2024 PHCP conference

October 3-6, 2024

Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel & Conference Center, 5440 North River Road Rosemont, IL 60018

If you’ve attended a PHCP conference in the past, you know it is a great place to further your education, reconnect with old friends, and meet new folks in the industry.

Conference attendance is worth 25 PHCP continuing education credits and 17.5 IAPF continuing education credits.

 

 

2024 presenters

Dr. David Rendle

BVSc MVM CertEM(IntMed) DipECEIM FRCVS RCVS and European Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine

Following graduation from The University of Bristol in 2001, David worked in farm animal and equine practice in Somerset, UK before completing an internship at Liphook Equine Hospital. A 3-year Horserace Betting Levy Board residency at The University of Glasgow and Liphook Equine Hospital enabled him to train as a specialist in equine internal medicine and to gain a masters by research into equine asthma and an RCVS certificate in equine medicine. David spent a number of years at Liphook Equine Hospital and had spells at The Royal Veterinary College and Charles Sturt University in Australia before moving to Rainbow Equine Hospital in Yorkshire where he became a director. David returned to his Westcountry roots in 2020 and now works as an independent equine medicine and therapeutics consultant. He is Immediate Past President of the British Equine Veterinary Association, chair of their health and medicines committee, and sits on a number of equine industry advisory groups. David has an active research interest in equine endocrinology and gastroenterology and speaks regularly internationally.

Ida Hammer

Ida Hammer is the creator and owner of MackinawDells 2 Whole Horse Hoof Care, founded in 2009.

She has taught over 2000 people around the globe about hoof care, and has personally trimmed over 200,000 hooves, making her one of the most experienced trimmers and equine educators in the world. She has been a member and instructor for the AANHCP and the AHA, and is a current member of PHCP. Ida’s classes, available online and in-person, are based on her own vast experience and learning from other equine professionals such as Dr. Deb Taylor, Dr. Bowker, Pete Ramey, Ray Hunt, Jillian Kreinbring, Dr. Kerry Ridgeway, Deb Davies, and so many more. Ida believes to be a true student of the horse, you never stop learning and growing, and her educational material reflects that hunger to know more. Ida has exercised horses on the track, enjoyed competitive trail rides, trained horses, loved mounted shooting, and has been blessed to have horses with her partner, Ada, for many years. When two of their heart horses were diagnosed as hopeless navicular cases in 1992 and again in 2004, Ida decided to dedicate her life to making the world a better place for horses and the humans who love them. What could have been a senseless tragedy, instead birthed Mackinaw Dells 2 Whole Horse Hoof Care. There are now over 100 certified trimmers from Ida’s program and that number is growing every year to serve more horses. The online classes and revolutionary educational tools have made it possible for people to learn to trim all over the world. Ida released her first Exploring The Equine Hoof Handbook in March of 2022 is also working on her new book that is planned for release summer of 2024. Ida currently trims 20-30 head a week to keep her hand in the game, and is now focusing on sharing information and teaching future trimmers, horse professionals, and fellow HoofNerds.  All for the love of the horse.

Dr. Jenny Hagen

Jenny Hagen, DVM, PhD, CF, is a veterinarian, re­searcher and certified farrier and is in private practice for equine ortho­pedics, farriery and chiropractic. She is a mem­ber of the faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University in Ger­many and is an Associated teacher at the Horseshoeing Schools Verden and Dortmund. Jenny also teaches as an Associated Professor at the Institute of Veterinary Anatomy (head of the research group Equine Biomechanics and Orthopeadics). She was the supervisor and clinician at the Horseshoeing School of the Clinic for Horses at Leipzig University. Her role as a veterinarian, an educator, and a farrier give her a unique perspective into the equine hoof care industry.

Wendy Murdoch

Wendy Murdoch is an internationally recognized equestrian instructor and clinician for over 30 years, author of several books and DVDs, and creator of the SURE FOOT Equine Stability Program® and Ride Like A Natural®. She is one of the most skillful teachers ever encountered in any equestrian discipline. Wendy’s desire to understand the function of both horse and human, her curiosity, and her love of teaching capitalize on the most current learning theories. In this way, she is able to help both the horse and the rider.

