The 22nd annual International Hoof-Care Summit drew hundreds of farriers, veterinarians and other hoof-care professionals to Kansas City, Mo., this past week for four days of intensive learning and networking opportunities. Located at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, attendees from across the country and overseas had access to 19 general sessions, 15 classrooms and 34 roundtable discussions covering a wide range of hoof care topics.

The Summit kicked off on Tuesday morning with eight hands-on educational sessions by EasyCare, Hemp for Horses, Zoetis and Glue-U, where they gave attendees an overview of their products and answered questions. Florida farrier Roy Verocay demonstrated how to apply indirect glue-on shoes and let attendees give it a try to show how easy it can be.

At the same time, farrier Shane Westman led an exclusive hands-on wet lab demonstrating how to apply a novel sole-hoof wall immobilization technique for stabilizing P3 fractures. The technique was published in 2024 by Veterinary Surgery. Shortly after, Hall of Famer Mitch Taylor of Kentucky Horseshoeing School held a wet lab on understanding the leg’s vital structures to help you improve your hoof care.

Ahead of the first general session on Tuesday, editor Jeff Cota delivered inspiring opening remarks to set the tone for the week, including introducing speakers and celebrating American Farriers Journal’s 50th anniversary. He also announced the location of the 2026 International Hoof-Care Summit: Covington, Ky., which is just across the river from Cincinnati. Read his opening speech here.

We heard from U.S. Equestrian Team farrier Beck Ratte Randall, veterinarian and podiatrist Dr. Ellen Staples, CJF (TE), Steve Teichman, CJF, GradDipELR, and Gary Gullo Jr. in the first general session of the Summit, where they discussed keeping elite athletes in the show ring.

Sometimes this means taking care of yourself first. Dr. Staples recommends balancing the client’s stress with your own. One way she does this is by keeping a separate phone for work, which ensures she doesn’t burn out and allows her to work more effectively.

When discussing the 4-week shoeing cycle for equine athletes, Beck Ratte Randall emphasized that some clients may not be aware that the shoeing cycle is shorter than normal because horses require a biomechanically specific foot to keep them in the ring. It helps her to communicate clearly with clients and adjust based on the needs of the horse.

Later in the afternoon, attendees got to sit in on one of four how-to sessions hosted by Hemp for Horses, Zoetis, EasyCare and Glue-U. Afterwards, Dr. Deb Bennett of the Equine Studies Institute discussed conformation to a room full of attentive hoof-care professionals. She discussed how levers function in the body and how internal structures should be viewed three-dimentionally to be fully understood, among other conformation insights.

After Dr. Bennett’s lecture ended at 5:20 p.m., attendees gathered around for her “post-seminar seminar,” where she spent the next 3 hours fielding questions about her lecture and discussing conformation. Much of the learning at the International Hoof-Care Summit happens in the hallways. Be sure to register early for 2026 to join the conversation.

Afterward, Dr. Clair Thunes of Clarity Equine Nutrition discussed using good nutrition to build a better foot, presented by Triple Crown. Gut health goes hand-in-hand with hoof health, so she advised attendees to focus on including bioabsorbable nutrients in a horse’s diet and select forage based on the individual horse.

To close out the first day of the Summit, attendees participated in 2 of 16 roundtables. Hall of Famer Randy Luikart discussed suspensory ligaments and the need for vet-farrier teamwork in his Tuesday evening roundtable.

Paige Poss of Anatomy of the Equine also led her first of two sold out hands-on wet labs.

Wednesday morning started off strong with a lecture from retired U.S. Equestrian Team farrier Steve Teichman, CJF, GradDipELR, on critical hoof-care considerations when shoeing the sport horse. Teichman was followed by Dr. Ellen Staples, who discussed the use of bisphosphonates from an equine veterinary podiatrist perspective, presented by Dechra. She explained that because clodronate prevents osteoclasts from breaking down bone, it can help with pain control by reducing inflammation.

Following the Beard of the Year award, the first Trade Show session was filled with eager attendees looking to get their fix of new and exciting products for 2025.

After the first of three Trade Show opportunities, attendees could choose from one of five classroom sessions to join. Chris Gregory’s, CJF, FWCF, classroom — hind limb trimming and shoeing considerations — was a hit with farriers who were packed against the walls.

Though he couldn’t attend the Summit, Dan Burke of Farrier Product Distribution was honored with the Robert “Red” Renchin Award, presented by the International Association of Professional Farriers.

Due to rig issues, Mason McAllister, Rising Shoeing Star award recipient and graduate of Heartland Horseshoeing School, also could not attend the Summit. However, Amanda Smith of Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School and Sam Hogan of Kentucky Horseshoeing School accepted their awards on stage Wednesday afternoon.

