International Association of Professional Farriers

Calendar of Events


August 2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14
15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
Events available for Registration...

Build Your Custom BADGER BUILT Apron & Support the IAPF!
November 1, 2020 - December 31, 2030
register for this event...

Events in the next 600 days...
August 21, 2026 - August 22, 2026
The sub title of this ESMS is "Focus on Breathing Easier" with Friday, 8/21 focus on Respiratory problems in horses. The Saturday, 8/22 focus is on the Rider's effects on Horse soundness (Tony Sandoval, PT) and Pete Healey's topics on ID & Proactive farriery on Subclinical laminitis, Dealing with Distortions and then some case presentations.
FYI: WE HAVE ALWAYS ORGANIZED OUR MEETINGS WITH PRIMARY VETERINARY TOPIC ON THE FIRST DAY AND MORE FARRIER AND ANCILLARY HEALTH TOPICS ON THE 2ND DAY. We do usually get 14 veterinary CE credits, but realize that farriers are more apt to come on Saturday
August 22, 2026
Curious about Integrative Hoofcare? Join us for a day of discussion and live horse demos about helping the hoof and horse using the Postural Model of Integrative Hoofcare™.
Learn how making specific hoofcare choices for the horse can greatly reduce stress on the horse and minimize detrimental compensation for domestication throughout it's lifetime, leading to sounder, healthier horses.
Morning: Lecture, discussion, and Q&A
Afternoon: Live horse demonstrations applying the concepts discussed in the morning. Demo #1: Horse and hoof assessment, making an integrative hoofcare plan, hoof trimming and application of glue-on composite shoes to help the horse. Demo #2: the same process using metal shoes as the material of choice to help the horse.
**Stay for the optional Forge Night with experienced farriers who can help you learn to work around the forge!**
It's going to be an exciting event! See you there
August 22, 2026
See attached photo for flyer with educational topics to be discussed. 
August 23, 2026 - August 27, 2026
Presented by The International School of Integrative Hoofcare

See flyer for additional details
September 2, 2026
Wednesday, September 2, 2026, 5pm EDT Equine PPID (Cushing’s disease) is a progressive disease. In the early stages there can be subtle changes unrelated to blood tests that make the diagnosis easy to miss. Understanding these subtle seasonal signs and being proactive is key to managing for best health.

Where: Zoom Live Meeting and recorded for later viewing.
What: Each topic has 30 minutes of lecture and 30 minutes for always popular Q&A.
Cost: $30 each webinar includes one-year of video access to individual topic.
September 8, 2026
This webinar fulfills the Nutrition course requirement for PHCP students.

This two-part webinar series is a great introduction to equine nutrition in practical terms and compliments Dr. Kellon’s NRC Plus course.

Part 1 – Growing the Best Possible Hoof

In Part 1, Carol will focus on the digestive system, the best feeds for horses, and the key nutrients that influence hoof health.

The hoof is required to withstand impact, abrasion, mechanical injury, noxious substances and pathogens but be flexible enough to absorb and divert the shock sustained on it. Hooves have to be rigid as well as elastic and protect the soft, more sensitive tissues inside.

To achieve optimal hoof quality, three aspects can be influenced by our management: hoof care, nutrition, and movement. Poor hoof growth, horn brittleness, inflammation, prevalence of infections, like seedy toe, and a weak immune system can all have a nutritional component.

Part 2 – Laminitis and Myths

Some horses have a life threatening, metabolic condition that causes insulin to rise, triggering the chain of events that result in laminitis. Laminitis will be explained along with causes including the most common dietary cause, insulin resistance.

The aim of this session is to educate hoof practitioners and enable them to support horse owners by first explaining the best and safest feeds and the key nutrients needed to aid in rehabilitation, along with horse management practices. This presentation will cover some related health issues including PPID and look at a number of common myths that confuse horse owners.

