Horse Owners, Professional Trimmers, Vets, Farriers, Body Workers and all those seriously interested in the horse’s hoof are invited to attend a full-day clinic by internationally recognized researcher Prof. Robert Bowker at The Whole Horse Symposium, set for October 15-17, 2011 at the National Equestrian Center, Lake St. Louis, MO.
Professor Bowker has changed the way we will view the hoof forever and bought hoof care into the 21st century. Those in attendance will be exposed to the latest research into the natural hoof and how it relates to serious hoof conditions. He will lead you through a journey into the anatomy of the hoof, much of which is now only being understood, and explain it functions as they relate to total equine health.
Specifics will include discussions of:
- Structure and function of palmar foot in horse and how it changes if the frog is on the ground. New evidence supports that the blood perfusion of the palmar foot and rostral frog are critical for support while standing and for energy dissipation.
- Radiographic examination of the foot and where to examine foot and bones for potential problems.
- Is the feral horse the "gold" standard? The adaptability of the horse’s foot, demonstrating that the foot changes with its environment.
- How the foal foot grows from fetus to first few years of life and challenges current concepts and function of hoof wall.
- Navicular syndrome: an entire foot problem? Traditional and current views of navicular syndrome and mechanism of occurrence and how to treat. That other regions of the foot have significant pathology in causing clinical signs and indicates a new method of treatment and rehabilitation.
- How does the adult foot adapt to environmental stresses and coffin bone loss? Discussion of changes in coffin bone architecture and bone loss as factors in contributing to foot problems.
More info: www.coronavistaequinecenter.com/home.html , www.thewholehorse.org , www.equinesciencesacademy.com