The 23rd annual International Hoof-Care Summit offered enormous opportunities for approximately 1,000 attendees to expand their footcare knowledge.

This year’s mid-winter event, which was Feb. 3-6, 2026, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., succeeded in “Raising the Bar in Hoof-Care Excellence.” Whether an attendee has been shoeing for several years or starting out, the Summit offers something for everyone.

“I enjoyed the variety of speakers,” says Johnathan Beat of Leonard, Texas, “and how there’s time to choose who I wanted to watch and learn from.”

Here’s some of what you missed if you couldn’t make it.

1. Sweet Presentation

Dr. Renate Weller

Dr. Renate Weller’s presentation, “Influencing Biomechanics Through Podiatry” had me and the entire room glued to her dynamic presentation.

Everyone in attendance received a plastic bag with a paper clip, a matchstick and a Twix Mini candy bar. As the International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Famer explained the different ways a horse’s leg can be stressed by trimming and shoeing, she had the audience perform those stresses on the three items.

The audience experienced firsthand how different stresses play their roles in biomechanics and how to use podiatry to minimize the risk of injury and help healing during recovery.

2. Toe to Toe

Mitch Taylor

During Mitch Taylor’s presentation “How Race Plates Affect the Suspensory Apparatus,” the Kentucky Horseshoeing School owner demonstrated how different horseshoe toe configurations reduce penetration into racing surfaces by either reducing strain or causing more strain.

The Hall of Fame farrier’s…