In 1984 while attaining her master’s degree in equine reproductive physiology, Wendy suffered a severe riding accident. Her self-rehabilitation started a quest to understand and answer the question of how to ride pain-free, using the body as it was designed. Wendy’s uncanny ability to find and study with the best people in a variety of fields and her profound curiosity make her unique. Wendy combines her creative talents with her scientific training to break down larger concepts of horseback riding as well as horse health into simple, easy-to-understand, bite-sized “chunks” for students of all ages, abilities, and disciplines.  Her ability to make learning enjoyable, engaging, and fun through in-depth presentations helps her students connect the dots and achieve their goals.

Her studies include an apprenticeship with Sally Swift, extensive training with Linda Tellington-Jones, study with holistic veterinarian Dr. Joyce Harman and equine biomechanics expert Dr. Hilary Clayton, and courses with Jon Zahourek (Anatomy in Clay®), To help her guide students towards better function Wendy became a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner® and continued her study through MBS Academy and Dr. Feldenkrais’ first assistant, Mia Segal.

Wendy’s willingness to embrace new ideas led her to develop the SURE FOOT Equine Stability Program and SURE FOOT Equine Balance Pads, which allow horses to reprogram their own brains in order to feel more grounded, secure, and confident so they can become a more willing partner.

In 2020 Wendy was introduced to the HAY SOAKER™, a product that was developed by Jennifer Azevedo to heal her horse’s health. Jen ceased manufacturing in 2012, yet people were still inquiring as to its availability.  Having embraced the manufacturing world with SURE FOOT Pads, Wendy saw that this product answered a need in the equine marketplace — a simple, easy way to soak hay for horses that need reduced-sugar hay to improve their health. She acquired the product and along with her life partner, Bradley Schneider (an engineer) improved the design, updated certain components, and added a technology to create a modern method for soaking hay.

Celeste Lazaris

Celeste is an equine biomechanical lameness specialist and an expert in equine movement and muscle development. She is a pioneer for developing the horse’s physical body to protect the nervous system. In her practice, Balance Through Movement, Celeste focuses on releasing nerve impingements in the horse that cause restrictions and undiagnosed lameness, and teaching owners how to develop their horse’s body both in-hand and under saddle, utilizing intrinsic motivation and proper movement to prevent injury and nerve related problems. She is highly valued by veterinarians around the world for her ability to help them utilize a more holistic approach for lasting changes. Due to her background as a professional trainer and competitive rider, she is approachable and excels in teaching both trainers and adult amateurs alike. Her work is truly revolutionary for equine performance, lameness prevention and helping the horse-human dynamic.

2024 exhibitors

Exhibitor information and registration

Draft level exhibitors

Horse level exhibitors

2024 round table moderators

Trimming Performance Horses

Maia Chaput

Maia has been trimming since 2011 and is a PHCP mentor, practitioner, and clinician. Her clientele consists of healthy maintenance trims, rehabilitation cases, and performance horses. She also has a passion for educating horse owners. Maia’s goal is to raise the standard of equine care by teaching preventative and proactive strategies for strong healthy hooves, optimal biomechanics, and the use of boots and composite shoes as alternatives to metal shoeing. Visit Metta Equus to learn more.

Gabrielle Goulet

Gabrielle started the PHCP program in 2019 to learn about trimming her own horses. She was coaching and training for 6 years when she finally decided it was not the right fit as a career path and realized that her passion was hoof care. She is currently an intermediate student practitioner and started her hoof care business in 2022. Gabrielle has been lucky to have amazing mentors and her aim is to keep learning so she can continue to help our equine friends.

Track Systems and Lifestyle

Alicia Harlov

Most people know Alicia from her invaluable hoof care podcast, The Humble Hoof. Alicia is an PHCP mentor and practitioner and also owns and operates The Humble Hoof Rehab Facility in Amesbury, MA, while running a full time hoof care trimming business. Alicia believes that getting a horse sound is often a matter of finding the right pieces to the puzzle such as diet, environment, trim, and biomechanics.

