Forge October 2009

report
ELPO
examinations
By Mike Williams
The Equine Lameness Prevention Organisation, (ELPO) recently held
its second annual UK examination programme in various venues,
cumulating at the equine facility of Chichester College’s Brinsbury
Campus in Pulborough. ELPO, which was recently granted charity
status in the USA, has seen a steady growth in membership since its
Successful candidates. (Left to right) Tim Dunning, Gareth Keevil,
John Stern, Ralph Rennison, Gene Ovnicek (examiner), Mat Staples, and
conception by founder Gene Ovnicek.
Chris Wiggins
Candidates who completed and all successfully passed this year’s level three
examinations were Mathew Staples, John Stern, Ralph Rennison, Gareth Keevil,
Tim Dunning and Chris Wiggins.
ELPO examiner, Gene Ovnicek was aided by assessors Steve Foxworth, (USA)
David Nicholls, Beckie Mabbutt, Mark Spriggs and Richard Lovejoy.
Day one consisted of a practice session on barefoot-trimming, which was
hosted at one of Beckie’s clients (Jenny Hill’s farm). Following lunch, the venue
changed to Tina Pendle’s home for elderly horses where the candidates were
examined on the barefoot-trimming element.
The next day the candidates practiced and prepared for the shoeing phase of
the examinations at Brinsbury College. Training was given on the procedure
of hoof mapping. Hoof mapping involves accurately locating and marking the
internal structures of the foot by using external visible landmarks and reference
points. Once this simple procedure is mastered, it is possible to score and
record various hoof distortions as well as locating essential internal structures,
such as the distal interphalangeal joint (coffin joint), the dorsal tip of P3 and the
optimum point of break over established at the toe region of the feet.
Hoof mapping and scoring then becomes a universal vehicle of communication
Examiner Gene Ovnicek talks to assessors, Mark Spriggs (UK) and
Steve Foxworthy (US)
when preparing the hoof for either trimming or shoeing. The reference points
used have been verified using radiography.
On the final examination day, the pressure was on and it would have been
some time since some of the candidates would have been placed in a strict
examination situation. Although the pressure was on, good humour prevailed
throughout the day, Anglo American relationships were forged throughout
the course by the ubiquitous ability of the English to tease our former colonial
cousins! Shoe modification and adaptation of readymade shoes and a final
written paper finished off the day, as well as most of the candidates!
Almost perfect score achieved
All candidates successfully passed, Chris Wiggins who is one of only two
people to have achieved honours in his WCF Associate examination claimed
another honour by attaining the highest score ever in the ELPO examinations.
Chris scored an amazing 99 out of the available 100 points possible, a new
world record. Well done, Chris!
Members day
With the examinations out of the way, the final day was devoted to ELPO
members, including the newly-qualified course participants. This was held at Gareth Keevil mapping the hoof
Total Foot Protection, Slinfold, West Sussex. After initial presentations, Gene
oversaw practical demonstrations on two animals with obscure lameness.
Gene’s demonstrations both showed how to utilise the new ‘leverage testing
boot’. This new diagnostic tool provides us with unique information about the
lower limb that is not available from any other diagnostic technique. It is the
first tool that professionals have had to allow the equine to nominate the most
comfortable and optimal position and angle of limb for comfort and ultimately
soundness. Both animals were tested before and after trimming, again utilising
the hoof mapping technique described. The results were recorded using a
simple scoring system, and a shoeing prescription was formulated using the
said results. With some adaptation and refining both cases showed marked
improvement.
BBC South Today, a local news programme, came along to film some of the
event, and this can be viewed at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8206218.stm
More information on the work of the Equine Lameness Prevention
Organisation can be found by visiting www.e-hoofcare.com
Trimming a mapped hoof
26 Forge | October 2009
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