Introducing some of your lecturers for the
Diploma of Equine Podiotherapy Course.
Andrew Bowe, B.App. Sc - Master Farrier and Equine Podiotherapist - "The Barefoot Blacksmith".
Andrew a Master Farrier of over 20 years experience is now at the forefront of education in Barefoot Trimming in this country through his work as "The Barefoot Blacksmith". Andrew also has an agricultural science degree.
He brings to this course his insights from both sides of the anvil. Andrew and his wife Nicole run Mayfield Barefoot Centre www.barehoofcare.com where horses with life threatening hoof conditions are returned to health.
He is passionate about improving hoof care through education and as well as developing the Diploma of Equine Podiotherapy provides educational trimming workshops for horse owners Australia wide.
Andrew still maintains a busy trimming practice where he provides bare hoof care to top riders in all the competitve disciplines. Firstly as a Master Farrier and later as an Equine Podiotherapist Andrew has dealt with all aspects of bare hoof care. He truly knows this field from both sides of the anvil! There is no one in Australia, in fact in the world, who has more experience in this new field.
Professor Robert Bowker, PhD, Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania, 1979 VMD, Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 1973 BS, Biolgoy/chemistry, Springfield College, 1969
Professor Bowker has spent the last decade and a half as Head of the Equine Hoof Laboratory Research team based at Michigan State University in the US. Where he teaches veterinary students. his specialty is hoof research through the study of the functions 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 he has given the world amazing insights into the true nature of the functioning of the internal structures and how they remain sound for life.
His pioneering scientific papers detailing his findings have bought natural hoof care practices into the 21st century and confirmed what the natural hoof care practitioners were finding at the coal face of hoof care. http://pathobiology.msu.edu/people/bowker.html The Diploma of Equine Podiotherapy is exceptionally lucky to have Professor Bowker as one of our lecturers as he rarely teaches outside the University of Michigan.
Michael Ware, Equine Podiotherapist - Manager Easycare Down Under www.easycaredownunder.com.au
Mike developed a passon for professional trimming when as an endurance rider he was looking for ways to help his own horses stay sound. So impressed by the healing he saw he left a 30 year career in the corporate world to be a full time professional trimmer & later a barefoot educator through Equethy Workshops.
Seeing the need in the community for better hoof care information Mike and his wife Chrisann (an Equine Myofunctional Therapist & originator of Equethy Workshops) worked extensively to promote the development of barefoot trimming in Australia by bringing the leading lights of trimming here.
Mike draws on his long corporate background as an area manager for the Commonwealth Bank when delivering the modules on small business practices. He brings 30 years experience as a top business executive to this course and has seen the rise and fall of many small businesses. He offers students stragegies that build and develop successful small businesses.
Mike now Manager of Easycare Down Under www.easycaredownunder.com.au teaches booting modules in this course. He shares his vast knowledge of equine hoof boots and their uses for rehabilitation and high performance riding. Students who successfully pass this segment of the course are also accredited as "Specialist Boot Consultants" for Easycare Down Under.
Dr. Mark Curtis - Veterinary Chiropractor
Dr. Mark Curtis initially graduated as a veterinarin from the University of Sydney in 1993 with First Class Honours and the University Medal. He then worked as an equine vet for 8 years (becoming a member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Equine Medicine in 1999) before being exposed to equine acupunture/chiropractic work in Germany in 2002. Mark also studied veterinary homotoxicology in Germany. In 2003 he spent time stuying advanced veterinary acupunture in Norway/France and completed the International Veterinary Acupunture Society course in 2004. He also completed a Graduate Diploma of Animal Chiropractic at RMIT in 2007.
Mark a talented Veterinary Chiropractor with a busy practice, teaches the veterinary apsects of the course as they relate to hoof care. Mark teaches the modules on lameness and how hoof issues affect the entire musculo-skeletal system of the horse. His chiropractic expertise has allowed him a greater understanding of the secondary issues that stem from poor hoof balance and he is keen to share this with the students.
