Good-bye to Cal Chilton

Hoofcare & Lameness just learned that friendly salesman Cal Chilton has left the employment of Vettec. I have hardly ever been to a farrier event on the east coastt without seeing his friendly face and Cal has been a wonderful friend and help to many exhibitors and event organizers--as well as to farriers interested in Vettec's excellent products.

It just won't be the same without you, Cal. Good luck and stay in touch!

AAEP Extends 2006 Convention Registration Deadline for Farriers

UPDATE: As most of you know, the AAEP is hosting its first-ever farriers conference at their 2006 convention in San Antonio, Texas, to be held December 3-6. The farrier program is on Tuesday, December 5, but farriers can also attend any programs they wish, including a special program on palmar foot pain, during the convention.

I spoke with Dr. Steve O'Grady (AAEP's farrier conference organizer) over the weekend because I knew the deadline for the lower advanced registration price was coming up (today). The form can be a little confusing if you are trying to register as a non-vet. There is no place on the form that specifically says "farrier"; instead, you should just register as a "Spouse/Guest attending sessions" and, in the box, write "farrier". Don't worry if you have already registered and didn't write in the box.

By the way, Dr. O'Grady said that the AAEP has agreed to extend the registration deadline for farriers to receive the discount rate of $395 for at least one more week (til 10/30/06). I wrote a little article about the conference for the November issue of EQUUS, which people are receiving right about now, so it is a wonderful idea to extend the deadline for all the readers of that magazine who might want to attend.

I have already spoken to or heard from a lot of farriers, from all over the country, who plan to attend this first-ever farrier conference at an AAEP convention.

Here's a link to the AAEP convention site, where you can download the full convention program and forms:
http://www.aaep.org/convention.htm

(Don't forget to register for a hotel room; this conference is one that requires you to book through the organization for choice hotels near the convention center.)

The farriers-only conference doesn't seem to be listed on the AAEP site, but you will find info on the general lameness and foot lectures listed there, all of which are open to farriers.

It is easy to register online but I am sure that you could probably also print out the form and mail or fax it to the AAEP.

You can read and printout the AAEP hoof-related convention info from this link:
http://www.hoofcare.com/news_aaepconf2006.html
or, for an interactive version where you can post a comment or question and start a dialog, look right on this blog:
http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2006/06/2006-aaep-convention-addresses-foot.html

Anyone who is attending and would like to be part of my informal network to stay in touch with developments and get tips on how to make the most of the convention's offerings and whatever impromptu fun that I can organize for the hoof-inclined, send me an email (fran@hoofcare.com) and I'll share with you anything I know.

Hoofcare & Lameness Journal will launch a special San Antonio-bound blog as soon as I get back next week.

Walking Horse Year-End Show Cancelled

The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association voted on Monday to cancel their Invitational Horse Show originally set for Thanksgiving weekend in Murfreesboro, TN. The show had been planned to crown a 2006 World Champion, after the final class was shut down at the Walking Horse Celebration because the majority of horses in the final class did not pass inspection for USDA/American Horse Protection Act soring regulations.

Racetrack Welfare and Safety Summit Nails Horseshoes as Culprit

Welfare and Safety Summit Participants Recommends Banning Toe Grabs, Stickers, Turndowns and Jar Calks.

A cross-section of prominent participants from the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry who attended the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit in Lexington, Ky., on October 16 and 17 have drafted action plans in six areas to improve conditions in various facets of the Thoroughbred industry.

The six areas are Education & Licensing; Racing Conditions/Racing Office; Research; Health & Medical Records; Racing Surfaces/Shoeing/Hoof Care; and Breeding Practices.

Among the recommendations coming out of the two-day summit were:
* Make efforts to have scientific research more widely distributed among industry stakeholders.
* Examine the use or ban of certain horseshoes, such as toe-grabs, in the wake of presentations and research by Dr. Sue Stover and other participants.
* Provide continuing education for all horsemen, exercise riders, farriers and make initiatives like the Groom Elite Program more available throughout the country.