Presenter:
Carol Layton, B.Sc, M.Ed of Balanced Equine is an independent equine nutritionist with a science background and a passion for the optimal feeding of horses based on scientific research. In 2008, Carol enrolled in equine nutrition courses provided by Dr Eleanor Kellon VMD and has been a tutor for students in NRC Plus since 2009. Carol is currently a lecturer in Equine Nutrition for the nationally recognized Certificate of Equine Hoof Care Practitioner course (ACEHP) in Australia.


Carol is passionate about teaching and sharing her knowledge of equine nutrition to make it easier and simpler for horse owners. So far she has been a speaker at a number of conferences in Australia, the Functional Hoof conferences in 2011 and 2014 and more recently the 2018 Bowker Conference in Australia. In 2012 Carol presented at the World Hoof Care Conference in Prague, Czech Republic and the Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners Conference in San Diego in 2016, and the 2017 NO Laminitis Conference in Tucson, Arizona USA.

Carol has had horses most of her life and in the last 19 years has been a keen competitor in endurance riding. Her own endurance horse, Omani Mr Sqiggle was a 2009 Australian National Points and Distance horse. Together they have completed at top levels, including the 400 km marathon, Shahzada, NSW State Championship rides and the national championship, the 160 km Tom Quilty.

Recording Available for Viewing
Your single purchase of this webinar includes both Parts 1 and 2. A recording of this webinar will be available for viewing as many times as you would like for six months following the live event.
September 11, 2026 - September 12, 2026
2 FULL DAYS  OF Equine Biomechanics & Myofascial Connections Through Hoof Function
ADDITIONAL TOPICS INCLUDE:
Medio-Lateral Balance & Its Response to Impulse Forces
Biomechanics of Ideal Hoof Balance
Objective Documentation & Monitoring of Hoof Balance

Yogi Sharp, The Equine Documentalist
Clayton Wilber
Sponsored by Florida Farrier Service, Inc
September 12, 2026
Curious about Integrative Hoofcare? Join us for a day of discussion and live horse demos about helping the hoof and horse using the Postural Model of Integrative Hoofcare™.
Learn how making specific hoofcare choices for the horse can greatly reduce stress on the horse and minimize detrimental compensation for domestication throughout it's lifetime, leading to sounder, healthier horses.
Morning: Lecture, discussion, and Q&A
Afternoon: Live horse demonstrations applying the concepts discussed in the morning. Demo #1: Horse and hoof assessment, making an integrative hoofcare plan, hoof trimming and application of glue-on composite shoes to help the horse. Demo #2: the same process using metal shoes as the material of choice to help the horse.
**Stay for the optional Forge Night with experienced farriers who can help you learn to work around the forge!**
It's going to be an exciting event! See you there!
September 13, 2026 - September 17, 2026
Presented by The International School of Integrative Hoofcare

See attached flyer for details
September 14, 2026 - September 15, 2026
2 FULL DAYS  OF Equine Biomechanics & Myofascial Connections Through Hoof Function
ADDITIONAL TOPICS INCLUDE:
Medio-Lateral Balance & Its Response to Impulse Forces
Biomechanics of Ideal Hoof Balance
Objective Documentation & Monitoring of Hoof Balance

Yogi Sharp, The Equine Documentalist
Clayton Wilber
Sponsored by Florida Farrier Service, Inc
September 15, 2026
This webinar fulfills the Nutrition course requirement for PHCP students.

This two-part webinar series is a great introduction to equine nutrition in practical terms and compliments Dr. Kellon’s NRC Plus course.

Part 1 – Growing the Best Possible Hoof

In Part 1, Carol will focus on the digestive system, the best feeds for horses, and the key nutrients that influence hoof health.

The hoof is required to withstand impact, abrasion, mechanical injury, noxious substances and pathogens but be flexible enough to absorb and divert the shock sustained on it. Hooves have to be rigid as well as elastic and protect the soft, more sensitive tissues inside.

To achieve optimal hoof quality, three aspects can be influenced by our management: hoof care, nutrition, and movement. Poor hoof growth, horn brittleness, inflammation, prevalence of infections, like seedy toe, and a weak immune system can all have a nutritional component.

