International Association of Professional Farriers
Calendar of Events
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Events available for Registration...
Build Your Custom BADGER BUILT Apron & Support the IAPF!
November 1, 2020 - December 31, 2030
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Build Your Custom BADGER BUILT Apron & Support the IAPF!
November 1, 2020 - December 31, 2030
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Events in the next 600 days...
This three-day clinic fulfills the beginner series clinic requirement for PHCP students. Anyone can attend, you do not have to be a PHCP member.
Days 1 and 2 will cover anatomy and trimming.
Day 3 will cover pathology, hoof protection and shoe removal.
Some of the topics covered include the following:
- 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
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
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 (bdfandltf@gmail.com).
Sign up at https://progressivehoofcare.org/2025/05/anatomy-trimming-and-hoof-protection-tennessee/. Member pricing is for PHCP members only
This clinic fulfills the PHCP radiograph requirement for students enrolled in the training program. You do not have to be a PHCP member to attend.
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.
Prerequisite
Attending a PHCP Anatomy, Trimming and Hoof Protection clinic is highly recommended to get the most out of this clinic.
Paige Poss and Jenny Edward’s Anatomy of the Equine online hoof course is recommended for beginners and professionals.
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.
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 bdfandltf@gmail.com, 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. Member pricing is for PHCP Members only.
A DVM/Farrier/Owner Team provides an equine case in need of podiatry-related ideas. The examinations, radiography and dinner are gratis; the owner makes their own financial arrangement with their farrier. The meeting is from 6 PM to 9PM. While everyone is settling in & getting some food and drink there is a general topic of discussion for farriers and veterinarians’ joint interest. For example, on 10/19/2023 the presentation and discussion was on considerations for shoeing for landing versus loading.,
Then, the horse’s owner, veterinarian and farrier provide a medical history. The group will observe the horse in motion in the aisle, arena and/or driveway. Next the group does a podiatry examination followed by Dr. Radkin doing podiatry radiographs for the group to discuss. Then a trimming and possible shoeing plan is discussed. The consensus plan approved by the owner and the owner’s farrier is then accomplished by the owner’s farrier. Follow-up radiographs will be discussed. There will be one case each evening. The end time is no later than 9PM.
The goal is to see how farriers and equine practitioners work together on a particular case that can then translate to other cases.
A DVM/Farrier/Owner Team provides an equine case in need of podiatry-related ideas. The examinations, radiography and dinner are gratis; the owner makes their own financial arrangement with their farrier. The meeting is from 6 PM to 9PM. While everyone is settling in & getting some food and drink there is a general topic of discussion for farriers and veterinarians’ joint interest. For example, on 10/19/2023 the presentation and discussion was on considerations for shoeing for landing versus loading.,
Then, the horse’s owner, veterinarian and farrier provide a medical history. The group will observe the horse in motion in the aisle, arena and/or driveway. Next the group does a podiatry examination followed by Dr. Radkin doing podiatry radiographs for the group to discuss. Then a trimming and possible shoeing plan is discussed. The consensus plan approved by the owner and the owner’s farrier is then accomplished by the owner’s farrier. Follow-up radiographs will be discussed. There will be one case each evening. The end time is no later than 9PM.
The goal is to see how farriers and equine practitioners work together on a particular case that can then translate to other cases.
Day 1 – Anatomy and booting
Day 2 – More anatomy and hands-on with cadavers for casting, power tools, and shoe removal
Day 3 – Finish up with cadavers and live trimming (we will cover the first time seeing a client’s horse and trimming for the client)
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 Equine Fusions, Scoot Boots, Renegades, Soft Rides, Cavallo, EasyCare and more, based on performance, rehab or rider needs (glue on protection is not included at 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 on cadavers
Booting on live horses
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:
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 that you would like to dissect, please let us know and bring it along. Cadaver legs are getting hard to come by and can be quite expensive, so if you have access to some we would be grateful.
Accommodations:
Jeannean Mercuri will send out an email with all of the information regarding the event address, travel, lodging, meals, and more prior to the clinic. If you have questions, please contact Jeannean at 631-434-5032 or email at neanpiggy@me.com.
Travel:
Tampa, Orlando, and Gainesville airports are the closest options for the destination.
Clinician:
Jeannean Mercuri, The Hoof Fairy, lives on Long Island where she operates her hoof care business. She began her journey into barefoot trimming in 2001 and joined PHCP in 2009, becoming a Practitioner, Mentor, and Clinician as well as the Director of Education (until 2023). Teaching and continuing her own education are Jeannean’s passions. Years of working with Gerdas Equine Rescue in Vermont, and referrals from local veterinarians on the tough founder cases, have given her extensive experience with hoof protection in rehab work as well as for clients needing hoof boots for everyday riding.
Sign up:
Auditing will not fulfill the beginning series anatomy class 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 the student will receive a full refund. Purchasing refundable airline tickets is recommended.
Days 1 and 2 will cover anatomy and trimming.
Day 3 will cover hoof protection and shoe removal.
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
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.
When: Start time is 9:00 am each day and we’ll finish up at 5:00 pm.
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.
Clinician:
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.
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.
-Sign up at https://progressivehoofcare.org/2025/10/anatomy-trimming-and-hoof-protection-colorado.
November 8, 2025 - November 10, 2025
Approved for 8 CE per day for a total of 24 CEThis three-day clinic fulfills the beginner series clinic requirement for PHCP students. Anyone can attend, you do not have to be a PHCP member.
Days 1 and 2 will cover anatomy and trimming.
Day 3 will cover pathology, hoof protection and shoe removal.
Some of the topics covered include the following:
- 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
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
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 (bdfandltf@gmail.com).
