ASSOCIATION Starting off on the right foot Monthly gathering improves horse care, veterinarian-farrier relationships in western Carolinas
To the unknowing eye, the caravan of farrier and vet trucks rolling down State Route 1525 in Tryon, N.C., at 5:45 p.m. on the first Monday of every month might suggest a horse emergency nearby. Most in the local horse community, however, know that the destination is the monthly “farrier jam session” hosted by solo ambulatory practitioner Dr. Bibi Freer at her farm.
From 6:00–10:00 p.m., up to 20 farriers and several veterinarians in the region gather for an evening of education and collegiality in a wet lab environment in which attendees col- lectively examine, radiograph, discuss and shoe two horses exhibiting some degree of lameness.
Participants examine a horse to help determine an appropriate shoeing strategy.
Inspired by her experience at a similar workshop conducted by friend and AAEP colleague Dr. Jim Meeker in Mocksville, N.C., Dr. Freer launched her farrier jam sessions in 2010 to establish positive relationships with the local farrier community.
“It’s essential that the veterinarian and farrier be collegial, professional and communicate with each other or the horse isn’t going to receive the proper care and the owner isn’t going to receive the value of one of our services,” said Dr. Freer, who also plays the banjo and hosts traditional music jams at her house comprising musicians with different instruments
and skills sets. “If possible, the rela- tionship should be cultivated before an issue comes up with the horse’s soundness or health.”
During a farrier jam session, each horse is evaluated, including at a walk and on a longe line or in the round pen. Radiographs and measurements such as sole depth, palmar angle and percent of ground contact in front and behind the center of rotation are taken and discussed among the group before the horse’s owner, veterinarian and farrier jointly determine the best shoeing strategy to accomplish stated
goals. The horse is then reshod accordingly and radiographed again to determine whether the strategy worked.
The subject horses must be farrier- referred. “This is a community-build- ing event,” said Dr. Freer, “not an outlet to go behind somebody’s back.”
A majority of referred horses are cases for which the farrier would like to see radiographs and hear other farriers’ opinions, but the owner can’t afford a farm call with the veterinarian and farrier at the same time.
Owners who bring their horse to a jam session are charged $200, which saves them money, covers service costs and provides attendees with an inter- esting case from which to learn. Proceeds are deposited in an account and used to help fund occasional clinics with renowned farriers and equine podiatrists to further advance the knowledge and skills of the area’s farrier and veterinary community.
Dr. Freer said the jam sessions have improved the dynamics among the
Veterinarian participant Dr. Grace Buchanan discusses radiographic findings with several farriers.
continued on page IV
AAEP News May 2018 III
Photo courtesy of Verrecchio Joyrides Photography
Photo courtesy of Verrecchio Joyrides Photography
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