Conference for professionals

Where current knowledge meets proven field solutions

The goal of the conference is to create a space for shared learning, the exchange of experiences, honing professional skills, and building industry connections in a supportive atmosphere, regardless of length of service, level of experience, or membership in a particular professional group.

  • Date 25–27 Oct 2026
  • Venue Salio Equisport, Biesiekierz Rudny near Łódź, central Poland

About the event

If you feel like you want to take what you do to the next level and see how you can work even more mindfully and effectively — this is the place for you.

01

What the conference is

I am convinced that good professional practice in the equine industry should be based on continuous development. I therefore invite you to update your knowledge, broaden your horizons, exchange experiences, and enrich your professional skills based on an understanding of the anatomy, biomechanics, and pathophysiology of the issues we all encounter on a daily basis. This event is aimed at farriers, veterinarians, veterinary students, and equine physical therapists who wish to work together to continuously raise the standards of their work.

I believe that the pursuit of understanding the nature of the case and the desire for growth are the best motivations for expanding one's expertise, and when combined with up-to-date knowledge and practical solutions, they provide the formula for improving the standards and quality of the services we offer. This is not a revealed truth — it is a working method grounded in anatomy and physiology. Furthermore, I would like to present to you a solution for combating various hoof capsule infections in the form of ready-to-use, proven therapeutic preparations, created by HoofsCare to deliver results.

Theory is one thing, and practice is another — but it's only the combination of both components with the right tools that yields real results. Therefore, the first two days of the event focus on solid theory — lectures, but ones that are reflected in everyday practice. On the third day, we move on to the practical sessions — limb dissections, assessment of horses' limb curvatures, a demonstration of clinical shoeing, and finally, hands-on sessions in the blacksmith's shop focusing on rocker modifications, culminating in a competition for the best-executed task.

As part of the conference, you'll have the opportunity to choose a practical track tailored to your profession and needs — to be selected during registration, along with a description of each track.

02

Why attend

For the first time, we will have the opportunity to welcome Paige Poss to Central Europe — one of the world's leading equine anatomists, who, like few others, is able to present equine anatomy in an absolutely phenomenal way, drawing on her many years of experience and unique specimens.

Marta Rykała, an equine veterinarian specializing in equine orthopedics, will break down navicular syndrome into its constituent parts. With her characteristic meticulousness and ability to convey technical knowledge clearly, she will present realistic treatment options for various forms of degeneration, providing us with proven solutions based on an understanding of biomechanics and pathophysiology.

Urszula Krzanowska — I don't know anyone else who is as dedicated and determined to study the anatomy of horses' limbs — an illustrator, researcher, and, above all, a farrier — will present her perspective on the anatomical anomalies we encounter in our daily work.

The second international speaker will be Jose Ramon Batalla, who combines veterinary medicine with farriery in his daily practice; his expertise stems, among other things, from the clinical experience he gained as part of Dr. Redden's team at the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. He will focus on analyzing the mechanics and potential applications of full-rocker shoes, which, for many, once the mechanics are thoroughly understood, may prove to be the solution to difficult problems encountered in the field.

I will personally share with you my experiences gained from exploring the issue of hoof cancer, where we will trace its origins, types, pharmacological treatment, management methods, and tissue preparation techniques from start to finish. In addition, I'll provide you with a line of effective care products, and you'll have the opportunity to see for yourselves just how well they work. I believe that by sharing my experience and these products, I'll be able to dispel the widespread reluctance among farriers to address this problem — or at least help soften the image of a condition that isn't nearly as scary as it's made out to be!

Hey, hey! After all, lectures aren't everything in life, so we'll wrap up the first day with a banquet, which is included in the price of every ticket option. We invite you to a feast for the mind and body, because nothing brings more joy than good food and a little buzz in the company of great people. I hope that everyone, according to their own preferences — whether at the table, by the bonfire, or on the dance floor — will have the opportunity to meet new people and strengthen cross-industry relationships. For those who prefer to recharge before another intense day of learning, a SPA area is available, where you can take advantage of the wide range of amenities offered by the resort.

See you there,

Patryk Bas

Practical part

The entire third day is devoted to working with specimens and on horses

Workshop with Paige Poss

A workshop exploring the intricacies of the anatomy of the equine digit, supported by a detailed discussion and presentation by the instructor. Hands-on work at the dissection table allows participants to closely examine the relationships between structure and anatomical features. By working on different types of legs and hooves, participants will be able to compare their structure and better understand how conformation affects limb function.

Workshop with Ramon Batalla

A workshop that puts the previously acquired theoretical knowledge into practice, preceded by a presentation from the speaker and intended only for those experienced in working at the anvil. The hands-on session involves correctly modifying and fitting a full-rocker shoe to an equine limb specimen. The workshop ends with a prize for the best-executed task; each participant works on their own equipment.