Ruthie Thompson-Klein

Ruthie emphasizes hoof health in concert with overall equine wellness and looks for ways to get every horse thriving, not just surviving. She graduated Montana State University with an all-around farrier education but the real education began after school. Ruthie took a major detour into whole horse hoof care after years of trimming and shoeing competitive and pleasure horses, and instead began studying and applying the work of Jamie Jackson, Pete Ramey and Dr. Bowker, among others. Ruthie is a PHCP mentor and has been maintaining her track system for 15 years.

Tool Selection and Maintenance

Philip Himanka

Philip is a PHCP mentor, practitioner, and clinician and owns Not Only Barefoot. His specialties include performance and rehabilitation hoof care, and he utilizes boots and glue on hoof care protection when necessary. Philip believes in continuing education and attends seminars and clinics throughout the year. He strives for excellence in every challenge and believes in self-honesty and the ability to admit when making a mistake and to have the courage to change.

Sara Hunt

Sara started down the barefoot rabbit hole in 2006 with her first horse, Prophecy, who was facing retirement. Instead, with the benefit of barefoot hoof care and booting, Prophecy spent another 10 years enjoying the trails (and is still enjoying life at 36). After years of helping others with their horses on the side, Sara started offering her expertise professionally. She is a PHCP practitioner and operates Spectrum Equine which offers barefoot trimming, rehabilitation work, and hoof protection, along with BEMER therapy and saddle fitting of Ghost Treeless Saddles.

Hoof Pathologies

Lorie Fleenor

As an 8th generation Tennessee farmer, knowledge of animal welfare and whole horse hoof care has always been a passion for Lorie. She has been trimming since 2007 and with the help of her husband and two children, runs a 265 head cattle operation and boards and cares for 75 horses. Lorie is a PHCP mentor, practitioner, and clinician and also teaches riding lessons and offers training at her farm. With so many horses on her farm, Lorie sees a variety of interesting hooves and pathologies.

Alicia Harlov

Alicia is a PHCP mentor and practitioner and owns and operates The Humble Hoof Rehab Facility in Amesbury, MA. She believes that getting a horse sound is often a matter of finding the right pieces to the puzzle such as diet, environment, trim, and biomechanics. Offering rehab via her track system has exposed Alicia to even more hoof pathologies and mystery lamenesses.

Donkey Feet

Jeannean Mercuri

Jeannean has been rehabbing horses barefoot since 2001. She is a PHCP mentor, practitioner, and clinician and serves on the PHCP Board of Directors. She has traveled to Canada, Italy, Spain, Aruba and all over the US to teach horse owners and hoof care professionals. Jeannean’s love of donkeys started when her horse Cricket needed a companion. In walked Chispa and let’s just say life was never the same. In a good way.

Cayce Brockwell

Cayce started Dare to Be Different Long Ear Hoof Care after meeting a foundered mini donkey named Doris who taught her how important it is for us to advocate for donkeys, and all animals. Cayce strives to help donkey owners understand specific dietary, handling, and environmental needs for donkeys. All of these things trickle down to the donkey’s feet. Cayce’s goal was to have two donkeys in her herd; now she has eight donkeys!

Avoiding Burnout

Christina Krueger

Christina’s hoof care profession began in 2012 after completing Ida Hammer’s Whole Horse Hoof Care Certification program. She became a PHCP practitioner in 2017 and achieved mentor status in 2019. Christina’s From Hoof To Heart practice focuses on maintenance, rehabilitation and performance hoof care. As the current PHCP President, Christina aims to continue helping the organization grow its membership and to educate hoof care professionals and horse owners about the importance of a holistic approach to equine hoof care.

Melody O’Brien

Melody founded Whole Health Hoof Care & Trimming in 2010. She believes that healthy hooves depend on consistent, non-invasive trimming, proper and balanced nutrition, and plenty of movement, and strives to educate and empower horse owners to care for their horses in a way that optimizes their overall health and well-being. Melody is a PHCP mentor, practitioner, and clinician and offers maintenance trimming, rehabilitation, and glue on shoeing when necessary.

2024 agenda

Thursday, October 3 – Sunday, October 6

Don’t forget to add the conference mobile agenda to your smartphone or tablet!