newcombe show on March  16th, 2008.

She and rookie showie Jaime Slipais won Champion in the  novice ridden class, 1st in the novice ridden 14hh – 15hh, came 2nd in the open led 14hh – 15hh class and also second in the rider class 12 – 15 years. Not a bad effort for their first time out together.

Sahna is owned by Sara Mitchell, who has a predilection for palaminos. Her other horse  - Jack -  is also a pally. Both are barefoot. Go Jaime and Sahna!
 

Dr Bowker's Australian Lectures

The second public lecture Dr Robert Bowker gave in Australia was at the University of Melbourne Vet Faculty on April 1st and 2nd. Organised by the Australian Hoof Care Association, it drew a cross section of around 35 trimmers, body workers, farriers, vet students and university academics.  The seminar involved lectures and an explanation of his latest research along with half a day of hands on dissection of cadaver legs from a variety of perspectives (whole, sagital and 'poker chip sections')

The take home messages included his conclusion that the load bearing position of the navicular bone in a horse with a broken pastern axis was such that it was 'crunched' into p2 and p3, and that the blood supply thru the impar ligament was significantly reduced in such circumstances. He demonstrated that long toed horses (which  he found to be very common in the domestic equine population) were all forced into this problematic load bearing on the navicular bone, and were therefore pre-disposed to navicular syndrome.  He also demonstrated that there were significant differences in the robustness of the digital cushions and the lateral cartileges of such horses.

After his Melbourne lecture he delivered three days of lectures in anatomy and physiology for the inaugural intake of students enrolled in the Diploma of Equine Podio-Therapy (thru The College of Traditional  Medicine - based in Melbourne) at Merrijig in the Victorian High Country.

The Diploma course attracted 21 students (it was over subscribed with a wait list) including trimmers from Western Australia, Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

Dr Bowker is pictured at right, explaining the difference between a 'good' and a 'bad' foot while Diploma student Martin Godwin looks on.

The professor flew out of Australia on Monday 7th of April for New Zealand and a two day seminar in Christchurch before returning home to Detroit.