Part 2 – Laminitis and Myths

Some horses have a life threatening, metabolic condition that causes insulin to rise, triggering the chain of events that result in laminitis. Laminitis will be explained along with causes including the most common dietary cause, insulin resistance.

The aim of this session is to educate hoof practitioners and enable them to support horse owners by first explaining the best and safest feeds and the key nutrients needed to aid in rehabilitation, along with horse management practices. This presentation will cover some related health issues including PPID and look at a number of common myths that confuse horse owners.

Presenter:
Carol Layton, B.Sc, M.Ed of Balanced Equine is an independent equine nutritionist with a science background and a passion for the optimal feeding of horses based on scientific research. In 2008, Carol enrolled in equine nutrition courses provided by Dr Eleanor Kellon VMD and has been a tutor for students in NRC Plus since 2009. Carol is currently a lecturer in Equine Nutrition for the nationally recognized Certificate of Equine Hoof Care Practitioner course (ACEHP) in Australia.


Carol is passionate about teaching and sharing her knowledge of equine nutrition to make it easier and simpler for horse owners. So far she has been a speaker at a number of conferences in Australia, the Functional Hoof conferences in 2011 and 2014 and more recently the 2018 Bowker Conference in Australia. In 2012 Carol presented at the World Hoof Care Conference in Prague, Czech Republic and the Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners Conference in San Diego in 2016, and the 2017 NO Laminitis Conference in Tucson, Arizona USA.

Carol has had horses most of her life and in the last 19 years has been a keen competitor in endurance riding. Her own endurance horse, Omani Mr Sqiggle was a 2009 Australian National Points and Distance horse. Together they have completed at top levels, including the 400 km marathon, Shahzada, NSW State Championship rides and the national championship, the 160 km Tom Quilty.

Recording Available for Viewing
Your single purchase of this webinar includes both Parts 1 and 2. A recording of this webinar will be available for viewing as many times as you would like for six months following the live event.
September 16, 2026
“Follow up on high/low case with Joey” (Joey Hite CJF)
September 26, 2026 - September 27, 2026
Discussion will include static and dynamic hoof capsule assessment and influence of ground reaction forces. There will be discussion of current peer-reviewed research and how to apply it in real-work practice.
October 3, 2026
We are hosting Dusty Franklin, CJF, AWCF, ASF here at our clinic. We are an equine exclusive veterinary practice located in Modesto, Ca. We host a Farrier Seminar each year in the fall. We have about 30-50 attendees each year. Dr. Dan Sweet has been hosting these events every year for over 25 years now. We are excited to be hosting again this year. Please  reach out to me if you need anything, any further information, I can provide as well.
October 10, 2026
See attached flyer
October 17, 2026 - October 18, 2026
Discussing the anatomy and pathophysiology of laminitis with a detailed explanation of the different causes of this pathology.
Sponsored by Maine Farriers Association
October 21, 2026
All winter farrier rounds will be conducted via Zoom
October 24, 2026
Arrive any time after 7am
Food and Chili judging at 4 pm
Bring a pot-luck style side dish to serve!

Clinicians:
9am- Mike Bagley- Forge Relining
12pm Joe Rindchen & Jeremy Lucas - Forging the Ladle

Tool Swap: Bring tools, shoes, farrier supplies, anvils, whatever is taking up space and set up on your tailgate (or a table you provide)

Pumpkin Carving: Bring your own pumpkin and tools! 13 & under or 14-18 division. Please RSVP to Lester so prizes can be available

Entry Fees:
Chili Cookoff: $40
Salsa Competition: $20
Tool Swap space: $10
Pumpkin Carving: FREE!

Silent Auction: On-site silent auction with proceeds benefitting IAPF Farriers Assistance Fund. Donated items appreciated!
October 24, 2026 - October 26, 2026
This three-day clinic fulfills the beginner series clinic requirement for PHCP students.

Days 1 and 2 will cover anatomy and trimming.
Day 3 will cover pathology, hoof protection and shoe removal.