Presentation by Urszula Krzanowska

A practical reflection of the previous day's lecture on limb curvatures. Participants of the workshop part will be able to ask the speaker questions. The presentation will be streamed on screen for those watching from the stands.

Programme

Conference agenda · 25–27 Oct 2026

Day 1 — Sunday, 25 Oct 2026

  • 08:00–09:45

    Registration of participants

  • 10:00–11:00

    Opening remarks, conference organization and introduction of the speakers

    Trattoria hall

  • 11:00–11:30

    Paige Poss — "Digit anatomy: a review"

    Trattoria hall

  • 11:30–12:00

    Coffee break

  • 12:00–13:45

    Marta Rykała, DVM, PhD — "Podotrochleosis: shoeing methodology for a specific clinical problem"

    Trattoria hall

  • 13:45–14:15

    Paige Poss — "Navicular syndrome through the eyes of an anatomist"

    Trattoria hall

  • 14:30–15:45

    Lunch

    Salio restaurant

  • 16:00–17:15

    CEF Patryk Bas — "Diagnosis and management techniques in cases of hoof cancer"

    Trattoria hall

  • 17:30–20:00

    Salio brewery tasting

    Salio restaurant hall

  • 20:00–01:00

    Barbecue networking banquet

    Trattoria hall

Day 2 — Monday, 26 Oct 2026

  • 10:00–12:00

    DVM Jose Ramon Batalla — "Orthopedic shoeing techniques using full-rocker shoes"

    Trattoria hall

  • 12:00–12:30

    Coffee break

  • 12:30–14:30

    M.Sc. Eng. Arch. Urszula Krzanowska — "Limb curvatures in horses: the influence of angular limb deformities on the hoof capsule"

    Trattoria hall

  • 14:30–15:45

    Lunch

    Salio restaurant

  • 16:00–17:00

    Paige Poss — "The palmar nerve: its function and importance for the musculoskeletal system"

    Trattoria hall

Day 3 — Tuesday, 27 Oct 2026 — practical part

  • 07:30–10:00

    Cars may enter the hall to set up shoeing stations

  • 10:00–11:30

    M.Sc. Eng. Arch. Urszula Krzanowska — curvatures identified in practice, demonstration on horses

    Salio big hall

  • 11:30–13:30

    DVM Jose Ramon Batalla — clinical case: shoeing a horse with a rocker shoe

    Salio big hall · in parallel

  • 11:30–13:30

    Digit dissection with Paige Poss, part 1

    Salio big hall · in parallel

  • 13:30–14:30

    Lunch

    Salio restaurant

  • 14:30–17:00

    Shoeing workshops with Ramon Batalla

    Salio big hall · in parallel

  • 14:30–17:00

    Digit dissection with Paige Poss, part 2

    Salio big hall · in parallel

  • 17:00–19:00

    Cars may enter the hall

Speakers

Meet our speakers

IHHF Paige Poss

IHHF Paige Poss

Anatomy of the digit and hoof

Paige Poss has dedicated over 25 years to the hoof care industry, focusing on trimming hooves, performing hoof dissections, and creating educational materials. In 2026, Paige was honored with induction into the International Horseshoer's Hall of Fame. Alongside her business partner, Jenny Edwards, Paige is the co-founder of Anatomy of the Equine, LLC, a well-known platform that produces and distributes educational resources specifically for farriers and veterinary professionals.

Paige's dissections and workshops provide a creative and supportive space for people to explore the complexities of hoof mechanics. These interactive sessions help participants improve their understanding and appreciation of equine anatomy. Motivated by her passion for teaching, Paige uses her expertise to produce engaging imagery that not only educates but also encourages a deep respect for the intricacies of horse anatomy. Currently, she calls the Sonoran Desert in Tucson, AZ, home, where she lives with her husband and a loving menagerie of cats, a dog, and horses.

Marta Rykała, DVM, PhD

Marta Rykała, DVM, PhD

Podotrochleosis – shoeing methodology for a specific clinical problem

She earned her veterinary degree in 2016 from the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences. She completed her clinical internship at Tierklinik Telgte in Germany and at Equi Vet Serwis (Dr. Maciej Przewoźny) in Buk, focusing her training primarily on orthopedics. In 2022, she earned the title of specialist in equine diseases from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, and in 2023, at her alma mater, she defended her doctoral dissertation titled "Identification of the Endocannabinoid Receptor System in the Skin and Brain of Horses," earning the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Sciences.

