Conducting A Physical Examination Of The Equine Foot

Ric Redden, equine veterinarian and farrier from Versailles, Ky., told attendees at the annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners in New Orleans in November, that the physical examination is the most important part of evaluating the equine foot. He identified the following as key to conducting a good exam.

• Develop a methodical approach and use it every time.
• Look for normal first. What is leftover points to the problem you seek.
• Localize the seat of pain to one or more quadrants.
• Visualize the underlying bone and associated soft tissues when looking at the hoof.
• Think in terms of identifying the soft structures.

Educate Horse Owners And Boost Profits

James K. Waldsmith, a veterinarian from San Luis Obispo, Calif., was thinking of his fellow veterinarians when he wrote a paper entitled “Financial Benefits Of Horse Owner Education,” that was included in the AAEP program this year. But what Waldsmith had to say makes a lot of sense for farriers as well.

Waldsmith says investing time in client education is money in the bank. Do it well and you can generate more profits. Neglect it and your income will shrink.

Waldsmith’s advice is to appeal to the horse owners’ financial concerns. Better hoof…