Veterinarians attending the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) conference currently under way in Baltimore, Md., have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of podiatry and farrier care during this year's farriery track, which will be held on Dec. 8. A biannual event, organizers have said this track features not only presentations from world-renowned farriers and veterinarians but also a variety of items to win and a reception for convention-goers.
"The AAEP feels it's very important to try to bring vets and farriers together," said Steve O'Grady, DVM, BVSc, MRCVS. "The AAEP accomplishes that by providing quality continuing education for both veterinarians and farriers and by bringing farriers and vets to a group of presentations at the convention where they can sit down together and learn."
O'Grady says that this will be the third convention that features a track focused entirely on podiatry and farriery care. The first time a foot care track was held at the 2006 convention, the sessions lasted for only half a day. The next time, in 2008, a full-day farriery session took place.
"The AAEP felt that there wasn't sufficient new credible information to do this every year, so that's the reason for doing it every second year," O'Grady explained.
This year's farriery track features presentations by some of the foot care world's most respected individuals, O'Grady said.
"I think it's a well-rounded program and it offers a little for everybody," he continued. "All the programs were designed to show how the art of farriery can contribute to a case. For example, if you do a foot surgery, you can see that after surgery's done, you generally have to make some kind of appliance or shoe."
The Farrier's Reception follows the session, where there will be opportunities to win donated items.
"They're generally geared towards farriers, but anyone can win them," he explained. Donations include a free registration to the International Hoof Care Summit, a set of travel farrier tools worth over $1,000, VetTec products, a Hoofjack, and more.
"One of the nice things about the farriery track is that it's composed of both veterinarians and farriers," said O'Grady. "It's a great place to see the camaraderie between vets and farriers. These are two professions that need each other."
Disclaimer: Seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.