Some of the topics covered:
-Basic distal limb anatomy
-Exploration of anatomy through cadaver trimming and dissection
-Shoe removal for ease and comfort to both horse and trimmer
-Transitioning to barefoot
-Alternative forms of hoof protection
-Fit and use of a variety of hoof boots, based on performance, rehab or rider needs (glue on protection is not included in this clinic)
-How and when to use hoof casting
-Which padding options to utilize for various pathologies and rehab needs
-Casting and booting on cadaver limbs

Prerequisites:
Read through the PHCP Introduction to Equine Diet and Lifestyle.

Study the PHCP Introduction to Equine Hoof Anatomy.

Visit Anatomy of the Equine to get familiar with the distal limb anatomy before you attend the clinic. Consider purchasing online coursework and ebooks.

What to bring:
Most of this clinic will take place in a heated shop. A small portion of the time will be in the barn working with live horses, so please dress appropriately. Bring a chair or let me know if you need one. Bring your trimming tools if you are able, an apron or towel for your lap, gloves and safety glasses.

If you have a cadaver leg of your own you would like to dissect with us please let us know and bring it along.

There will be a one hour lunch break. You may bring your own lunch to eat on location or there is a diner 3 miles down the road.

Accommodations:
I highly recommend staying in downtown Bristol for the best food and entertainment options. However, there is a B&B large enough for people to share across the fence from my farm (walking distance to my shop). There are also cheaper hotel options 20 minutes away with food close by. Three options on West State Street, Bristol, TN and two options on Linden Drive, Bristol, VA.

Travel:
People should consider flying into TRI airport and be prepared to rent a car. We are in the country so Uber will be expensive or unrealistic.

*Start time is 9:00 am each day and we’ll finish up between 4:00 and 5:00 pm.

Lorie Fleenor, PHCP practitioner, mentor and clinician, is an 8th generation farmer in Bristol, TN. Knowledge of animal welfare has always been a priority for Lorie, and whole horse hoof care has been her passion since she first learned to trim in 2007. She continues her education so that she can better help people and horses find a pathway to health and happy trails. Each year, Lorie hosts multiple clinics at her ranch for riding and hoof care, and is very active in her local horse community. Her husband and two children help her on the farm where they run a 265 head cattle operation, board and care for 75 horses, teach riding, and offer training services. She serves clients in Southwest VA and Northeast TN. She has a huge variety of horses, hooves, and pathologies on her farm. The horses live out 24/7 in herds on hilly pastures, so it’s fun to watch rehab and healthy hooves happen as new horses come in! As we all know, diet, exercise and the trim go hand in hand!

Lorie can be contacted at Magna Vista Farm in Bristol, TN.

Sign up:
-Contact Lorie Fleenor with any questions about the clinic at bdfandltf@gmail.com.
-Auditing will not fulfill the Beginning series anatomy clinic requirement.
-Cancellations made one month in advance of the clinic start date will receive a full refund. Between a month out and two weeks in advance of the clinic, cancellations will receive a 50% refund.
-If the clinic itself is cancelled for any reason and will not take place, the student will receive a full refund.
-Purchasing refundable airline tickets is recommended.

Sign up at https://progressivehoofcare.org/2025/11/anatomy-trimming-and-hoof-protection-tennessee
October 25, 2026
The 36th Charles Heumphreus Memorial Equine Podiatry Symposium will be held on-site at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine on October 25, 2026. The program will offer a comprehensive exploration of equine podiatry, featuring expert presentations and hands-on labs designed to enhance both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Attendees will benefit from insights into advanced diagnostic imaging, shoeing techniques for performance and longevity, and innovative approaches to hoof wall reconstruction. The symposium fosters collaboration between farriers and veterinarians, emphasizing a team approach to equine foot care.

Our distinguished presenters include Dr. Mark Silverman and Ernest Woodward.
November 4, 2026
Wednesday, November 4 2026. 5pm EST Cold temperatures can trigger severe hoof pain in some horses, a condition coined "Winter Laminitis". However, there is no evidence that this is an inflammatory condition and typically there are no radiographic changes. So what is this syndrome and how should it be managed?

