Spring 2012 Hoof Care Clinics at Flag Foundation

Hands on Trimming Workshop for Experienced Trimmers

Friday May 4 - $75 - Hands-on barefoot trimming workshop to explore reading feet and trimming pathology using a conservative barefoot approach. Led by AHA and PHCP Mentors.  Counts as a PHCP Elective Clinic

This is an open hands-on workshop for owner-trimmers, trimmers, & farriers. We will be trimming the Flag Foundation herd of 20+/- horses. Several sound barefoot trailhorses will be in attendence so that their feet can be compared to the Flag horses.

Topics to be covered include:

• evaluating gait & movement from a trim perspective
• learn how hooves reflect equine musculoskeletal imbalance
• reading bars & sole to evaluate trim effectiveness
• trimming for capsule imbalance (medial/lateral imbalance trim)
• trimming for limb imbalance & deformity
• understanding high-heel / low-heel imbalance from the poll to the tail to the ground
• trimming long toes, how far back can we bring toes? Reading sole & lamellar wedge
• high heels, heel "bevels", techniques for beveling & rolling walls
• when to remove retained sole and bars, when to leave them
• when to trim frog on healthy & thrushy frogs, when to leave it
• how to trim reverse palmer/plantar angles, causes & rehabilitation
• wedging pro's & cons
• trimming cracks & wall scars
• trimming feet on the ground using an angle grinder (geriatric trim)
• symptoms & effects of nutritional & mechanical imbalance, ways to manage it

Only 10 spots available!

Shoe Removal, Booting & Hoof Protection Clinic

Saturday  May 5 – - $150 All day booting & hoof protection clinic. Open to owner-trimmers, trimmers, farriers & vets.

Learn how to remove shoes off cadaver feet, trin the foot for barefoot or rehab, then learn to boot and pad or otherwise protect it - lots of fun no matter what your level! Open to trimming & shoeing enthusiasts, professionals and students. 

Hoof casting and glues will be demonstrated on cadaver feet. Satisfies the requirements for a PHCP Beginning Clinic.

• boot selection & considerations
• pro's & con's of different boots
• boot fitting & repair (replace straps, gaiters, add power straps & cleats)
• customize boots using heat guns & epoxies
• commercially available boot padding, home made pads, sole packs
• booting & padding for founder & navicular
• how to manage feet that will be in boots 24x7
• alternative approaches to hoof protection
  • casting, casting on EVA soles, casting on Epona's.
  • Using Hoof Armor & Sole Guard
  • Demo various glues & epoxies, discuss their use & limitations

Only 20 spots available!

Anatomy & Dissection Clinic With Paige Poss

Author, http://www.ironfreehoof.com/

Sunday May 6  - $150  Anatomy & cadaver dissection. Open to owners, trimmers, farriers, vets

This class starts with basic anatomy overview using The Glass Horse while examining an assortment of dissected feet and legs to better understand the difference between "normal" feet, robustly healthy feet and pathological feet. Satisfies the requirements for a PHCP Beginning Clinic.

Paige Poss has devoted many years to scientifically preparing examples and taking photographs of pathology and will share these with us.

We will have several USB Microscopes on-hand for people to play with. Students can spend time "trimming" cadavers if they choose.

Only 20 spots available!