Spectrum of Usability

Day three of the Ocala Florida Level One Applied Equine Podiatry course. Working with cadaver limbs teaching Spectrum of Usability. The S of U is used to evaluate the hoof for health and conformation. We first developed our S of U in 2002.

The spectrum was developed for use by the Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry for a study being conducted to compare health and confirmation of a hoof to the position of P3 (coffin bone) in relationship to the ground plane. 50 cadaver hooves were obtained from a local rendering plant. Six structures of the hoof were rated for health on a scale of 1 to 9 with 1 being very poor and 9 being very healthy. Six structures scored: Frog, Sole, Heel, Bars, Quarters, and Toe. We then averaged the scores together to get an average score for each hoof.
We then proceeded to remove the hoof capsule being careful not to damage the internal foot (Internal Arch Apparatus). The internal foot was then placed on a glass panel, with the tip of P3 and the most distal points of the sensitive frog making contact with the plane. Measurements were then taken at the widest part of P3. We measured the space presented between the glass plane and the dermis at this point, both medial and lateral averaging the measurements together.
We then compared these measurements to the S of U score for each given hoof. Our findings were that the hooves that presented height from the glass plane to the dermis scored higher on the S of U than those that presented little to no height (ground parallel) at this location. This pilot study provides evidence to support the belief that correct conformation of the Ungular Cartilages aid in positioning the distal border of P3 within the capsule. It is our belief that when the ungular cartilage conformation is correct the distal boarder of P3 is at a 5 degree inclination to the ground plane.  It is our belief that those hooves with the lowest S of U scores present a caudally rotated P3.

Passion for Learning, You gotta love it

Yesterday was the first day of the fall Applied Equine Podiatry course held in Ocala Florida. The coursed open with an introduction to the principles and phylosophies of Applied Equine Podiatry, following this up with teaching the basics of Physiological Sequencing. If you have been following this blog you may have taken notice that I refer to physiological sequencing often.
Today's class will continue with the defining hemodynamics and the Suspension Theory of Hoof Dynamics. Also of great importance in teaching AEP is to be certian that all students Have a clear understanding of Dynamic Equilibrium as it pertains to foot function, this allows for a shift in paradym. First time students are often overcome by feelings of, lets just say concern over the current lack of respect offered normal physology in the practice of hoof care. In the first two days of class students are exposed to: The Internal Arch Theory, the Suspension Theory of Hoof Dynamics, Hemodynamics within the foot, Physological Sequencing, the HPTModel, the Spectrum of Usability, and the HPTMethod. We do not expect first time students to retain all of this information. There are however key elements that first time students are instructed to take special note off, in the hope that this key information will be retained following completion of this, the first of their five practical courses. Each practical course is 40 hours, with one building upon the other. Horse owners that wish to be exposed to the basic principles of AEP will find attending one five day course very beneficial. All in all yesterday was excellent. Enthusiastic students, a positive learning environment, and a topic we are all passionate about, what more could you ask for?

Fall Applied Equine Podiatry Course

Today is the first day of the fall AEP course being held in Ocala, Florida. It is always encouraging to meet horseowner, farriers, and veterinarians that are seeking knowledge and that are open minded to new ideas. I am excited to be including information and education on achieving dynamic balance. This will be the first course in the U.S.A. in which I will be using the newly released "Dynamic Balance Hoof Level". More on the level to come. It' going to be a great course.

Trim, Trim, oops, Trim

I've been saying it for over a decade; our profession does not offer up a solid model for learning how to apply, with consistency a balanced trim. Recent studies suggest that today's farriers may start out  handicapped, in that they are not provided the tools needed to quickly develop the skills needed to consistently apply a correct trim. This is not my finding, evidenced based research supports these statements. The fact; regardless of how skilled one is at forging and shoeing if the shoe is applied to an imbalanced foot the results are going to be less than desired.
So what is the answer? One of my pet peeves is when someone constantly comes up with a multitude of problems, and then wallows in the woe of the seemingly unsolvable, never offering positive input. I for one believe that there are solutions to most all problems, so long as we approach the problem from as many perspectives as are available. Before we can do that we first need to state the problem in as many ways as we can. Wait a minute, didn't I just say that was a pet peeve of mine? No, I said those that wallow in the seemingly unsolvable was my pet peeve.
The problem: Difficulty in applying balance to the hoof. The lack of consistency in applying a balanced trim. Difficulty in teaching the application of a balanced trim. Lack of a solid model for teaching a balanced trim. Difficulty in defining a balanced trim. Lack of tools available to aid in achieving a balanced trim. I am sure that you could add to this list of problems and for each you may be chomping at the bit to offer a solution, but before you start pounding at those keys to submit your comment let me offer up one more problem.Contemplate this problem; how to implement the solution.
You don't believe there is a problem? Well you may be among the minority in the farrier industry. Dr. Doug Butler, author of “The Principle of Horse Shoeing II,” and renowned educator, once stated in the American Farriers Journal that most farriers have difficulty visualizing the internal bone structures and their relationship to the hoof capsule.  I find this remark to be of paramount importance. If a trim is based on one’s ability to visualize and the experts are finding it difficult to do just that, then my belief that a problem exist that handicaps our prospective farriers from the start is justified. I invite your comments.