vet focus
New future for farriery training
Following the poor Ofsted report on the National Farrier Training Agency (NFTA), the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) stopped funding for all new apprenticeships and endorsed a new model, which proposed the collegestaking over as providers of training, drawing funding direct from SFA.
This new model will fundamentally retain the familiar structure of a combination of both college training and experience in the workplace, but the colleges will be fully involved in approving and have a direct agreement with both the farriers who are training apprentices and also with those carrying out assessments in the workplace, all without the involvement of a separate training agency.
platelets and make platelet-rich plasma – a concentrated form of platelets in a small volume of plasma. This can be injected into an injured area and growth factors are released over a period of time - stimulating healing. PRP may also recruit stem cells from the body into the lesion and decrease pain associated with healing. It can be used alone or in combination with stem-cell therapy. Stem Cell Therapy Stem cells have the ability to transform into different types of tissue. This property gives them enormous potential for use as a healing agent as they can take on the characteristics of normal, healthy tissue. Stem cells become fibroblasts (cells that make collagen) in damaged tendons and ligaments and can also produce growth factors that stimulate healing. Stem cells occur naturally in various sites in the body (bone marrow, fat). These cells can be harvested and then purified and cultivated/multiplied (a service offered by a number of commercial companies), before injection into the injured tendon or ligament. BMAC – Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate
BMAC contains stem cells mixed with serum. A bone marrow sample can be collected and injected directly into the site of injury to stimulate healing. It can also undergo minor processing (stall side kits are available) to give a more concentrated product before injection at the injury site. The advantage of BMAC is it does not need to be commercially produced. It can also be collected and then subsequently injected into the injured area on the same day. (Figure 2 shows the harvesting of bone marrow aspirate from the sternum of a horse.) IRAP: Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein IRAP or Autologous Conditioned Serum (ACS) has been used as a disease modifying agent in a number of species (including horses and humans). This has prompted its clinical application as a treatment for tendon/ligament injuries. The goal behind IRAP treatment is
to use the body’s own inflammation- fighting cells to reduce inflammation, rather than a synthetically produced anti-inflammatory medication. Because the anti-inflammatory cells are produced by the body, a better and often longer duration of response is seen. Extra-Cellular Matrix (ECM) ECM is a scaffold of protein fibres without living cells. An ECM product called ‘ACell’ derived from pig bladders has been used in tendon and ligament injuries. It comes in powder form and is reconstituted in saline solution before injection into the injury site. It seems to stimulate healing, although it sometimes produces temporary inflammation. Extracorporeal High Energy Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)
ESWT is the use of high-intensity waves to apply mechanical pressure and tension on tissues. These forces stimulate osteogenesis (new bone formation) and removal of excessive osseous (bony) tissue (calcification). The effects of shock waves occur in regions where tissue density changes, such as bone/ tendon or bone/ ligament interfaces. It has shown promise as an adjunctive treatment for a number of conditions in horses (eg suspensory ligament desmitis, ligament and tendon fibrosis, impinging dorsal spinous processes). Studies have shown better quality healing and improved recovery rates.
Take home message: The key to successful treatment of tendon and ligament injuries is proper management in the form of box rest (acute stages) and then a controlled and gradually increasing exercise program (healing and remodelling stage). The use of regenerative therapies can shorten the healing time but most importantly, they improve healing quality and decrease re-injury rate. A team approach (owner, trainer, veterinarian and farrier), careful monitoring and good communication are all vital for success.
Please mention farm ‘n’ equine when replying to advertisements
As required by the Farriers Registration Act the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) will accredit training and monitor the delivery of training by colleges, with the power to strike off a college failing to deliver good quality apprentices for the Diploma. The FRC will remain in full control of the training system, while the Diploma – with the standards set by the Worshipful Company of Farriers - will remain the key pathway through to becoming a farrier. To fund the accreditation and monitoring service the colleges have agreed to provide a levy to the FRC.
The timescale has yet to be finalised but the move of existing training is expected to take place during autumn 2013 with the first intake of new apprentices starting in early 2014. The NFTA will continue to exist to run existing apprenticeships until the handover to colleges takes place.
Healthy hooves, cared for by a competent farrier, are essentiial to health and soundness.
Equine Page 9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44