The inaugural Qatar Equine Foot Conference 2018, put on by the Equine Veterinary Medical Centre (EVMC) and Al Shaqab, focused on equine foot and distal leg health with around 90 horse owners, farriers and veterinarians in attendance.

“This is the first of many educational seminars and short courses that the EVMC is planning to organize,” says Dr. Mats H. Troedsson, director of the EVMC. “I was very pleased with the turnout and support of the local equine community toward the conference. It provides us with the motivation to conduct the conference on an annual basis.”

Attendees learned from renowned experts about strategies to manage hoof problems in foals, horses in training and breeding horses, according to The Peninsula. Other hoof-care topics including limb imbalance, foal podiatry, laminitis and correct horseshoeing methodology were also discussed.

The conference also contained exhibition booths for companies to display their equine products.

The inaugural conference, which was organized by the center’s new chief of orthopedic podiatry Mitch Taylor, was first of its kind in the country. Taylor, a member of the International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame and owner of the Kentucky Horseshoeing School, joined the center earlier this year.