The 2024 BEVA Congress (11-14 September, at the ACC in Liverpool) will be shining the spotlight on the horse’s foot with a lecture stream dedicated to the foot and farriery. The content aims to celebrate teamwork between vets and farriers, and has been curated by Dr Simon Curtis, who is internationally renowned in the hoof-care world for his remedial farriery textbooks and lectures.

“Any historical, perceived divide between science of veterinary medicine and the craft of farriery is no longer in existence,” said Simon. “The overlap is vast which means it is more essential than ever that vets, nurses and farriers understand each other’s roles in order to maximise their patient outcomes.

“Farriery isn’t sexy, but it beats everything else for improving soundness. It is impossible to maintain or regain soundness without farriery being considered as an integral part of the process.

“The impact good farriery can have on a horse’s ability to tolerate conformational, work-related or other causes of lameness associated pathology is all too often overlooked by all parties, and this should no longer be the case. Vets and farriers must work as a team to avoid injury and facilitate recovery wherever possible.”

The sessions will explore various aspects of the connection between veterinary science and the craft of the farrier, including the following topics:

  • It’s not the shoe that fixes the horse it’s the trim
  • Horseshoes have by bio-mechanical effects, but what are they?
  • Why do heels collapse and can we repair them?
  • Chronic club foot is manageable by farriery
  • Digital support may not be a cure-all but in many cases, it is effective
  • Trimming the toe back: when did that ever work?

The BEVA Congress is produced by equine vets for equine vets. The farriery stream is part of 90+ hours of live and on-demand CPD on offer, covering equine medicine, surgery and practice. There is also an expanded stream for vet nurses.

BEVA members prices for Congress for the three days are £699 for vets (with concessionary prices available for those in their first three years of graduation or earning less than £25,000), £273 for nurse members for all three days and £300 for farriers and other allied professionals for all three days or £110 for one day. Practice passes are also available.

To find out more and to book your tickets, click here.

Lead image by Shutterstock 

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