Continuing Professional Development. Its why we are all here, self improvement shared knowledge and helping each other. If anyone wants to chuck in some ideas on what would be good I will get something going. If anyone could post a link to the american certs so I know what they require it would be interesting. Exam technique, Theory, practical, it would be good to have a resource. I am about to climb on my bike and disappear for a week and a bit so feel free to put some ideas on this thread and I will do something when Im back.
I'LL bite! 32 different ways a horse impacts and loads that dictates the other 3 phases of the stride of a horse. Thus, a shoeing protocol per some groups of horses or the individual........
David, here is a link to the free 2008 AFA certification Study Guide that I downloaded from their web site back when anyone could download it for free. Now they want you to pay for it if you are not a member. I don't know if it has changed much in 5 years. AFA Certification Study Guide - PDF File
I'll try.... 1. Toe first impact 2. Heel first 3. Lateral toe quarter 4. Medial toe quarter 5. Lateral heel quarter 6. Medial heel quarter 7. Medial side 8. Lateral side 8 different ways to load impacting stride x 4 feet = 32.
Patty is trying! But she sees the indications of lameness. I am talking about "somewhat sound horses on a daily basis". Really gentlemen/Ladies, Patty has the "bigger Balls!"
K, Looking from the top down. See how the "pasterns insert into the top of the hoof capsule". All four feet. Insertions: medially, laterad, dorsally, caudally and on the diagonals.... thus shoeing the horse is one foot at a time. If one doubts, look at the shoe wear patterns from one horse, each shoe...
My own horse who was overtly medially inserted, sparked my journey into farriery. No one... not my farrier, not my vet (nor multiple vets) could explain why his feet were so crooked. It wasn't until I had to euthanize him due to a skull fracture and my amazing husband harvested his legs. I had them radiographed and then I dissected them. It was then, that I realized, too much focus was on the hoof itself and not above. It was as much of an "A Ha!" moment as it was a "WTF..... this is sooooo simple and so clear" moment, that I was sad as much as happy. When there is asymmetry, there is compensation When there is compensation, there is are postural changes. When there are postural changes, there is a change or effect upon locomotion. When locomotion is affected...... eventually, performance or soundness will suffer. I might have a slighted view, but I rarely see a "sound" horse. Of course, that's my interpretation. I try to keep them moving comfortably, easily and with minimal impact to the affected area of their asymmetry. IMO "sound" horses are very rare. About as common as straight horses. I dislike shoeing wicked benched knees the most. My entire being hurts, just looking at them. I start and the scapula and sacrum and work my way down.