Above material quoted from a press release provided by the Jockey Club.

Mitch Taylor gave a brief presentation about shoes and shoeing and was on the working session committee designated to tackle the subjects of shoeing and surfaces.

Hoofcare & Lameness reached Mitch Taylor at home this evening. He said that he had been contacted before the meeting by the Jockey Club to present information about shoeing and hooves, and that when he arrived at the meeting, he realized that he was the lone representative of the farrier profession. Mitch gave a half-hour presentation which included an overview of hoof anatomy and function.

At the working session, the sub-committee recommended banning grabs, stickers, jar calks and turndowns by the end of 2007. Mitch Taylor was charged with reporting the group's recommendations to the larger group. The subject did come up about the use of toe grabs on hind feet, with a question being directed to Dr. Sue Stover of the University of California at Davis. As a result of her answer, the recommended ban would only cover toe grabs on the front feet.

Other recommendations included that horseshoers, trainers, and grooms should be required to show proof of continuing education efforts. One recommendation was that cd-roms be distributed for study, with questions to be answered before a track license can be granted.

Mitch said that he had discussed his role in the meeting with Thoroughbred expert farriers Steve Norman of Kentucky and Simon Curtis FWCF of England. He said that he had not been asked to be a spokesperson for any farrier group or school, but simply to provide information.

A few trainers and jockeys also provided information, but the majority of information came from a massive binder of research studies compiled from veterinary research. Veterinary surgeons Wayne MacIlwraith, Rick Arthur, Larry Bramlage and Sue Stover made presentations, as did Mick Peterson, a footing engineer who specializes in racetrack impact studies.

"I am glad that the Jockey Club decided to invite someone like me to be part of this meeting," Mitch told Hoofcare & Lameness. "Farriers and the work they do should be part of the big picture of lame horses, decreased numbers of starts, and breakdowns.

"A lot of good information was presented at this meeting," he continued. "I really believe that each person who was there wanted to do what they can to prove that the racing industry really does have the interest of the horse at heart. The recommendation about education was especially important, I think. More education will be good for the industry."

No date was set for a second meeting of this study group.

American Farrier's Association Moves Magazine to New Publishing Vendor

According to the AFA's web site, the association has moved its "Professional Farrier" publication from Ink and Anvil in Washington to Sebastian Publications in Georgetown, California. SP, which formerly published "The Anvil", a farrier magazine that went dormant several years ago, will be the third publisher of "Professional Farrier" since 2003. Ink and Anvil will launch a new magazine called "Today's Pro Farrier".

"Festival der Hufschmiede" in Germany This Month

One of the world's largest assemblies of farriers is planned for October 26-28 in Krueth, near Nuremberg in the Bavaria region of southern Germany. Organized by Josef Luber of Luwex, the "farrier's festival" is in its fourth renewal; last year's event attracted about 600 farriers from 21 countries.

The Luwex event is a marathon of farrier lectures and demonstrations from morning to midnight. Held at Europe's largest equestrian show facility, farriers stay at a four-star hotel on the showgrounds, and eat in on-site restaurants.

This year's theme is better educational cooperation between the USA and Europe. US speakers are Mike Savoldi, Michael Wildenstein and Scott Morrison. European speakers include Hans Castelijns (Italy), Billy Crothers (Great Britain), Lorenzo d`Arpe (Italy), Bernard Duvernay (Switzerland), Andy Hermann (Austria), Kai Kreling (Germany), Dieter Krohnert (Germany), Rob Renirie (Holland), Sigi Simonson (Iceland).

Also from Germany: Uwe Lukas, Carsten Neumann, Björn Tangemann, Simon Alt, Jörg Ohl, Rainer Koch, Thorsten Egert and Gudmundur Gudmundsson.

Translations into Spanish, English, French, Italian and German will be provided, and a trade show of international vendors is planned.

For more information, visit http://www.luwex.de/ and click on your favorite language.

Or call 011 49 09604 9099222 (from the USA).