Easycaredown Under is excited to announce that the visit to Australia by Professor Robert Bowker was a great success.

Due to popular demand Professor Bowker was also able to hold two seminars for Professional Hoof Care Providers as well as deliver the first module of the Diploma in Equine Podiotherapy at the National College of Traditional Medicine. 

Those involved in hoof care in Australia had a wonderful time hearing about his recent studies and how they relate to the rehabilitation of serious hoof conditions.

Through funding support from the AQHA and Grayson Jockey Club, Robert Bowker has been able to spend the last decade and a half studying the function of the equine foot. Much of his research has been on the microscopic level, and through the dissection and study of literally thousands of cadaver hooves.

The All-Important Back of the Foot:   Dr. Bowker feels now that the rear of the hoof is possibly THE most important area for determining the health of the hoof. Bowker remarked that he kept trying to look elsewhere, but no matter what he did, it all kept coming back to the rear of the hoof to solve hoof issues!

The back of the foot is exac tly where three of his most well-known studies have focused. The first was his hemodynamic flow theory, which proposes that blood flow through the network of tiny capillaries in the heel region plays a vital role in shock absorption of the hoof.

Second was his discovery of proprioceptor sensory cells in the heel region; these cells may transmit information to a horse’s central nervous system and allow him to “feel” his way across the ground.

And third was his study presenting the differences he’s discovered between a “good” foot and a “bad” foot.

As part of this work Dr. Bowker has been also working with Dr.Hilary Clayton, at McPhail University where they have studied the biomechanics of the natural hoof as it relates to dressage and performance horses and the rehabilitation of serious hoof conditions in the performance horse.

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 Equine Podiotherapy - the changing face of professional hoofcare!

Ongoing research by Professor Bowker and many others is revealing the true impacts and vastness of the problems and hoof deformity caused by traditional shoeing practices. Alternative choices of hoof protection for riding are now available through the many styles of hoof boots entering the market place which have created a desire for many horse owners to avoid shoeing and seek out the help of a professional hoof care practitioner.  

 From this need has emerged a new career path for those persons who would like to work with more natural methods of maintaining the equine hoof health and who would also like an indepth understanding of the affects of corrective trimming practices on the entire equine biomechanics.

Many veterinarians after seeing the improvements in the entire body in clients horses who are barefoot trimmed are now seeking to work on an ongoing basis with accredited professional trimmers. They are seeking persons who have a thorough understanding of the changes that have occurred from inappropriate loading, both in the hoof and in the distal limb and body.

 Students will have a thorough understanding of the hoof right and how it adapts and changes to stresses and also have a knowledge of the secondary musculo-skeletal issues that arise from long term hoof pain and imbalances in the hooves.