Since 2017, she has been running the EQUI BONO Veterinary Clinic, where she is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. In her clinical practice, she strives to speak and act primarily in the patient's best interest, while ensuring that training aligns with the animal's health needs, recognizing the paramount importance of farrier care, and acknowledging the psycho-physical interdependence essential for treating the animal as a sentient being.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Rykała teaches fourth- and fifth-year veterinary medicine students at the University of Life Sciences in Wrocław; she is involved in student conferences on specific topics and industry lectures, focusing primarily on the relationship between a patient's clinical presentation and diagnostic imaging. She is an active member of the Polish Hippiatric Society (PTH).

In her personal life, she has been the owner of her beloved Heban for 20 years, who — as she often says — gives her veterinary career and life path the right direction.

M.Sc. Eng. Arch. Urszula Krzanowska

M.Sc. Eng. Arch. Urszula Krzanowska

Limb curvatures in horses – the influence of angular limb deformities on the hoof capsule

Urszula Krzanowska combines the profession of a farrier with the eye of an architect. She specializes in hoof biomechanics, focusing on load analysis and the function of the horse's locomotor system. On a daily basis, she cares for approximately 300 horses from various disciplines and with diverse needs — ranging from complex orthopedic cases to high-level sport horses, both in Poland and abroad.

She gained her expertise through training, work, and internships abroad with renowned specialists in Poland and internationally, including in the United States, Switzerland, and Italy, as well as during an external internship at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Kentucky. She has learned from Dr. Redden, Dr. Hans Castelijns, Carlo Montagna, and many other practitioners and researchers specializing in biomechanics, rehabilitation, and hoof health.

She is a speaker at international conferences, a leader of specialized training courses, and the author of industry publications in Poland and abroad; she is also the co-author of the book Together Against Laminitis, written with Dr. Magdalena Senderska-Płonowska. She promotes an approach to hoof balance and biomechanics based on observation and analysis, constantly comparing theories with practice and verifying them in her daily work with horses. She is valued for her original approach to assessing hoof balance and her analytical perspective on equine movement.

CEF Patryk Bas

CEF Patryk Bas

Diagnosis and management techniques in cases of hoof cancer

A graduate of the veterinary technical school in Szczecin, he has been working professionally in equine podiatry since 2016. Over the past decade, he has participated in numerous courses, training sessions, and conferences on hoof-related topics.

Since 2024, he has been a Eurofarrier representing the European Farriers' Federation (EFFA). Professionally, he specializes in treating hoof pathologies, primarily hoof cancer, which he has been treating in a clinical setting for years. This has allowed him to conduct research, make observations, and develop field protocols. He identifies with the organized Polish professional groups Farriers of Małopolska and Equine Practitioners of Poland, whose goal is to disseminate the latest knowledge about hooves at the highest level and to improve professional practices.

Privately, he is the owner of several horses, including draft horses, which hold a special place in his heart. In his free time, he is a lover of psychology, good food, a little alcohol, and peace and quiet.

DVM Jose Ramon Batalla

DVM Jose Ramon Batalla

Orthopedic shoeing techniques using rocker shoes

DVM José Ramón Batalla is an equine veterinarian and farrier with more than 20 years of clinical experience focused on equine podiatry, lameness diagnosis, and applied hoof biomechanics. His work is centered on integrating veterinary medicine, radiology, and farriery into a cohesive, evidence-based approach to managing complex hoof and performance-related conditions.

Originally based in Costa Rica, Dr. Batalla completed advanced training in Europe and the United States, including a fellowship in equine podiatry at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. He is an active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and has authored multiple peer-reviewed conference papers presented at the AAEP Annual Convention, with a particular focus on rocker shoe biomechanics, laminitis, and functional hoof balance.

Dr. Batalla has had the privilege of presenting lectures and clinics across North America, Europe, and Latin America, discussing practical applications and biomechanical principles in therapeutic shoeing. As the founder of Podología Equina Costa Rica, he has developed a regional platform for equine hoof care and professional education.

His approach emphasizes understanding the equine foot as a dynamic biomechanical system, where load distribution, limb conformation, and soft-tissue forces interact to shape hoof function and pathology. Dr. Batalla's work continues to focus on advancing the field of equine podiatry through education, clinical innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Venue

The entire conference will take place at the Salio resort in Biesiekierz Rudny, near Łódź (central Poland). Mention "HoofsCare Conference" when booking accommodation to receive a discount.

Salio Equisport Resort — grounds

Salio Equisport Resort

Biesiekierz Rudny near Łódź. Comfortable conference facilities, a restaurant, a brewery and a SPA zone — all in one place, in surroundings that encourage networking.

Discounted accommodation: mention "HoofsCare Conference" when booking.

Salio resort website

FAQ

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Conference

2500

  • Lectures 25–26 Oct
  • Audience access 27 Oct
  • Lunches 25–26 Oct
  • Coffee breaks 25–27 Oct
  • Networking event 25 Oct
  • Certificate of participation
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Our Partners

Polish Hippiatric Society
NorthHoof
Polish Farriers' Association