Dynamic Duo

In October 1996 a long term working relationship between Farrier Wayne "Link" Baumann and Veterinarian Dr Terry Hicks saw the formation of Australia's first Equine Podiatry Centre.

The Centre is an extension of the Muswellbrook Veterinarian Centre in the NSW Hunter Valley. It houses an operating theatre and post-operative stabling for up to six horses.

Dr Hicks has worked closely with Link since his arrival from the US two years ago, where his interest in equine podiatry was kindled by Dr Ric Redden, organiser of the Annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium in Kentucky.

Dr Redden started the ball rolling in the equine podiatry field 20 years ago, when most of the critical cases were handled by university clinics.

Dr Hicks says the Hunter Valley centre is unique because it's available to the public, and deals with extreme cases of laminitis and lameness that most professionals shy away from.

"Not all the animals we see are disaster cases," he explained.

"There are a lot of good vets diagnosing lameness, but they don't have a farrier to maintain the case after medicines have taken effect."

Some of the operations performed by the Equine Podiatry Centre include treatment of laminitis, navicular injuries, splint bones, tendonotomies, complete hoof wall resections as a result of secondary infections, and knee chips caused by bad conformation. These operations require intensive post-operative care which can range from 24 hour surveillance to bandage changes three times a day.

Link has an important role to play in this care, by making up the appropriate therapeutic shoes to allow for quick recovery.

These shoes have to be examined and adjusted two or three times a week. Although 90 percent of their patients come to the facility for treatment, Link and Dr Hicks travel great distances in special circumstances.

One of their most challenging cases was a chronically lame horse in the Murray River town of Swan Hill.

This is a keen example of the need for this type of service in Australia.

In Link's words: "We recognised there was a demand for this type of service, and now we aim to be the best facility in the country."

With 25 years of collective knowledge, this dynamic duo look set to achieve their goal.