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Thankyou everyone for driving so far to come to this clinic.

Kim your pictures are something I am looking forward to.
I know what I saw from your camers was awesome.
(as soon as Kim has a chance to forward me the photo's they will be posted in the phot album section of this site)

We had 46 folks at the clinic if I remember correctly the last count.

Folks drove up from Rhode Island, Massachussetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and we even had 3 folks drive down 5 hrs from Ontario, Canada.

Folks from this board in attendance were;
Dave Whitaker who brought two of his apprentices.
Kim Cassidy (Irishcas) came over from Orange County New York.
Erin drove up from Rhode Island.
Ken Wilder and Debra Ash and others drove up from Massachussetts.
The folks from Onario, Canada are contributors on this board and I had a chance to talk with all of them.
(They mentioned they are bringing Dr. "Tookie Myers" up to do a clinic and I hope to make it up for that)
I met Dr. myers and Baron Taylor years ago when they put on a clinic at the Miners Institute in New York and showed us how Sigafoo shoe's were used and applied.
This goes back when sigafoo shoe's first came out.

I know I am missing others and I am sorry, it is old age I think.

Mitch did an awesome job and held everyones attention.

It did my heart good to see we had a LARGE number of barefooters in attendance.
( Vermont Farriers Association was formed with the intent to bring ALL HOOF CARE PROFESSIONALS TOGETHER. We come together with ONE COMMON GOAL- to learn and advance as the professionals we are)

We also had a large number of Farriers.
I was and am constantly saddened by the MANY FARRIERS who never attend..
The chance to learn is there for everyone and our doors are and always have been open to ANYONE wanting to learn at a clinic or demonstration.

It was a long day and EVERYONE shared comments and idea's and listened intently.
We had 3 veterinarians and a large number of horse owners in attendance.

Meaders Supply, Lorraine and her husband had driven up from Rochester, New hampshire and set up a table of items to sell and to be a strong part of this clinic.
Meaders have been a member and STRONG supporter of the Vermont Farriers Association from the very beginning.
We are proud to have them as members and grateful for ALL THEY DO throughout the years.

Mitch gave a great beginning presentation of clips/pictures to lead into and help folks understand things better when the actual disection began.

A little while after he started to skin and cut the leg you had to be skinny and tall to get close to the table. Everyone was packed in tight around Mitch and rarely a erson moved for fear of loosing their spot.

In the beginning of the disection we had a cameraa focused on him and folks sitting could see the process on the screen.

Kim turned out to be our photographer and she put herself in many positions and contortions to get a series of photo's that would show much of what was going on.

Food was served for all, corn chowder,macaroni glop, chili,
and assorted veggies to munch on.

The day started at 8:30 with me parking cars and the clinic stated late around 9;30 as we figured the last of the folks had arrived.
It was 6:30 when we cleaned up the place, mopped the floor and put everything back and away.

It was snowing and being a wet snow it was a hazard to drive in.

We held our Assoc., meeting at the end and Mark Schneider was elected President, Diane Saunders is the new Treasurer and will continue to hold the Secretary position, Ken Norman will continue as Vice President and two Board members we elected. (me and Cory)

Skip Messick was sitting in on the meeting and his input and idea's were a great help.
For those of you who don't know Skip, he is a CJF and one of the nicest easy going gentelmen you will ever meet.
He has helped me in the past and others and being his nature, he will help many others in the future.

I drove home over the mtn and found cars slipping and sliding and know some of them weren't going to make it over the top. I drove around one pickup that had gotten as high as his tires and the snow would allow him near the peak of the mtn.
Farriers loaded truck /winter studded tires and 4 wheel drive took me home safely. Oh! yes and a damn good driver with common sense did his part too. (ME !!!)

Future coming events and clinics of VtFa;

We are smoothing out and co-ordinating the details for the up coming AFA certification.
We are planning a forging contest.
We discussed trying to get members of the AFA Farriers Team and WCB up here for a clinic and to help instruct.
We will be working on a horse owners educational day.

For those of you who are close to Vermont, Mark Schneider holds a hammer in at his home on the 3rd Sunday of each month. It is a relaxed time in his shop with lots of anvils ringing and good help and conversation and a chance to make new friends while improving your forging skills.

Education is what we are striving and continuing to bring to the north country.
Vermont Farriers Assoc. started as my baby and with the help, guidance, visions of all its working members it has grown and been in existance longer than anyone probably figured it would be.
With young blood like Mark Schneider coming in as the 3rd elected President I can see an even brightrer future for this
wonderful organization.
Without Founding members like Ken Norman, Diane Saunders,Anthony Peduto (who has taken a leave of absence to care for his father), nothing could have been accomplished.
The UNSELFISH DEDICATION these folks have given are what make Vermont Farriers Association.
With new members like Mark Schneider, Joe O'leary and other dedicated members it will continue to bring education to the north country.
Ken Wilder NEVER misses a clinic nor any opportunity to contrinue to learn. This man drives up from Mass. and is a member...
Southen New England Farriers Association, SNEFA has been not only a friend but a strong resource throughout the years of development.
John Blombach and Debra Ash and Jim Smith are always just a phone call away.
These are not only good people, but unselfish people always ready with a willing hand.
Thankyou to everyone !!!

my 2 cents worth
__________________
"you may not like what I say" !
-but-
"you'll never have any doubts where I stand
quote Cindy Matthews 1948-2006

Bruce Matthews AFA #1300

Bruce,
was there anything else going on for the day
or was it just a Disection

Smitty the first half of the day was a power point presentation on the anatomy of the equine - from head to toe- inside and out.

