In the summer of 2003, American Farriers Journal (AFJ) announced a new outside-the-box” educational event and Trade Show, the International Hoof-Care Summit (IHCS), debuted in Cincinnati, Ohio, during the winter of 2004.

Introducing an exciting non-traditional learning experience for the hoof-care industry, that first IHCS drew more than 500 farriers, veterinarians and other hoof-care professionals from 40 states and 8 countries. With more than two dozen speakers, the format included six educational general sessions, 12 hoof-care classrooms, 24 hoof-care roundtables and innovative one-on-one networking opportunities among farriers — a winning playbook that has continued every year. 

Coming up on its 22nd year in Kansas City, Mo., this international event offers the world’s largest hoof-care Trade Show, featuring the latest farrier products and innovations from over 100 farrier industry suppliers. 

Farriers responding to IHCS surveys tell us they always go home with more than $4,000 in fresh, practical ideas they immediately put to work in their footcare practices.

What Attendees Say

The most impressive way to sum up the many benefits of attending the IHCS is best told through the eyes and ears of attendees.

1 “Shoeing for over 25 years, the Summit is the best farrier meeting I’ve ever attended.”

— Scott Anweiler, Minerva, Ohio

2 “My wow moments came from Stuart Muir’s 5-year case study on identifying laminitis flare pathologies and Katie LoPresti’s lecture on why I need to start doing venograms with laminitis cases.”

— Dr. Sarah Waxman, Lafayette, Ind.

3 “My big takeaway is how helpful 99% of the attendees and exhibitors are. Talk with anyone and they’ll offer input or advice to you on any footcare problem.”

— Lee Milam, Brunswick, Ohio

The International Hoof-Care Summit hosts the world’s largest equine footcare Trade Show, featuring the latest products from more than 100 farrier industry suppliers. Lewis Horn III

4 “The biggest takeaway had to do with anatomy. I’ve known the heels are completely supported by soft tissue, but I hadn’t realized how much of the foot is supported by the coffin bone.”

— Keaton Beachy, Oakland, Md.

5 “Farriers recognized this was where to give your education and career a jump start.”

— Linda Jones, Wagener, S.C.

6 “You get a network of people, like the 333 years of experience sitting at my Hoof-Care Roundtable last night. Combined they equal many lifetimes of experience.”

— Danvers Child, Lafayette, Ind.

International Hoof-Care Summit attendees tell American Farriers Journal they return home with more than $4,000 in new, practical ideas for their footcare practices. Lewis Horn III

7 “My brain is overflowing with many new ideas I’m excited to bring back to my clients.”

— Marijke Ellert, Placerville, Calif.

8 “This is an event not to be missed for networking with farriers from around the world.”

— Derek Poupard, a Sarasota, Fla., farrier who has worked with horses in South Africa, Dubai, the United Kingdom and the U.S.  

As told through the eyes and ears of attendees, you can see why this yearly event has earned a solid reputation as an event not to be missed by farriers, equine vets and suppliers who wish to continue learning more about the many inerrancies involved in managing the equine foot. These folks said it better than I ever could and I hope to see you at the IHCS in the future.