Farrier/feet courses

[smiffyimp]

Following on from another thread about horribly shod feet, I admit to being one of the many that 'rely' too much on the farriers knowledge. Although this should be the case, sadly it is not. I have a great farrier, but their are many I wouldnt touch.

So, are there any courses run whereby numpties like me can get a good understanding of feet. I dont mean to become a farrier in any way shape or form, or tell them their job just have an understanding of whats what.

 

[amandap]

Reading and DVD's are easily accessible for starters.

Pete Ramey's stuff I always recommend as he's so easy to understand.
I highly recommend his book 'Making Natural Hoof care work for you' as a starter. Read his articles and if a group of you could afford his 10 DVD series 'Under the Horse' all the better.
Read his articles and follow the links to other nutrition and grass etc. 'experts'. http://www.hoofrehab.com/

I recommend Jaime Jackson's 'The Natural Horse' for the fundamental thinking of where barefoot comes from but it's not essential. His founder, prevention and cure' book gives a very different view on laminitis treatment to traditional. Don't forget things have moved on since these resources were published and dietry advice etc. has or may have changed.

Other names to look out for are K. C. La Pierre, Cindy Sullivan, Marjorie Smith. If you google barefoot hoofcare you'll get tons.
Some Equine Podiatrists (EP's) run owner courses here's a link to one.
http://www.equinepodiatry.co.uk/#/courses/4533194689

Some trimming schools only teach owners to maintain their own horses.

Warning. Do be wary of some Strasser trimmers they are still doing a 'clinic trim' in the home environment. In fact, to the newbie don't study Strasser until you have studied non invasive methods first.

Mta. Ooops got carried away about trimming there and that wasn't your question. Start with Pete Ramey.