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Tufts
University Vet School Forum Will Compare Risks and Benefits
of Barefoot Hoofcare Methods |
North
Grafton, Massachusetts (USA) -- Tufts University's School of Veterinary
Medicine's Hospital for Large Animals has joined forces with the
Tufts Center for Animals and Public Policy to prepare a forum that
will be the first of its kind in the world: "HOOFCARE FOR THE
NEW MILLENNIUM: Exploring the Strasser Method." Medical, ethical,
practical, and philosophical aspects of hoofcare choices will be
examined.
On
May 4-5, 2002, an expert panel of veterinarians and farriers, chaired
by Dr. Carl Kirker-Head of Tufts, will discuss and evaluate information
presented at the symposium by Dr. Hiltrud Strasser, a German veterinarian,
plus many other hoofcare researchers and practitioners. Farriers,
veterinarians, researchers and hoofcare specialists are invited
to attend as audience participants.
Panelists
include (in addition to Strasser and Kirker-Head) farrier/veterinarian
Tia Nelson of Montana, who is a specialist in the four-point style
of barefoot trimming, and Judith Shoemaker of Pennsylvania, an outspoken
holistic practitioner who specializes in rehabilitation of sport
horses, often using "radical-breakover" shoeing to relieve
lameness or hoof imbalance.
On
the farrier side of the panel is farrier/author Henry Heymering
of Maryland, chairman of the Guild of Professional Farriers, who
is known for his historical research and thought-provoking articles
on hoof function, and Michael Wildenstein, resident farrier and
instructor at Cornell University's vet school, a specialist in the
care of lame horses
who has worked extensively in Europe.
A
special panelist added recently is farrier Craig Trnka of New Mexico,
a former world champion farrier who was recently elected president
of the American Farrier's Association and who will speak on behalf
of the nation's largest farrier organization.
Horse
owners, veterinarians and farriers in attendance will be involved
in discussions. Horses successfully rehabilitated by Strasser practitioners
in New England will be shown, if possible, and Strasser will demonstrate
the basic techniques of her trim.
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Dr Hiltrud Strasser of Germany and student at a recent US
hoof trimming seminar for horse owners. (Photo credit: Hoofcare
& Lameness
Magazine , www.hoofcare.com) |
By
examining options, and participating in open discussions, the panel
will strive to 'debunk the myths' of both traditional and alternative
hoofcare, with special attention to navicular disease and laminitis.
The
involvement of the Center for Animals and Public Policy will allow
examination of the broader implications charging that Strasser's
method may constitute animal abuse or cause unnecessary pain and
suffering for some horses.
In
England, concern about harm to horses by Strasser devotees has resulted
in public warnings from the International League for the Protection
of Horses, Farriers Registration Council, Worshipful Company of
Farriers, Laminitis Trust, and the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals.
On
the other side of the issues, Strasser and other advocates claim
that traditional hoofcare, horse management, and shoeing practices
are damaging to horse health. Tufts'
Center for Animals and Public Policy is a leading institute for
the study of animal welfare and has been involved in key studies
related to the public's perceptions of cruelty to animals in different
situations.
Strasser's
system is only one of several shoeless management systems currently
being promoted in America. The Tufts forum will conduit information
to the entire horse world about both the possible benefits and complications
of new philosophies in natural horse management and hoofcare.
To
learn more about the conference and to read background information
on the difference between Strasser's system and traditional farriery-based
hoofcare, visit
http://www.hoofcare.com/news/tufts031202.html
For
registration information, visit http://www.tufts.edu/vet/continedu/HoofcareNavicular.html
Phone
(508) 887-4723
Fax (508) 887-4539
Contact: Susan Brogan Email Susan.Brogan@tufts.edu
article
courtesy of Hoofcare & Lameness: The "Feet First"
Equine Science Journal and Hoofcare Online: free educational e-letters
for farriers, veterinarians, therapists and horse owners and http://www.hoofcare.com...the
horse world's home page for hoofcare information
.
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