A new organization hopes to help bring equine veterinarians and farriers closer together.

The Northeast Association of Equine Practitioners (NEAEP) encompasses 13 northeastern states and emphasizes that it plans to operate with a broad interpretation of exactly who is an equine practitioner. It allows farriers to be full members of the organization.

An NEAEP press release noted that 80 percent of equine lameness occurs within the hoof, while 10 percent of horses will experience at least one episode of lameness each year — presenting a good reason for farrier membership.

The new organization identified its mission as improving the health and welfare of horses by providing state-of-the-art professional education and to support the economic security of the equine industry by complementing local associations thereby giving equine veterinarians, farriers, technicians, veterinary students and horse owners a united voice at the state and regional levels.

The organization is holding its first-ever Farrier Symposium Sept. 23 to 25 at Foxwood’s Resort and Casino in Connecticut. The conference will include a lameness program as well as a farrier program.

Speakers already lined up include veterinarians Robin M. Dabareiner, R. Scott Pleasant and Scott E. Morrison and farriers David Farley and Ian McKinlay.

NEAEP officers include: Christopher Miller, DVM, president; Jose M. Garcia-Lopez, VMD, ACVS, president-elect; Juan Samper, DVM, Dip. ACT, vice president; and John J. Dascanio, VMD, Dip. ACT, ABVP, treasurer.

More information on the organization is available at its Web site, www.neaep.net.

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