Where: Zoom Live Meeting and recorded for later viewing. What: Each topic has 30 minutes of lecture and 30 minutes for always popular Q&A. Cost: $30 each webinar includes one-year of video access to individual topic.
November 7, 2026 - November 8, 2026
This 2-day evidence-based clinic, presented by Yogi Sharp, covers the science, anatomy, and biomechanics behind healthy hooves and sound movement. Through lectures and live demos, attendees can expect to learn why hoof balance is a whole horse issue and the connections with posture and movement.
November 7, 2026
Curious about Integrative Hoofcare? Join us for a day of discussion and live horse demos about helping the hoof and horse using the Postural Model of Integrative Hoofcare™.
Learn how making specific hoofcare choices for the horse can greatly reduce stress on the horse and minimize detrimental compensation for domestication throughout it's lifetime, leading to sounder, healthier horses.
Morning: Lecture, discussion, and Q&A
Afternoon: Live horse demonstrations applying the concepts discussed in the morning. Demo #1: Horse and hoof assessment, making an integrative hoofcare plan, hoof trimming and application of glue-on composite shoes to help the horse. Demo #2: the same process using metal shoes as the material of choice to help the horse.
**Stay for the optional Forge Night with experienced farriers who can help you learn to work around the forge!**
It's going to be an exciting event! See you there!
November 8, 2026 - November 12, 2026
Presented by The International School of Integrative Hoofcare

See attached fyer for additional details
November 14, 2026 - November 15, 2026
Effective July 1, 2026, the Advanced Anatomy and Radiographs Clinic will be a required class for PHCP certification. It must be completed prior to submitting the Final Media Presentation.

Day 1  – Advanced Anatomy and Morphology
Dissection and exploration of the internal and external structures of the foot.

We will start with a short review of anatomy, however participants will benefit greatly from having a basic understanding of the internal and external structures of the foot prior to attending.

The dissection will be lead by the instructor but students will be hands on in helping with the the different stages of the dissection. We will pick 2 to 4 hooves that have different morphologies. The number of hooves we dissect may vary depending on what we find and how long we spend with each one. We will compare the differences between healthy and unhealthy structures in each foot. We will learn how to visualize where our internal structures are positioned by reading external landmarks.

Examples of common pathologies we will see may include deep sulcus thrush affecting the frog corium, stretched weak lamina, white line infection, wall cracks, P3 remodeling that is visible externally, wall delamination, abscesses, and thin soles.

Participants will go home with techniques to:
-Assess the health of the soft tissue structures in the back of the foot (digital cushion, lateral  cartilages, frog corium).
-Assess and accurately estimate sole depth and medio-lateral balance.
-Assess palmar/plantar angles.
-Pinpoint the center of rotation of the coffin joint.
-Assess P3 position in relation to toe length.
-Read wear and loading patterns in untrimmed feet. We will speculate on whether the wear we see is static (postural) vs dynamic (created during movement).

Day 2 – Radiograph Guided Trimming and Dissection
To participate in day 2 you must attend day 1 of this clinic.

We will use the assessment techniques learned in the advanced anatomy clinic to make trimming decisions. We will do a basic introduction to reading radiographs before we begin the exercise. Feet will be radiographed prior to trimming. Using this information, we will be able to critically assess how our trim impacts the position of the hoof capsule in relation to the bony column.  Each participant will then complete a self guided dissection/exploration of their foot.

Prerequisites:
-The PHCP Anatomy, Trimming, and Hoof Protection Clinic (or approved substitute outside coursework).
-A PHCP approved Radiographs class:  PHCP’s Reading Radiographs for the Hoof Care Practitioner clinic, a PHCP Reading Radiographs webinar, or Dr. Kellon’s Basics of Radiographs online course.
-It is also highly recommended that Paige Poss and Jenny Edwards Anatomy of the Equine online class be completed before the clinic.

Accommodations:
I highly recommend staying in downtown Bristol for the best food and entertainment options. However, there is a B&B big enough for people to share across the fence from my farm (walking distance to my shop). There are also cheaper hotel options 20 minutes away with food close by. Three options on West State Street, Bristol, TN and two options on Linden Drive, Bristol, VA.

