KHC Dinner and a Discussion: Therapeutic Shoeing for the Performance Horse: Outside In and Inside Out

May KHC Dinner and Discussion:
Therapeutic Shoeing for the Performance Horse: Outside In and Inside Out

Dr. Raul Bras, a veterinarian and Certified Journeyman Farrier with Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, offers his unique perspective on shoeing performance horses.

THIS EVENT IS FULL.

While the old adage “no hoof, no horse” is close to every horseman’s heart, the term “therapeutic shoeing” may make a horse owner’s heart race at the thought of a potentially arduous, expensive journey takes shape.

Dr. Raul Bras, a veterinary podiatrist with Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, will explain therapeutic shoeing and its application to performance horses at the Kentucky Horse Council’s Dinner & Discussion (formerly called the Kentucky Equine Networking Association or “KENA”) on Tuesday, May 23, at the Kentucky Horse Park Visitor Center. Held from 6 to 8 p.m., this educational series is geared toward equine professionals, horse owners, riders and other equine enthusiasts.

More than 80 percent of lameness is related to the feet, Dr. Bras says. This often involves hoof capsule distortion, conformation, injury or wear and tear. As both a veterinarian and a Certified Journeyman Farrier, Bras will offer his unique perspective on shoeing performance horses, which can include Western and hunt-seat competition horses, trail horses, racehorses and everything in between: Each discipline puts different stress on the horse’s hooves.

Dr. Bras will focus his presentation on how he looks at a horse as a farrier: from the outside in (how the form and shape of the horse’s foot affects how he goes); and as a veterinarian: from the inside out (using tools to see exactly what is happening inside the hoof capsule and how it affects the horse). Dr. Bras will address not only shoeing horses that are injured or that suffer from diseases like laminitis or navicular, but also how to shoe an equine athlete so it doesn’t get injured in the first place.

Intricately aware of the potential hard feeling that can occur between vets, farriers, owners and others on the horse’s health care team, Dr. Bras is devoted to improving the veterinarian-farrier relationship.

Kentucky Horse Park Visitor Center
4089 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511

 Evening schedule: 
6:00 - 6:30 PM Networking
6:30 - 7:00 PM Dinner
7:00 - 8:00 PM Presentation and Q&A session

THIS EVENT IS FULL.

Want to be sure your question is addressed? Email it to info@kentuckyhorse.org