Amanda Smith, graduate of Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School, accepts the Rising Shoeing Star Award. Credit: Lewis Horn III

Sam Hogan, graduate of Kentucky Horseshoeing School, accepts the Rising Shoeing Star Award.Credit: Lewis Horn III

Jenny Hagen, DVM, PhD, CF, of the University of Leipzig then discussed how lameness impacts the distal limb before the Dog of the Year, Frog, took the stage with his owner Florida farrier Jeremy Zackowski.

Dr. Kirsty Leśniak, senior lecturer and program manager at Hartpury University, had the difficult task of speaking after the Dog of the Year took the stage. She emphasized the biomechanical importance of a consistent shoeing schedule.

After more Trade Show time and Paige Poss’s second hands-on dissection, Wednesday ended with a packed hotel restaurant and farriers lingering in the hallways discussing hoof care.

Thursday morning began with a devotional led by Jason Critton of C-Cross Farriers and the farriers of the Iron Sharpens Iron group.

The first general session of the morning was the Henry Heymering Legacy Lecture — presented by Hoofcare Essentials Foundation — featuring Chris Gregory of Heartland Horseshoeing School explaining the benefits of the patten bar shoe and how to forge it.

Chris Gregory of Heartland Horseshoeing School presents the Henry Heymering Legacy Lecture.Credit: Lewis Horn III

Next was the Supply Shop of the Year award. American Farriers Journal readers nominated approximately 50 supply shops in North America. Following nominations, the shops were asked to complete a 20-question survey covering topics ranging from customer service, product variety & inventory, shipping & delivery, community engagement and accessibility. Our three-judge panel consisting of Hall of Fame farriers Margie Lee Gustafson, Steve Kraus and Randy Luikart scored each entry based on the supply shop’s responses. The identities of the supply shops were not disclosed to ensure an impartial decision. The point system for each category was weighted for a combined score of 100 per judge. Olympia, Wash.-based Olympia Farrier Supply, owned by Maxine and Ken Floyd, earned the most points to earn the inaugural Supply Shop of the Year.

Maxine Floyd of Olympia Farrier Supply accepts the Supply Shop of the Year award.Credit: Lewis Horn III

In the Burney Chapman Memorial Lecture — presented by Life Data Labs — Steve Teichman talks about the heart bar shoe and the importance of being resourceful on the road.

Steve Teichman presents the Burney Chapman Memorial Lecture.Credit: Lewis Horn III

After attendees’ final Trade Show time and five more classroom options to choose from, attendees gathered back in the main ballroom for the Halls of Fame inductions. Veterinarians Dr. Mark Silverman and Dr. Tone Wien and farriers Travis Burns, Wes Champagne, Nigel Fennell and Dusty Franklin were inducted in the International Halls of Fame.

Hall of Fame Inductees watch tribute videos from those who nominated themCredit: Maclaren Krueger

Farrier Shane Westman discussed modern materials in the next presentation, reviewing the uses, benefits and drawbacks of various options beyond steel. Afterward, editor Jeff Cota announced 2024’s Outstanding Presentation Award winner as Dr. Simon Curtis for his presentation, “Shoeing & Trimming for the Distal Phalanx.”

Dr. Simon Curtis accepts the Outstanding Presentation Award

Texas farrier Blane Chapman then took the stage to discuss essential techniques for moving the feet back as well as dressing the hoof wall, how to avoid over-dressing and other considerations.

Jenny Hagen, DVM, PhD, CF, of the University of Leipzig then discussed how unequal load distribution affects hoof angulation and size and how that impacts the horse in her presentation on unequal feet on Thursday evening. Attendees could close out the penultimate day of the Summit with 16 more roundtable discussions to choose from following Dr. Hagen’s general session.

The final day of the International Hoof-Care Summit opened with Dr. Deb Bennett taking the stage again to talk about equine check, stay & reciprocating systems. Dr. Bennett, of the Equine Studies Institute, explains how spinal function governs hindlimb reciprocation. She also discusses how reciprocation differs in the forelimb vs. the hindlimb, with special reference to check ligament anatomy and function.

Dr. Deb Bennett discuses equine check, stay & reciprocating systems.Credit: Maclaren Krueger

Dr. Kirsty Leśniak returned to discuss the causes of asymmetry and its effect on the hoof Friday morning.

After the last round of classroom discussions, Gary Gullo Jr. explored effective strategies for proper load distribution, which is critical for the overall health, performance and longevity of a horse.

The final motivational lecture of the 2025 International Hoof-Care Summit was given by Shane Westman, who left attendees with some wise parting words.