For Marvin Howard, a 20-year shoeing veteran from Pataskala, Ohio, “It was a chance in a lifetime.”

Howard was referring to the week he spent in Lexington with equine veterinarian Scott Morrison and his associate, Manfred Ecker, a master farrier. Howard won the prize at the 2007 International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“I attend all the events because it’s the place to learn from the best and brightest,” Howard continues. “There’s a real need for more equine podiatrists in the horse world. It’s an area that benefits vets and shoers alike, so when I got the call to go down to Rood and Riddle, it was like a dream come true.”

Morrison, a member of the International Equine Veterinarians Hall Of Fame, heads up the podiatry department at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington. During his visit, Howard found that the reputation of the Morrison-Ecker team is well known in the area.

“Everywhere we went we were treated like royalty. However, you need to be on your toes if you want to keep up,” Howard recalls, adding with a chuckle, “Scott’s got tons of energy and is always on the move in order to keep up with his heavy work schedule; if you’re hungry and you see a McDonald’s, you better jump out quick.”

But, the work Morrison does is no laughing matter. One example Howard observed involved a horse who had fractured his canon bone along with the short pastern (P2), an injury similar to the one…