Travel:
People should consider flying into TRI airport and be prepared to rent a car. We are in the country so Uber will be expensive or unrealistic.

*Start time is 9:00 am each day and we will finish up between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

Clinician:
Lorie Fleenor, PHCP practitioner, mentor and clinician, is an 8th generation farmer in Bristol, TN. Knowledge of animal welfare has always been a priority for Lorie, and whole horse hoof care has been her passion since she first learned to trim in 2007. She continues her education so that she can better help people and horses find a pathway to health and happy trails. Each year, Lorie hosts multiple clinics at her ranch for riding and hoof care, and is very active in her local horse community. Her husband and two children help her on the farm where they run a 265 head cattle operation, board and care for 75 horses, teach riding, and offer training services. She serves clients in Southwest VA and Northeast TN. She has a huge variety of horses, hooves, and pathologies on her farm. The horses live out 24/7 in herds on hilly pastures, so it’s fun to watch rehab and healthy hooves happen as new horses come in! As we all know, diet, exercise and the trim go hand in hand!

Lorie can be contacted at Magna Vista Farm in Bristol, TN.

Sign up:
Day 1, Advanced Anatomy and Morphology, may be purchased and attended on its own. To attend day 2, Radiograph Guided Trimming and Dissection, you must attend day 1.

Certified Practitioners auditing will receive 4 CE  credits per day.

Cancellations made one month in advance of the clinic start date will receive a full refund. Between a month out and two weeks in advance of the clinic, cancellations will receive a 50% refund.
If the clinic is cancelled for any reason the student will receive a full refund. Purchasing refundable airline tickets is recommended.

Sign up here: https://progressivehoofcare.org/2024/10/advanced-anatomy-radiographs-tennessee
November 17, 2026
Join Carol Layton in this webinar to learn about what we know so far about equine gut health. Topics include a closer look at the microbiome, the key bacterial families and the roles they have with digestive health, metabolism, immunity and inflammation, plus pro/pre/post biotics, digestive enzymes and toxin binders.

Carol will also discuss the link between acute and chronic stress and the health of the horse. The aim is for horse owners to have a far better understanding of the latest research into the equine microbiome and why it really matters what our horses eat, and the quality of their care. It’s not just about feeding a high fiber intake.

PRESENTER:
Carol Layton B.Sc M.Ed of Balanced Equine is an independent equine nutritionist with a science background and a passion for the optimal feeding of horses based on scientific research. In 2008, Carol enrolled in equine nutrition courses provided by Dr Eleanor Kellon VMD and has been a tutor for students in NRC Plus since 2009. Carol is currently a lecturer in Equine Nutrition for the nationally recognised Certificate of Equine Hoof Care Practitioner course (ACEHP) in Australia. Carol is passionate about teaching and sharing her knowledge of equine nutrition to make it easier and simpler for horse owners. So far she has been a speaker at a number of conferences in Australia, the Functional Hoof conferences in 2011 and 2014 and more recently the 2018 Bowker Conference in Australia. In 2012 Carol presented at the World Hoof Care Conference in Prague, Czech Republic and the PHCP Conference in San Diego in 2016, the 2017 NO Laminitis Conference in Tucson, Arizona USA, and the PHCP Conference in Denver in 2022.

Carol has had horses most of her life and in the last 19 years has been a keen competitor in endurance riding. Her own endurance horse, Omani Mr Sqiggle was a 2009 Australian National Points and Distance horse. Together they have completed at top levels, including the 400 km marathon, Shahzada, NSW State Championship rides and the national championship, the 160 km Tom Quilty.

Sign up at https://progressivehoofcare.org/2026/08/gut-health
This recording will be available for viewing as many times as you would like for 1 year following the live event.
November 18, 2026
All winter farrier rounds will be conducted on Zoom
December 6, 2026 - December 10, 2026
December 16, 2026
All winter farrier rounds will be conducted on Zoom
January 20, 2027
All winter farrier rounds will be conducted on Zoom
February 17, 2027
All winter farrier rounds will be conducted on Zoom
May 21, 2027 - May 23, 2027

This three-day clinic fulfills the beginner series clinic requirement for PHCP students.