Lots of time for Q & A - I learned more from some of the questions people had.
Mitch is very interesting he held the attention of the crowed the entire time.

After the Power point, was the demo on the limb under load with hair and without- before a trim and after.

Then the Dissection. Each part he Disseced he passed around, and there was time for Q & A on every part he cut.

I have to say I was very very happy to hear Mitch tell everyone to stop taken out so much sole, & over trimming the frog, among many other things.

Bruce thanks so much for the offer to travel with you, If I can get my life in order I will take you up on it. I can’t think of a better person to help me learn more and play with your nails!

Well said Bruce AMEN.
I took Mitch to the airport this morning, we rolled in his alum. tool box and put it on the scale, 88 lbs. The ticket agent says that will be 200.00 to send it to Lexington Ky. Now it only cost us 175 to get it up here. . Mitch told her that it contained tools ( a hydraulic press ) She must have pushed a button cause soon a couple of TSA agents showed up and wanted to see inside. We opened it and of course hydraulic oil had leaked out. The TSA agent had to call his supervisor, as we waited there I mentioned that I could send it by UPS for 40.00 or so, Mitch said that he didn't need it so I packed it up and took it home with me.

Smitty, We used the loading press to show what happens to a hoof capsule when it is loaded with 2500.lbs pressure. People could see the expansion in the heels, both on an untrimmed hoof ( one with lateral flares) and a trimmed hoof with the flares removed. We also added a 3 degree wedge pad to the heels and observed how that changed what happened to the pastern angle. Ultimatly blowing the suspensory .

Ken Sorry I missed that. I did see Mitch last year and know he is a great speaker. Spring hit here hard this week and I spent the weekend flat on my back on a heating pad. I wish I could do the same amount of work spread out over 12 months. I will still be watching for upcoming events.

vthorseshoe wrote:
I wouldn't judge to harshly Bruce, people do what they can.

I wanted to attend this one, just to see old friends again and make new friends. I have had one of the slowest winters I have ever had, really hit us hard financially. Business is picking back up and my body is aching like Jim's. After a very hard week, sore back and all I worked Saturday. Sorry bud, but I have to cut hay while the sun is out and pay the bills. To make matters worse my wife is loosing her very much needed job. Sign of the times I guess.

NO NO NO Phil and Jim, not you folks.
I am talking about the hundreds of farriers in Vermont that are all over and yet have no interest in anyone else, but themselves. Staying isolated in their little worlds and not coming out to take part in any events OR clinics put on up here.

For the life of me i will never understand why they won't take advantage of the opportunities layed out for all of them......

my 2 cents worth

For the life of me i will never understand why they won't take advantage of the opportunities layed out for all of them......

my 2 cents worth[/QUOTE]

Why Bruce, is because they think they don't need any help. Of the 3 - 5 that I allways ask, or tell about the many educational things we have had never have they come. My clients know that I do continuing ed. They arn't ****ed if I ask them if I can change an appointment to go to a clinic.

vthorseshoe wrote:
Bruce, this fellow did a good job of explaining at least part of the reason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSvtlrL6lEg

No doubt you guys had a great clinic. Wish I was closer and could have made it. Southwest Ohio Farriers Association just did a similar dissection clinic and has another hammer-in clinic coming up next month.

Local AFA chapters rock!

As for locals that don't take advantage of continuing education, well, it's disappointing, but it's their loss and ultimately provides those who do attend with a competitive advantage. There is power in knowledge.

Cheers,
Mark

Mark I am soooooo glad you are involved with the chapter in your area now..
If I had any part in taking you down the path of enlightenment I, ( You kept saying you couldn't find anyone to or willing to take you with them or help you so I introduced you to Tom and his cronie's)
will feel really good.
If I didn't then I am just plain happy to see you have folks to work and learn from and with.

my 2 cents worth

vthorseshoe wrote:
Feel good Bruce. You certainly did and do play a part in that ongoing enlightenment and I am in your debt.

Now, not to push my luck or appear to be afflicted with an entitlement attitude, could you do something about this nasty April weather?!?

Where's my GLOBAL WARMING!?!!!

Cheers,
Mark

Hi Everyone:

Here are the pix from the clinic, they are in order of the taking. I included a few shots of the skyline in Bennington, VT as we were driving up Friday night.

The heel shots are of load being applied, then load being taken away. Both pre and post trim. I like the last shot of the weight coming off, caught the hoof popping up off the ground.

http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/kk64/irishcas/Mitch%20Taylor%20Clinic/?

I'm sorry it's not on this site Baron, I would have had to resize the frame size of all the pix and upload 4 at a time, I dumped them up on Photobucket all in one shot.

Something else I'd love to discuss, there was some discussion between Mitch and my friend Sue Mellen on whether this is a pathological foot or not.

Love to hear more discussion by all of us here. I too would not categorize this as a healthy hoof. Yes the sole is quite thick and I bet with some diet changes and more frequent trimming the foot would have been healthier.

I'm also fascinated by what the extensor process is doing to the hoof capsule under load. If this mare's CB had been higher up in the capsule, as a healthy hoof would be, where would the extensor process hit during full load?

I love dissections

Okay seriously I'm outta here

irishcas wrote:
I took the liberty of creating an album from the photos you put in Photobucket.

http://www.horseshoes.com/forums/album.php?albumid=96

It would be great if you (and others that attended) would go through the album when you have time, and use the Comments feature to elaborate on what the photos are demonstrating.

Baron

He showed some PPT slides of that, but the question that was raised in the crowd was "How accurate it was without all the muscles, tendons and ligaments attached"

I got the pictures posted under my albums and also a group picture that was taken .

Bruce