Sign up at https://progressivehoofcare.org/2025/05/anatomy-trimming-and-hoof-protection-tennessee/. Member pricing is for PHCP members only
November 15, 2025 - November 16, 2025
Approved for 8 CE per day for a total of 16 CEThis clinic fulfills the PHCP radiograph requirement for students enrolled in the training program. You do not have to be a PHCP member to attend.
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.
Prerequisite
Attending a PHCP Anatomy, Trimming and Hoof Protection clinic is highly recommended to get the most out of this clinic.
Paige Poss and Jenny Edward’s Anatomy of the Equine online hoof course is recommended for beginners and professionals.
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.
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 bdfandltf@gmail.com, 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. Member pricing is for PHCP Members only.
November 19, 2025
Third Wednesday each month, so for 2025: 3/19, 4/16, 5/21, 6/18, 7/16, 8/20, 9/17, 10/15, 11/19, 12/17.| Central NC clinic location rotates monthly, including Chapel Hill, New Hill, Southern Pines, Wake Forest. See monthly announcement in https://www.facebook.com/groups/978968283546217 |
A DVM/Farrier/Owner Team provides an equine case in need of podiatry-related ideas. The examinations, radiography and dinner are gratis; the owner makes their own financial arrangement with their farrier. The meeting is from 6 PM to 9PM. While everyone is settling in & getting some food and drink there is a general topic of discussion for farriers and veterinarians’ joint interest. For example, on 10/19/2023 the presentation and discussion was on considerations for shoeing for landing versus loading.,
Then, the horse’s owner, veterinarian and farrier provide a medical history. The group will observe the horse in motion in the aisle, arena and/or driveway. Next the group does a podiatry examination followed by Dr. Radkin doing podiatry radiographs for the group to discuss. Then a trimming and possible shoeing plan is discussed. The consensus plan approved by the owner and the owner’s farrier is then accomplished by the owner’s farrier. Follow-up radiographs will be discussed. There will be one case each evening. The end time is no later than 9PM.
The goal is to see how farriers and equine practitioners work together on a particular case that can then translate to other cases.
December 17, 2025
Third Wednesday each month, so for 2025: 3/19, 4/16, 5/21, 6/18, 7/16, 8/20, 9/17, 10/15, 11/19, 12/17.| Central NC clinic location rotates monthly, including Chapel Hill, New Hill, Southern Pines, Wake Forest. See monthly announcement in https://www.facebook.com/groups/978968283546217 |
A DVM/Farrier/Owner Team provides an equine case in need of podiatry-related ideas. The examinations, radiography and dinner are gratis; the owner makes their own financial arrangement with their farrier. The meeting is from 6 PM to 9PM. While everyone is settling in & getting some food and drink there is a general topic of discussion for farriers and veterinarians’ joint interest. For example, on 10/19/2023 the presentation and discussion was on considerations for shoeing for landing versus loading.,
Then, the horse’s owner, veterinarian and farrier provide a medical history. The group will observe the horse in motion in the aisle, arena and/or driveway. Next the group does a podiatry examination followed by Dr. Radkin doing podiatry radiographs for the group to discuss. Then a trimming and possible shoeing plan is discussed. The consensus plan approved by the owner and the owner’s farrier is then accomplished by the owner’s farrier. Follow-up radiographs will be discussed. There will be one case each evening. The end time is no later than 9PM.
The goal is to see how farriers and equine practitioners work together on a particular case that can then translate to other cases.
February 3, 2026 - February 6, 2026
For more information and to register, visit International Hoof-Care Summit HomepageFebruary 13, 2026 - February 15, 2026
This three-day clinic fulfills the Beginner series clinic requirement for PHCP students.Day 1 – Anatomy and booting
Day 2 – More anatomy and hands-on with cadavers for casting, power tools, and shoe removal
Day 3 – Finish up with cadavers and live trimming (we will cover the first time seeing a client’s horse and trimming for the client)
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 Equine Fusions, Scoot Boots, Renegades, Soft Rides, Cavallo, EasyCare and more, based on performance, rehab or rider needs (glue on protection is not included at 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 on cadavers
Booting on live horses
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:
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 that you would like to dissect, please let us know and bring it along. Cadaver legs are getting hard to come by and can be quite expensive, so if you have access to some we would be grateful.
Accommodations:
Jeannean Mercuri will send out an email with all of the information regarding the event address, travel, lodging, meals, and more prior to the clinic. If you have questions, please contact Jeannean at 631-434-5032 or email at neanpiggy@me.com.
Travel:
Tampa, Orlando, and Gainesville airports are the closest options for the destination.
Clinician:
Jeannean Mercuri, The Hoof Fairy, lives on Long Island where she operates her hoof care business. She began her journey into barefoot trimming in 2001 and joined PHCP in 2009, becoming a Practitioner, Mentor, and Clinician as well as the Director of Education (until 2023). Teaching and continuing her own education are Jeannean’s passions. Years of working with Gerdas Equine Rescue in Vermont, and referrals from local veterinarians on the tough founder cases, have given her extensive experience with hoof protection in rehab work as well as for clients needing hoof boots for everyday riding.
Sign up:
Auditing will not fulfill the beginning series anatomy class 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 the student will receive a full refund. Purchasing refundable airline tickets is recommended.
May 23, 2026 - May 25, 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 hoof protection and shoe removal.
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
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.
When: Start time is 9:00 am each day and we’ll finish up at 5:00 pm.
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.
Clinician:
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.
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.
-Sign up at https://progressivehoofcare.org/2025/10/anatomy-trimming-and-hoof-protection-colorado.