Days 1 and 2 will cover anatomy and trimming.
Day 3 will cover hoof protection and shoe removal.

Open to all skill levels, from beginners picking up a rasp for the first time to experienced trimmers seeking to elevate their expertise.

Some of the topics covered:

  • Basic distal limb anatomy
  • Exploration of anatomy through cadaver trimming and dissection
  • Trimming with power tools and grinder safety
  • Shoe removal for ease and comfort to both horse and trimmer
  • Transitioning to barefoot
  • Alternative forms of hoof protection
  • Fit and use of a wide variety of boots including EasyCare, Scoot Boots, Renegades, Soft Rides, Cavallo, Equine Fusion and more, based on performance, rehab or rider needs (glue on protection is not included in this clinic)
  • How and when to use hoof casting
  • Which padding options to utilize for various pathologies and rehab needs
  • How to perform modifications and repairs to hoof boots
  • Casting and booting on live horses
Prerequisite:

Read through the PHCP Introduction to Equine Diet and Lifestyle.

Study the PHCP Introduction to Equine Hoof Anatomy.

Visit Anatomy of the Equine to get familiar with the distal limb anatomy before you attend the clinic. Consider purchasing online coursework and ebooks.

 

What to bring:

If possible, students should bring their own tools (gloves, apron, nippers, rasp, knife, hoof pick, shoe pullers, and stand) but we will have some to share.

If you have a cadaver leg of your own you would like to dissect with us please let us know and bring it along. Cadaver legs are getting harder to come by and can be quite expensive.  If you have access to some we would be grateful.

Please bring your own lunch to eat on location. There are plenty of places to pick up prepared food in the area ahead of time. We will take an hour lunch break from 12-1 pm.

Accommodations

Erie is a small town and conveniently located just north of Denver, south east of Longmont, north of Lafayette, and east of Boulder.  The clinic is located just north of Erie. Depending on your preferences and budget, there are many options for hotels or AirBnBs (Longmont, Lafayette, Boulder) as well as grocery shopping, and restaurants. Some students have found really nice places to stay using Airbnb. If you have questions about an accommodation, please let me know.

Travel

Denver International Airport is about a 30-40 minute drive whether via I-70/I-25 or the toll road. Use google maps for directions. Apple Maps won’t quite get you there.

It is often cheaper to rent a car than to use Uber or Lyft. I encourage folks to coordinate with other clinic attendees for car rentals and hotels if you’d like to save on money. If you would like to explore this option, text me at 858-882-7209 and I will help put you in touch with other attendees who are also interested in sharing.  For parking at the clinic, there is enough parking in the back of the property. Closer to the clinic date, I will email maps, the weather forecast, and more information.

Start time is 9:00 am each day and we’ll finish up at 5:00 pm.

Presenter
Philip Himanka, PHCP practitioner, mentor, and clinician, also has an APF-I certification with the International Association of Professional Farriers.  He has been applying glue-on hoof protection for over 10 years, has 2500+ trims on his books each year and has extensive rehabilitation experience. “I try to learn every day from every horse. I love to teach and help prospective practitioners to be successful.”

Philip owns and operates Not Only Barefoot Llc in Erie, CO.

Please read the PHCP Code of Conduct prior to attendance.

 

Sign up

  • Contact Philip Himanka with any questions at 858-882-7209.
  • Auditing will not fulfill the beginning series anatomy clinic requirement.
  • Cancellations made one month in advance of the clinic start date will receive a full refund. Between a month out and two weeks in advance of the clinic, cancellations will receive a 50% refund.
  • If the clinic is cancelled for any reason and will not take place, the student will receive a full refund.
  • Purchasing refundable airline tickets is recommended.
June 26, 2027 - June 27, 2027
Advanced Anatomy and Radiographs – Colorado

Effective July 1, 2026, the Advanced Anatomy and Radiographs Clinic will be a required class for PHCP certification. It must be completed prior to submitting the Final Media Presentation.

