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Pictured from left to right David C. Roseman, Melissa Smith, Ian Whatley, Doug Hanna (in front), Julie Mills-Womack, Eric Nystrom
 After years of struggling with equine foot problems using traditional farrier practices, David undertook a methodical study of modern foot care alternatives. He concluded that the science-based principles and practices of Applied Equine Podiatry offer the best hope for long-term soundness and performance, regardless of whether the horse is to be shod or left unshod. His love of horses has led him to use his communication and teaching skills to help make AEP accessible to all wishing to learn about it.
David maintains an active practice as an DAEP in Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia, and consults on problem cases in other regions as well. He is an attorney licensed in Virginia, New York and the District of Columbia, and has practiced law for over 30 years. David lives in Great Falls, Virginia with his wife Pamela, two Tennessee Walking Horses, three dogs and one cat.
I’d like to introduce myself, my name is Melissa Smith. The other guy in the picture is Ryan, the one that got me into all of this! I live on ten acres in Wilder Idaho with my husband Brian, and my daughter Breanna and son Caleb. Along with 6 horses, 2 dogs, 3 cats, a guinea pig and fish.
Because of Ryan’s foot issues, (the thoroughbred in the picture with me) I decided he needed to go shoeless. That started me on this adventure, a path I would never have imagined myself on. In the beginning, I only planned on learning how to take care of my own horse’s feet. Little did I know that would lead to an incredible education! Soon I found myself learning and training under the guidance of the founders of the Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry, Robyn and KC La Pierre, RJF,MEP,Ph.D. Not only have I learned more than I ever thought possible about the equine foot, I have become an advocate for the horse.
I have trimmed professionally now for over 6 years, became a Degreed Applied Equine Podiatrist and through much hard work and sacrifice have now qualified to represent the IAEP as an instructor! As an instructor representing the IAEP, I will continue to promote what KC La Pierre has taught us at the core and from the very beginning, the horse comes first! Regardless if it is a pasture pony or a top level competing professional, I will continue to learn, and make every attempt at doing what is right, for the horse!
 Born in Jersey and educated in the UK, I fell in love with horses from a young age. I still find it amazing that anyone can watch a horse move with such grace and dignity without understanding that mankind could learn many things from God’s true masterpiece… the horse.
Initially, as a horse owner I was surprised just how little control we seemed to have over their feet, given that this is a fundamental aspect of a healthy horse. Still, I reasoned (as have many) that 100 years of using horseshoes would not have occurred without good reason.
Having established that the conventional rim shoe was not proving to be satisfactory for many horses I began to research into ‘alternative’ shoeing techniques. I spent periods in the USA training to trim and apply shoes using remedial techniques. Whilst I achieved many positive results, these different methods were unable to consistently provide every horse with the feet they required to sustain health and soundness.
I reasoned that since healthy sound horses were a necessity and not a luxury, then merely reacting to foot issues as they developed, rather than seeking to prevent them occurring was not the answer I was looking for.
A trip to Wales, and a meeting with KC La Pierre immediately made me question why 1000 years of domestication and working with the foot nature provided, had been so comprehensibly replaced by a belief that our horses simply cannot function without our constant interference.
Today, as a DAEP, I currently work with both students and clients in five countries throughout Europe, assisting over three hundred horses, and helping to form a sense of ‘team responsibility’ between the student, the client and their horse, in order to provide horses with consistently healthy feet.
Now as a Certified Instructor I hope that I can reach even more horse owners, helping them to realise that they can and should play an active part in their horse’s welfare, rather than be dependent on ‘experts’ (often with conflicting opinions) for their horse’s care. The quote “Sound Reasoning, Sound Horses” has never been a more apt saying.
Experience has taught me that no one understands your horse better than you do, and no-one cares more about his/her health more than you. By sharing our knowledge we can help all horse owners who wish to provide complete care for their horses, feel empowered to do so.
I am currently based in Brittany, France.
Welcome and greetings to all who are on a quest to find balance and for what’s in the best interest of the horse. My name is Doug Hanna and I reside in central Florida. I came upon this science traveling, as we say in Applied Equine Podiatry (AEP), down “The Chosen Road”. I met KC La Pierre at Timonium Fairgrounds in Maryland, just after I had inquired about farrier school and their various academic programs and curriculum. In my research I noticed the only school with a solid understanding, based on academic requirements of the internal structures (anatomy) and the horse’s intended use of functional anatomy, bio-mechanical, and neurological function (functional anatomy) was that of The Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry.
On my journey, it has been extremely rewarding to have been empowered with the knowledge to help so many horses and owners change the way they viewed conventional foot care. I came to AEP while working out on a ranch in Fort Valley, Virginia. I began to question traditional means of equine foot care, since some of our horses were losing shoes and still functioning relatively sound through rugged terrain and mountains. Realizing that, I started a quest of my own. At the time it was more about the future care of my horses. I never considered that I would be where I am today; a full time Instructor and DAEP. Through hard work, discipline and commitment to what best exemplifies not only the science for which we are responsible to practice and teach, but also from what I learned in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, I graduated from the DAEP program and then went on to further my education and become an instructor. My military background and meticulous attention to detail blended together to compliment what is necessary in the practice of AEP.
Research is constant as we continue to apply what’s necessary for the domestication of the horse. This is the beginning of the future of foot care. If you follow your passion and, truly care to make an educated difference not only in yourself but in the lives of others, including most importantly our equine companions, never accept quitting, failure or lack of education as an option, you to can follow the chosen road and find the light at the end of the tunnel. We exist as instructors to challenge you to realize this remarkable program has a lot to offer you. Whether you are a farrier, veterinarian, or a horse owner, you will find new tools during your journey on the path down the chosen road that are vital in the welfare and performance of your horses!
 My name is Julie Mills-Womack. I live in Nampa Idaho with my children, 5 horses, 1 dog and 3 cats. I began my journey down the Chosen Road when my best friend Dixie became foundered. After doing A LOT of research I found that removing the shoes was my only hope but after that then what? Fortunately for my horse, I found Melissa Smith in November of 2002. She came over to help me with my horse and we became best friends. She initially taught me how to trim my horse’s feet but we still had so many unanswered questions! Together, in July of 2003 we found Applied Equine Podiatry and the rest is history.
Julie has been a DAEP since April of 2005. In October of 2007 she graduated from the Institutes Instructor Program. Julie practices natural horsemanship which really comes in handy with her career, she has found that Parelli Natural Horsemanship and other non-aggressive training techniques are invaluable particularly when handling nervous or challenging horses.
Eric Nystrom lives in Fauquier County Virginia near Orlean. Eric and his family have owned horses for trail riding since 1991. After attending a lecture about keeping horses barefoot in 2002 he decided to start keeping his own horses barefoot. Unable to achieve the performance he thought possible with his own barefoot horses, he attended his first Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry (IAEP) workshop in 2004. He found the methodology taught by the IAEP provided the knowledge necessary to achieve performance with barefoot horses. Deciding to pursue equine foot care as a part time career he went on to received a diploma in Equine Podiatry for the IAEP in December of 2004. In November of 2006 Eric started working as in instructor for the IAEP first level on line course. After working for 30 years as a software engineer Eric retired from his full time job in December of 2006.
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Energy Managment Paper
The HPT Method™, not just another trim
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