New farrier/vet podiatry organization launched for US professionals

Texas farrier David Gilliam has a vision. The accomplished hunter/jumper farrier stopped talking about the way he thinks things should be and started doing something about it on December 6, when he launched a website for a new synergistic interprofessional association, Equine Soundness Professionals (ESP).

At the top of Dave Gilliam’s to-do list is establishing a podiatry credentialing system for farriers. “Currently, there’s no real podiatry credential,” he told the Hoof Blog last week. Dave explained the need for an intensive examination of candidate farriers that involves both a "test from a book" and a case assignment for and with a veterinarian, in a clinic setting.

Currently studying for the Equine Locomotion Research (ELR) advanced degree offered to farriers by the Royal Veterinary College, Gilliam hopes to combine his access to the horse industry--his business operates from three seasonal bases in California, Texas and Florida--with his vision for farriers and veterinarians to work together to benefit the horse.

On the startup date, Gilliam listed four advisors to the organization, including veterinarians Courtney Lewis of Circle Oak Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in California and Sammy Pittman of Innovative Equine Podiatry in Texas. Two resident farriers with positions at US vet schools are advising: Pat Reilly of Penn Vet and Shane Westman of the University of California at Davis.

In addition to offering credentials solely in podiatry, ESP will also host educational events, beginning in March 2019 with a seminar at the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Wellington, Florida. Raul Bras, DVM and Pat Reilly, a member of Gilliam’s advisory board, will conduct the seminar.

ESP members are accepted after submission and review of an application. To obtain an application or to learn more about the organization, call (888) 945-8298 or send email to info@equinesoundnessprofessionals.org. Visit ESP on the web at www.equinesoundnessprofessionals.org.

Equine Soundness Professionals sponsored this story.

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