Shoeing and trimming methods come largely from the experience of farriers, leaving plenty of room for debate about what works and what doesn’t. Meantime, researchers warn that there is actually very little scientific study to back any particular approach to hoof care.

Farriers and equine veterinarians are in for an educational treat at next winter’s International Hoof-Care Summit when Dr. Hilary Clayton outlines biomechanical and shoeing recommendations built on the theories of Dr. Robert Bowker during his more than 10 years of research on physiological trimming.

WE KNOW you can’t get to all the footcare meetings and clinics to soak up all the valuable ideas available from a wide variety of speakers.

A FEW WEEKS BACK, I spent an afternoon with noted equine researcher Hilary Clayton at the Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center.