It’s not surprising that the 2015 International Hoof-Care Summit (IHCS) continued to set record numbers in attendance. It offers the most diverse lectures about farriery, plus the largest trade show in the world. The IHCS is the only place where the farrier industry can get the whole package in one place.

Each year, I take an informal poll of what attendees feel was the best that was offered. The answers are referred to as our WOW moments. As expected, they vary considerably. Veteran attendees have a much different view than first-time attendees, who often are just blown away by the scope of the event. 

The following is a compilation of my observations and conversations I had with attendees, along with comments written on the evaluation sheets. They are in no particular order and are not ranked in importance.

Vettec Hands-On Workshop

The Vettec Hands-On Workshop continues to be high on the list of most favorable moments for a number of attendees. There was lots of interest in using acrylics as hundreds packed the sessions, which consisted of two 1 1/2-hour clinics.

“I learned the most from the hands-on Vettec clinic,” says Carmen Theobald from Orilla, Ontario. “Having a chance to glue on a shoe with Azle, Texas, farrier Tab Pigg was a great opportunity.”

Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., farrier Mike Heinrich has been a farrier for 25 years, but never used Vettec products to glue on a shoe. He took advantage of the workshop and came away with a great…