The Equine Foot and Ankle
Biomechanics, Balancing, Radiology, Trimming and Shoeing
Simply said, “NO FOOT, NO HORSE!!”
Horses are dependent on their feet for survival. Standing, moving, grazing, performing or escaping predators, horses stand on their feet 23 hours a day. Caring for today’s domestic horses’ feet has developed into an art, science and philosophy of its own.
Please come and join us in learning more about the anatomy, biomechanical function and modern care of the Equine lower leg and foot. Kirstin and Stephan Becker have tremendous knowledge in teaching biomechanics and foot care techniques. They approach all the topics below with the accumulation of that knowledge and present their information in a very practical and understandable manner.
Course Outline:
- Anatomy - Overall anatomy, theory and dissection of the lower limb
- What is „normal“ versus physiological? Biomechanics of the equine foot
- A closer look at differences in hooves: Correlation between limb deviation and form of the hoof, variations in breeds, and variations due to environmental conditions
- Trimming basics for adult horse
- Shoeing basics for adult horses
- „The important start” - Foal foot care
- “The modern world of shoeing” - The different materials and methods for hoof protection. Biomechanical effects of different therapeutic shoe models
- Radiology – How to get the most information out of foot radiographs
- Shoeing for soundness/performance/deformities/different pathologies
- Hoof deformities and their effect on the horse´s entire biomechanics