Report on 2007 Conference

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Our Fourth International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot held on November 2nd - 4th, 2007 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida was our best ever. At this year's conference, we amassed a faculty of 35 presenters from 15 states and 4 foreign nations. The diversity of the topics covered was expansive with presentations on nutrition and endocrine diseases to stem cell research and gene therapy. Our 4th laminitis conference represented the most comprehensive event ever held on the subject of laminitis and disease of the equine foot. None of this would have been possible without the inspired assistance of many of my colleagues and I would like to especially thank members of the original 2001 organizing committee who remain involved in supporting this endeavor: Dr. Robert Boswell, Dr. Christopher Pollitt, Rob Sigafoos and our most generous benefactors, John and Marianne Castle. Their magnanimous support has been the backbone of our conference and has paved the way for many exciting developments on the horizon. For the past conference though, I owe a special debt of gratitude to Fran Jurga for editing the proceedings and the Program Director, Dr. Rustin Moore, for assembling such an exceptional faculty and curriculum.

I wanted to summarize three major areas of the laminitis battle front where progress has been made.

1. PREVENTION PROGRESS: with a wide spread testing of horses at a younger age for Equine Cushing's disease, currently called Pars, Intermedia Dysfunction, the administration of preventative medicines can successfully thwart the onset of laminitis.

2. TREATMENT PROGRESS: innovative pain techniques and better pain management provide us tools to improve the quality of life for horses being treated for laminitis.

3. RESEARCH PROGRESS: increasing scientific data support the theory that the underlying cause of laminitis is an inflammatory process with secondary vascular changes. This has paved the way for numerous pharmaceutical advances and treatment options.

While the progress has been great, we still have a long, long way to go. Our goal to eradicate laminitis and other diseases of the foot parallels modern medicine's approach to conquering human ailments such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. As a complex endeavor, this requires great patience as well as endless hard work over an extended period of time with many dedicated friends and colleagues. It is my sincere hope that by focusing on laminitis many insights and developments will continue to occur that improve our ability to deal with all aspects of equine foot diseases and equine care in general. In addition to continuing the tradition of producing a biennial conference, we will also begin to present "off year" mini conferences. These mini conferences will be at a different part of the country, currently planned for Monterey, California on November 1, 2008.

The Organizing Committee has already started planning for 2009 which looks to be an even better and more exciting. Plans are for continuation of the scientific and practical sessions in conjunction with many more opportunities for small group sessions and one-on-one interaction with our sponsors and exhibitors in our continuing goal to make everyone feel like "family" in the highest quality scientific and clinical conference setting.

As we focus, on Laminitis 5, or the Fifth International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot, we face many challenges. I would like to thank the many trailblazers, researchers, owners and care givers who continually advance the understanding and treatment of laminitis through their dedicated work every day. Our progress is a direct result of their efforts and it is our wish that every conference provides a launching pad for even greater accomplishments.

Before closing, I would like to recognize the 2007 recipients of the prestigious awards given at the Fourth International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot:

Special recognition: Mr. & Mrs. John K. Castle for extraordinary vision, generosity and leadership in conquering laminitis.

Pfizer Scientific Award: Presented by Dr. Chris Pollitt to Dr. James Belknap of the College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Presented by Patrick Reilly to Robert Sigafoos of the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

Spot Courage Award: Presented by Robert Sigafoos to Angela Sasso of Reinholds, PA

Spot Castle Awareness Award: Presented by Dr. Rustin Moore to Roy & Gretchen Jackson, owners of Barbaro, West Grove, PA.

CaRE Award: Presented by Mark & Carol Zebrowski to Joanne Durfee of the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

Finally, one of the fun activities of the Conference was the intercollegiate "Foot Bowl;" an academic game of the University of Florida, the Ohio State University and the University of Pennsylvania's School's of Veterinary Medicine. Please look further on this web site to learn the winning team in this collegial competition.

Cordially,
James A. Orsini, DVM, ACVS
Director