The 21st annual International Hoof-Care Summit offered enormous opportunities for the more than 1,000 attendees to expand their footcare knowledge

Whether an attendee has been shoeing for several years or is starting out, the Summit offers something for everyone.

“My big takeaway is how helpful 99% of the people are,” says Lee Milan, a first-time attendee. “You can stop and talk to anyone and they will give you input or advice.”

For those unable to make it, here’s a sampling of what you missed.

1 Wet Labs

The Summit introduced two intensive and extended dissection wet labs that drew rave reviews from attendees.

The first session was led by International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer Mitch Taylor of Kentucky Horseshoeing School and focused on the musculoskeletal-mechanical issues of the front and hind legs of a yearling Thoroughbred.

Wayne Sodowsky of Apollo, Pa., appreciates the opportunity to learn more about biomechanics.

“Mitch Taylor gave me a great way to demonstrate the mechanical advantage of the calcaneous process as it extends the lever arm in the hind with his demonstration of opening a door by pushing at different points,” he says. “Close to the hinges requires much more force than farther away.”

The second wet lab, led by Paige Poss of Anatomy of the Equine and Stuart Muir, of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, allowed the attendees to examine limbs before, during and after dissection in a lively 2-hour session.

“Honestly, I’ve had unexpected ‘golden nuggets’ in every lecture, lab and discussion I’ve…