While much has been learned about laminitis over the past 25 years, Andy Parks maintains the picture is still incomplete. He told attendees at last winter’s American Association of Equine Practitioners meeting that treatment techniques lag well behind the understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease.

When it comes to examining a foot that might be suffering from laminitis, equine veterinarian Scott Morrison suggests the following ritual:

Ric Redden has reopened his equine podiatry practice in Versailles, Ky., and will treat diseases and injuries associated with the equine foot on a strict outpatient basis.

Q: I recently had a new client contact me who has racing Quarter Horses and he wants them shod with race plates. I don’t have any experience with racehorses and racing plates. I imagine they’re shod the same way — by making sure the foot is balanced and level — followed by putting the shoe on.