September 24-27, 2025
Wet Labs - Saturday, September 27th, 2025
Lameness
Kurt Selberg, DVM DACVR, DACVR-EDI, ISELP
Hind proximal suspensory ligament. The suspensory ligament, both fore and hind are common area for injury. Accurately diagnosing helps prognosticate and guide treatment options. The lab will cover a complete exam of fore and hind suspensory ligament employing techniques to help better characterize lesions and assess clinical relevance.
Sue Dyson, MA, VetMB, PhD
Enhancing your skills in the assessment of gait and behavior in ridden horses. What can be learnt from ridden exercise that we don’t know from evaluation in hand and on the lunge? This is an opportunity to examine horses in hand, on the lunge, being tacked up and mounted and then ridden, to evaluate changes in gait and to observe behavior and learn more about the practical application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram.
Kent Allen, DVM, ISELP
Ultrasound of the back and neck. Ultrasound of the Equine Back and the Neck on a live horse learning how to ultrasound the important structures of the back and neck. Once you learn transverse and long axis views, we will practice on an ultrasound phantom learning injection techniques.
Podiatry
Ellen Staples, DVM, CJF, TE
Different shoeing solutions used at different stages of the laminitic process from acute laminitis with coffin bone displacement to chronic laminitis. This will include application of clogs and other synthetic shoeing tools as well as nail-on shoes with modifications that address the specific needs of a recovering laminitic horse.
Mike Poe, CJF, AWCF
Trimming for Static Balance, Shoeing for Dynamic Balance in Front Feet. Evaluation of gait utilizing slow motion video, trimming to skeletal alignment, re evaluation of movement with slow motion video, shoeing to enable even landing, final slow motion evaluation.
Simon Moore, FWCF
The many uses of synthetic materials in everyday farriery. The advancement in synthetic materials in farriery over the past few years, has enabled farriers and veterinary surgeons to treat a number of conditions, that previously were difficult if not impossible to do so. By combining traditional farriery techniques with modern synthetic materials and scientific research, has presented farriers with solutions to many conditions that previously may not have been successfully treated. Farriers often have to think ‘outside the box’ when presented with complicated cases that may require a combination of different materials to achieve a successful outcome.
Internal Medicine
Ben Sykes, BSc, BVMS, MSc, MBA, DipACVIM, PhD, FHEA
Gastroscopy in the horse. Gastroscopy is challenging for many clinicians. Yet, a few simple tricks of the trade can turn this difficult procedure into one that is enjoyable and easy to complete. Come along for a hands-on wet lab to hone your skills.
Teresa Burns, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Diagnostic sampling techniques for equine respiratory disease
Participants will be able to gain hands-on experience with the following techniques used in diagnostic evaluation of horses with respiratory disease:
Percutaneous trans-tracheal lavage
Transendoscopic tracheal lavage
Bronchoalveolar lavage
Thoracic ultrasonography
Upper airway endoscopy
Guttural pouch lavage (with and without endoscopic guidance)
Educational Partner Wet Labs
Abby M. Sage, VMD, DACVIM
Refining your ultrasound skills for musculoskeletal injuries.
Marie Rhodin DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVSMR
Objective gait analysis in practice. Learn how objective gait analysis via smartphone can support clinical decisions and enhance collaboration in everyday work. This session covers practical use, interpretation of results, and how Sleip helps facilitate communication within the equine performance team.
Ultrasound Essentials (AM) & Advanced (PM)
Kate Chope, BA, VMD, DACVSMR
Suzan Oakley, DVM, DACVSMR, DABVp (Equine)
Pastern (P1)
Emphasis will be placed on recognition and image acquisition of the four main structures of the pastern: SDFT, DDFT, SDSL and ODSL. The instructor will review their to performing a thorough ultrasound exam of the region, proper image settings, recognition of normal appearances, and discussion of variations of normal including commonly encountered artifacts in the region.
Rachel Gottleib, DVM
Matt Durham, DVM, DACVSMR
Please note for all labs: A brief power point of the salient anatomy and ultrasound tips will be provided the week prior to the lab and presented the Friday prior during the conference. It should be reviewed by attendees prior to the start of the lab in order to maximize scanning time. For each station a live demonstration will be performed followed by ample hands-on time for attendees to practice technique.
Morning - Essential Wet Labs
Four ultrasound stations, divided into four subgroups. rotating each hour.
Proximal Metacarpus and Carpal Canal.
The sonographic approach to the structures of the carpal canal (SDFT, DDFT, CS) and proximal to mid metacarpal carpal region (SDFT, DDFT, ICL, SL and CS) will be reviewed. Attention will be paid to image maximization, technique, normal and abnormal appearances and clinical relevance.
Distal metacarpus/DFTS/AL/Manica
The structures of the distal metacarpus including SDFT, DDFT, Suspensory branches, Manical Flexoria, DFTS and AL will be evaluated. Emphasis will be placed on the instructor’s approach to performing a thorough ultrasound exam of the region, proper image settings, recognition of normal appearances, and discussion of variations of normal including commonly encountered artifacts in the region.
Proximal metatarsal region with emphasis on the proximal hind suspensory ligament.
The SDFT, Long Plantar Ligament, DDFT, remnant of the hind ICL and SL will be evaluated. Emphasis will be placed on the instructor’s approach to performing a thorough ultrasound exam of the region, proper image settings, recognition of normal appearances, and discussion of variations of normal including commonly encountered artifacts in the region. Time and level permitting, the indications for off weighted views will be discussed and off weighted views obtained and reviewed.
Afternoon - Advanced Wet Labs
Afternoon Lab (2 hours). Choose between Station 1 or Station 2:
Hock (1a) and Stifle (1b)
The most clinically relevant structures of the hock and stifle will be reviewed. In both stations , emphasis will be placed on the instructor’s approach to performing a thorough ultrasound exam of the region, proper image settings, recognition of normal appearances, and discussion of variations of normal including commonly encountered artifacts in the region.
Neck and shoulder (2 a) and FLASH abdomen (2b)
The dorsal articular facet joints, cervical nerve roots and location of the nuchal bursa will be reviewed. Normal expected appearance will be discussed and emphasis tailored to participants interest/familiarity with the region. Time permitting the bicipital bursal region and shoulder jont will be covered. 2b) other things you can do with your ultrasound: FLASH (focused abdominal sonography for horses) – using your linear or convex probe to evaluate select portions of the abdomen to help support diagnosis of some common causes for colic in the horse.