M.W. “Tookie” Myers (Chesapeake, Va.)
"Tookie" Myers has been diligently advocating for the horse for some 40+ years in the field, both as an accomplished veterinarian and exceptional farrier. Tookie was encouraging farriers in the late 70's and steadfastly continues to offer his support and knowledge to current day. He teams together as veterinarian, and farrier, mutually respecting each one's profession, while raising the bar in analytical thinking about how to assess and apply solutions for hoof care. He is always encouraging the importance of bony column alignment and adequate break over enhancement with critical attention to relieving excessive DDFT stress on caudal structures and reducing lamellar stressors.
He was the resident veterinarian, sitting in for horseshoes.com with very giving and useful advice for many years. This was at a time when it was the main go-to forum in the pioneering days of the Internet.
To this day, he continues to mentor numerous farriers and veterinarians. He is always quick to lend a hand, support farriers in a team effort, or take lead on a difficult case to find solutions for significant challenges, be it high scale laminitic hooves or significantly damaged digits with negative PA configurations. His innovations in trimming protocols and shoe/support packages combined with his excellence in venogram and podiatry radiography, has made a huge impact in long term successful hoof maintenance plans for horses around the globe.
He contributes as a board member for the IHCS and represents the AHPA. Everyone who knows Tookie, knows he has amassed a huge knowledge base tempered with exceptional logic and strong skill sets. Yet he greets you in an unassuming way, approachable and soft spoken, and you will find him engaged in deep conversations in the hallways each year at the IHCS, encouraging farriers in their walk to expand their knowledge. In his sixties now, he continues to work 7 days a week. He is always an advocate for the horse with a huge heart to help his fellow colleagues.
One of his greatest redeeming qualities is his commitment to follow-up and support the client, farrier and local attending veterinarians- to ensure a successful outcome whether it takes 3 months or the patient's lifetime. He offers his time to educate the client, get compliancy between all parties and keeps regular tabs and updates on the horse's progress.
I am humbled to call him friend, mentor, teacher and colleague. I never stop learning from this man, never. His integrity and dedication speaks volumes of the man. Tookie, this one's for you. You rock my world (and many others I have no doubt)! It just wouldn't be the same without you in it.
— Sylvia Kornherr (Almonte, Ont., Canada)