Wayne Anderson, Master Farrier, Professional Trimmer & Natural Horse Trainer -
Wayne a Master Farrer of over 30 years found a passion for natural training and after 40 years as a farrier began studying with Buck Brannerman a leading trainer in the US. Wayne shares his indepth understanding of horse training with students and says " if he had this knowledge when he was a farrier he would have approached horses with a very different attitude and would not have had the battles he did with some of the horses he shod".
Wayne teaches the lessons in horse handling, horse safety and foal handling and shows students ways to make a hard job easier and safer.
Renee Pearson - Equine Myofunctional Therapist, Remedial Myofascial Therapist. Renee owns a successful Equine Remedial Myofascial Therapy/ Massage Therapy business. Renee has a Bachelor of Science (human Biology anatomy and Histology Major)(with Honours) Cert IV Therapeutic Massage, Diploma of Therapeutic Massage, Diploma of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy , Cert IV Work place Training and Assessment, Cert of Equine Myofunctional Therapy, Lecturer and Demonstrator of Anatomy and Physiology for six years at Australian School of Therapeutic Massage (2001-2006) and Victorian University (1999 - 2002).
Her love of horses drew her to barefoot trimming and her insights into the musculo-skeletal system and equine biomechanics help future Podiotherapists understand how to achieve total rehabilitation and how these other therapies support each other.
Sharon May Davis "The Bone Lady" - Sharon is one of Australia's leading experts in the biomechanics & musculo-skeletal system of the equine. Her passion has lead her all over the world working with top performance horses and sharing her exceptional understanding of the equine.
Basic Quals; M.App.Sc. (Rural) - 4 equine thesi B.App.Sc. (Equine) Advanced Certification Horse Management (1 year full time study)
Equine Body Work: Advanced Equine Massage ; Equine Myofascial Release; Equine Cranio-sacral Techniques;
Certificate of Honour (Honourary) Midway College Kentucky.
Nicknames The Bone Lady - because of the skeletons I research and articulate. Equine CSI - because I dig and investigate multiple causes of either death or limiting factors.
General I started to ride at 4 years of age. Began competing at 14. Reached Royal (won and placed) and National level.
Stopped competitive riding in my late twenties (had 2 kids by my early 30's) and went Academic soon after my last child was born. Began dissecting rabbits at 14 and built my first skeleton at 17 (rabbit). First equine post mortem at 21. Began equine dissecting at 35. Began lecturing at 36. Studied at the Australian Museum as a layperson and began building my first equine skeleton at 36.
Began researching at 36 and collective work at 38. Began writing articles for various publications and scientific journals at 39. Managed my first Australian Champion at 40. Began lecturing overseas at 41. Completed 4 Masters thesis by 46. By 50 had managed or worked with Australian Champions from 6 different disciplines; Eventing, Dressage, Endurance, Showjumping, Reining and Vaulting, plus representative horses in 4 disciplines. At 51, still contemplating a Phd. However at present, researching several skeletal anomalies and the latest to join a long list is - "Congenital fractures of the equine navicular".
Laura Smith
Laura is a Registered Nurse B.Sc(Nursing) whose love of the equine bought her to train as an Equine Podiotherapist. As a nurse Laura has worked in the areas of medical, surgical and emergency health. She brings to the Occupational Health and Safety modules of this course her expertise as a nurse with an eye to the dangers of outdoor work as they affect a professional trimmer and adds her insights as someone who now works at the coal face of hoofcare.
Riding since she was 4 yrs old she continued her love of horses and through pony club rose to be a member of the Victorian Dressage Young Riders Squad. As an adult she now is following her love of Quarter horses and training.
Laura states: My interest in barefoot started when we owned a thoroughbred with problem feet and legs and we tried barefoot to help him. Since then we have our horses barefoot and they have not looked back.
What I saw and read about barefoot made me realise that it just made sense and it sparked my wish to be involved in equine rehabilitation by delivering professional trimming as an Equine Podiotherapist.