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You never know who might answer the phone...We are here to help you with address changes, renewals, new subscriptions, book orders, or whatever you need. The best time to call is between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If you prefer to fax--always a good idea for orders--that number is 978 283 8775.

Or send an email to fran@hoofcare.com.

Michael Nolan Acting Executive Director of American Farrier's Association

Michael J. Nolan of Frankfort, KY has been contracted by the American Farrier’s Association to serve as interim director until a permanent executive director can be found.

As a former executive with both the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the American Horse Council, Mike has extensive experience in both the horse world and in association management. He will serve in a consulting role until the search for a permanent executive director can be completed. He will then work with the new person to ensure a smooth transition.

Also new to AFA is Linda Jiulianti who has come on board as AFA Office Manager. She will be responsible for day-to-day administrative activities. A Kentucky native, Linda spent many years in Atlanta, GA before recently moving herself and her cats back to the Bluegrass.

As most AFA member farriers know by now, former American Farrier's Association Executive Director Bryan Quinsey left the AFA on April 14, 2006.

To learn more about the AFA, visit http://www.americanfarriers.org.


Text and photos © 2006 Hoofcare Publishing. Text and photos posted on “The HoofBlog”, a casual news source for subscribers and friends of Hoofcare & Lameness: The Journal of Equine Foot Science. Learn more (and subscribe online using our secure server) at http://www.hoofcare.com or write to Hoofcare Publishing, 19 Harbor Loop, Gloucester MA 01930 USA. Tel USA 978 281 3222; Fax 978 283 8775, or email hoofblog@hoofcare.com

Note: this blog is an interactive web page. By clicking on the envelope icon at the bottom of an article, you can instantly email that article to a friend. By clicking on the word “comment” after a post, you can leave a message, which may be viewed by future blog readers who click on the same “comment”. Commenting may require registering with Blogger.com. You may also comment by emailing the author, Fran Jurga, at fran@hoofcare.com and your comment will be posted for you, technology willing.

Equinalysis and Stromsholm Conference in UK

An exciting new seminar, "Maximising Equine Performance" was held on Wednesday 12th April at the Avon Suite at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, England

Sponsored by Equinalysis (UK) and Stromsholm, the event aimed to address the common concerns of veterinarians, farriers and physiotherapists who work hard to keep performance horses at the peak of condition, while avoiding injury. The central theme of the seminar was how objective evaluation and measurement techniques might be used to maintain equine performance and soundness.

Presenters included (in alphabetical order):
Andrew P. Bathe MRCVS & European Specialist in Equine Surgery Rossdale & Partners Equine Hospital, Newmarket, UK
Mark Caldwell FWCF Lecturer Myerscough College
Richard Davison, British Olympic Dressage Rider
John McEwen BVMS MRCVS, Director of Equine Sports Science, British Equestrian Federation
Chris Pardoe Bsc Hons AWCF
Rob Renirie Consultant farrier to the Netherlands Equestrian Team
Amanda Sutton MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy MCSP, CAT A ACPA

This was an outstanding educational event, and will be covered in depth in Hoofcare & Lameness #80. Reports can also be compiled for other publications and web sites. It was an amazing feat to assemble this particular group of speakers, and this event will surely become a blueprint for similar conferences to be held around the world.

Stay tuned for more news!

To learn more about Equinalysis, visit http://www.equinalysis.co.uk
To learn more about Stromsholm Ltd., visit http://www.stromsholm.co.uk

A Link to Share: Barefoot Racing in the UK

Here's an interesting web site provided by Simon Earle's racing yard in the UK. He is promoting the fact that his horses are running barefoot, though the "before" photos on this site don't look too bad. What I find fascinating is the array of training/conditioning systems he has either invented or implemented to increase the soundness of the horses in his charge. He credits American K.C. LaPierre with helping him on the hoof end of things

Click here to go to Simon Earle's barefoot racing yard

2006 World Equestrian Games Will Include Conference on the Hoof

ESpoM Aachen 2006 : Progress in equine sports medicine
International veterinary congress and farrier meeting will be held at the FEI World Equestrian Games 2006

Hoofcare & Lameness is happy to announce that the famous "Maastricht" MICEM conference for 2006 will be held in conjunction with the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany in late August. Dates are Aug. 23 - 26, 2006.

The deadline for submission of free lectures and posters has passed. Speakers will include Simon Curtis, Rob Renirie, Haydn Price, Jack Snyder and Scott Morrison, but there are many, many more. Visit the web site!

It sounds like we will be staying in Maastricht, Holland and buses will go back and forth to Aachen. Hoofcare & Lameness will be helping to promote the meeting.

Info by mail:ESpoM Aachen 2006,PO Box 56, NL 5430 AB Cuijk, The Netherland
Tel +31 6 506 37 999 Fax+31 485 3111 57
See the full programm on www.espomaachen2006.info

Stay tuned for more details from Hoofcare & Lameness Journal!

FEI Judicial Suggests that Grazing Can be a Source of Prohibited Substances

This just in from the FEI...drug testing at a new level!

Mary 64, one of the horses with which Michael Freund won the 2004 FEI World Driving Championship in Kecskemet (HUN), had tested positive to the prohibited substance Valerenic Acid.

In June 2005, the Judicial Committee held a first hearing in this case and accepted the evidence that the horse Mary 64 had been allowed to graze in a field next to the event, which contained Centranthus ruber plants. The Committee recommended that the parties conduct controlled tests in order to determine whether Valerenic Acid may be found in a horse’s systems as a result of the consumption of certain plants from the Centranthus ruber family.

The Judicial Committee resumed the hearing on 23 January 2006 in Frankfurt. The Committee found this to be an extremely difficult case to assess in the light of the varying technical advice it had been provided with and regretted that the tests conducted during the summer of 2005 had not been subject to full cooperation and coordination between the Person Responsible and the FEI.

After having heard the opinion of the different experts, the Judicial Committee considered that there were indications that results could vary due to the stage in the plant life cycle at which it is consumed by the horse, and various other factors.

The Judicial Committee also considered the exhaustive research engaged in by Michael Freund and his advisors to answer the question as to how the substance was present in the horse’s systems.

In a split decision, the Judicial Committee decided by a majority of its members present to terminate the proceedings by applying the provision in Article 146.2 of the General Regulations at no costs to the parties.

The full text of the Judicial Committee’s decision in this matter will be published shortly on the FEI website.