Hoofcare & Lameness Journal Wins Award

Hoofcare & Lameness Journal has been named a finalist in the annual awards from American Horse Publications. At this time, it is not known what the award is, or what it is for. The award will be presented on Saturday, June 24 at the AHP Awards Ceremony (a.k.a. "The Equine Oscars") at the Grosvenor Resort in Walt Disney World, Florida. Hopefully I can be there to accept it. H&L has received a total of 20 AHP awards since beginning publication in 1995.

Sail on, silver girl...

Sadly, we report the death of Merrill Smith, a kind friend. Merrill is known to many Hoofcare & Lameness subscribers as the wife of Allen Smith, one of our consulting editors. I wish I had a photo of her, but I can't find one. I had a special relationship with Merrill because of her love for sailing; she even liked Gloucester. (This town is one of those places you either love or hate.) I remember so well how excited she was, sitting on our dock, when she and Allen purchased their first boat, a Tartan 10. (as in 10 meters) We shared a sailing coach, an affection for black dogs, and I always enjoyed her delicate take on sailing and Gloucester harbor. She would have loved a day like today.


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.

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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