Day 1  – Advanced Anatomy and Morphology
Dissection and exploration of the internal and external structures of the foot.

We will start with a short review of anatomy; however, participants will benefit greatly from having a basic understanding of the internal and external structures of the foot prior to attending.

The dissection will be led by the instructor but students will be hands on in helping with the the different stages of the dissection. We will pick two to four hooves that have different morphologies. The number of hooves we dissect may vary depending on what we find and how long we spend with each one. We will compare the differences between healthy and unhealthy structures in each foot. We will learn how to visualize where our internal structures are positioned by reading external landmarks.

Examples of common pathologies we will see may include deep sulcus thrush affecting the frog corium, stretched weak lamina, white line infection, wall cracks, P3 remodeling that is visible externally, wall delamination, abscesses, and thin soles.

Participants will go home with the following abilities to:

Assess the health of the soft tissue structures in the back of the foot (digital cushion, lateral  cartilages, frog corium).
Assess and accurately estimate sole depth and medio-lateral balance.
Assess palmar/plantar angles.
Pinpoint the center of rotation of the coffin joint.
Assess P3 position in relation to toe length.
Read wear and loading patterns in untrimmed feet. We will speculate on whether the wear we see is static (postural) vs dynamic (created during movement).

Day 2 – Radiograph Guided Trimming and Dissection

To participate in Day 2 you must have attended Day 1 of this clinic.

We will use the assessment techniques learned in Day 1 – Advanced Anatomy to make trimming decisions.We will do a basic intro to reading radiographs before we begin the exercise. Feet will be radiographed prior to trimming. We will be able to critically assess how our trim impacts the position of the hoof capsule in relation to the bony column.  Each participant will then complete a self guided dissection/exploration of their foot.

Prerequisites
The PHCP Anatomy, Trimming, and Hoof Protection Clinic (or approved substitute outside coursework).
A PHCP approved Radiographs class:  PHCP’s Reading Radiographs for the Hoof Care Practitioner clinic, a PHCP Reading Radiographs webinar, or Dr. Kellon’s Basics of Radiographs online course.
It is also highly recommended that Paige Poss and Jenny Edwards Anatomy of the Equine online class be completed before the clinic.
What to bring
If possible, students should bring their own tools (gloves, apron, nippers, rasp, knife, hoof pick, and stand) but we will have some to share.

If you have a cadaver leg of your own you would like to dissect with us please let us know and bring it along.

Please bring your own lunch to eat on location. There are plenty of places to pick up prepared food in the area ahead of time. We will take an hour lunch break from 12:00 to 1:00.

Accommodations
Erie is a cute little town and the clinic is located north. Near by hotels (Longmont, Lafayette, Boulder), grocery shopping, and restaurants. Depending on your preferences and budget. Some students have found really sweet places to stay on Airbnb.

Travel
Denver International Airport is about a 30 minute drive. Use google maps for directions. Apple Maps won’t quite get you there.

Most times it’s cheaper to rent a car than Uber or Lyft. I encourage folks to coordinate with other clinic attendees for car rentals and hotels if you’d like to save on money. If you would like to explore this option, text me at 858-882-7209 and I will help put you in touch with other attendees who are also interested in sharing. There is enough parking in the back. Closer to the date I will email maps, weather forecast and more information.

Start time is 9:00am each day and we’ll finish up at 5:00pm.

*There is a minimum age requirement of 18 years to participate in this clinic.

Presenter:
Philip Himanka is a PHCP certified practitioner, mentor and clinician. He also has the APF-I certification with the International Association of Professional Farriers.  He has been applying glue-on hoof protection for over 10 years, has 2500+ trims on his books each year and has extensive rehabilitation experience. “I try to learn every day from every horse. I love to teach and help prospective practitioners to be successful.”

Philip owns and operates Not Only Barefoot in Erie Colorado.

Please read the PHCP Code of Conduct prior to attendance.

Sign up at https://progressivehoofcare.org/2025/10/advanced-anatomy-and-radiographs-colorado/