[Phantom Legacy]

I'm looking into taking courses at LaPierre's Institute of Applied Equine podiatry, but I want to hear from people who have either taken his courses before or have worked with his graduates.

I like his scientific approach and how he teach body mechanics and whole horse health instead of just focusing on the feet, but before I dive in and spend a bunch of money I don't necessarily have I want to get some opinions.

I am aware that there is controversy over La Pierre and the legitimacy of his diploma and whatever else. I don't necessarily care about that. I want to hear from people who have completed any of his courses, attended clinics, or perhaps have horses under the care of someone who uses his methods.

Thank you.

 

[Patty Stiller]

Given that "controversy" about his diploma is real (he TOLD ME ,himself, first hand where he bought it) I have zero respect for anything he says or writes.
Go to the real researchers if you want real science.

 

[Phantom Legacy]

Given that "controversy" about his diploma is real (he TOLD ME ,himself, first hand where he bought it) I have zero respect for anything he says or writes.
Go to the real researchers if you want real science.

Yes, he bought his diploma. I know that. He's admitted to it several times, apparently. I don't care. Do I think it's shady? Yes. Do I think it was in effort to promote is business? Yes. Do I think it was a mistake? Yes. I am not interested in all of this. I want to know about his trimming methods. That is it.

 

[loosie]

^Being o/s, I can't speak personally of the course or the people - or horses - coming out of it at all. I've tried to learn more online about him, but there appears to be very little 'they' allow out of actual principles, practice, case studies even. Some of the assertations he's made are... interesting & contradict other good studies. That of itself means nothing about the validity - contradictions in 'science' abound. But that there is little provided(if any) of the whys & wherefores of the hypotheses to consider objectively. Too apparently secretive. And I've seen many egs here & elsewhere that I was also less than thrilled about, some resulting hoof & lameness problems out of his 'certified' trimmers... again, 3rd hand info & that of itself doesn't necessarily mean the teacher/teaching was at fault, but...

& only recently learned that his qualifications are fraudulent too, so that didn't colour my earlier opinions as described above, but that is absolutely one more big consideration IMO... I understand you're also trying to get some objective info on him/his course, but I don't get how you could not care that he's a known sheister, especially when it seems you're wanting to give him your hard earned for it. I just can't help wondering what else he's just made up because it suits his hypothesis/business...

 

[Phantom Legacy]

^Being o/s, I can't speak personally of the course or the people - or horses - coming out of it at all. I've tried to learn more online about him, but there appears to be very little 'they' allow out of actual principles, practice, case studies even. Some of the assertations he's made are... interesting & contradict other good studies. That of itself means nothing about the validity - contradictions in 'science' abound. But that there is little provided(if any) of the whys & wherefores of the hypotheses to consider objectively. Too apparently secretive. And I've seen many egs here & elsewhere that I was also less than thrilled about, some resulting hoof & lameness problems out of his 'certified' trimmers... again, 3rd hand info & that of itself doesn't necessarily mean the teacher/teaching was at fault, but...

& only recently learned that his qualifications are fraudulent too, so that didn't colour my earlier opinions as described above, but that is absolutely one more big consideration IMO... I understand you're also trying to get some objective info on him/his course, but I don't get how you could not care that he's a known sheister, especially when it seems you're wanting to give him your hard earned for it. I just can't help wondering what else he's just made up because it suits his hypothesis/business...

Don't get me wrong, it bothers me that that he tried to deceive people into following his method. It is one of the reasons I'm trying to do more research before dropping a bunch of money in his lap. I didn't want to sign up for his online course only realize I don't agree at all with his methods. The only reason I say I don't care is because every time I try to find information on his ideals or trimming method, people only ever talk about his fake diploma.

Again, I do not approve of him faking his credentials. It does make me wary, but I have heard good things as well as bad about his trimming methods. I'm just trying to look for more information so I can expand my hoof knowledge.

I am looking for alternatives as well. Other programs out there or better avenues of educating myself, but no one wants to seem to give up that information. Instead they just tell me what I'm doing is wrong and leave it at that. It's downright frustrating.

 

[loosie]

You're in the States, so an ELPO course would be top on my list. Don't know of any other good courses over there though.

 

[Patty Stiller]

One thing you can do is find all the websites you can that belong to KC's certified trimmers.(a lot do not seem to have a website but some do. Then look at their case studies. I did, a few anyway , and was not impressed at their work. And they seem to take a LONG time to make improvements in hooves, that I know can be done safely in just one or two trims. And consistently in the ones I looked at they left taller heels and the breakover point too far forward,things I do not agree with.
As well KC tends to take other peoples research and ideas such as recognising hoof distortion and give it a fancy new name he made up so it sounds like he discovered something himself.if he cant make it "His" he can't sell it very well. You can learn everything you need to learn to be an effective hoof trimmer (for FREE if you want to take the time to self-teach from the website ) from the ELPO .

 

[Patty Stiller]

The ELPO FREELY gives out information . LOTS of it. They are a registered 501(3)c non profit. And if you join , for a a nominal quarterly membership, there is even more information available on the site to members, including more video instruction, video lectures, etc etc just like getting into the classroom. And you can come to their clinics in the spring and fall for hands on help.
But even if you don't join there is still lots available for FREE to the public on their website. And non members can also come to some of the clinics, for a slightly higher fee.
Their mission is education and research, not for profit. That is why they give so much away.

 

[ecasey]

My trimmer is a KC La Pierre grad and she's great. Very opinionated, but my horses' feet do very well under her care. That's all I know about KC La Pierre, so not sure if that's helpful to you or not.

 

[Patty Stiller]

well thats good you gt a god one I am certainly not knocking all his trimmers .I do criticize his ethics and the work I see of some of his trimmers, and the high cost and long time that is really unnecessary to learn to be a good trimmer.

 

[loosie]

And you can come to their clinics in the spring and fall for hands on help.

Yeah yeah, just when do they hold the Australian ones??:-(

 

[loosie]

The ELPO FREELY gives out information . LOTS of it. They are a registered 501(3)c non profit.

...& on that note, I guess that certain someone who went on about not marketing stuff here missed that bit.

 

[Patty Stiller]

I don't know when the ELPO will get instructors to Australia, it's an expensive proposition to fly instructors over there and would be tough on the non profit budget . They have done some in the UK and do certifications over there occasionally.
Gene Ovnicek was there MANY years ago for some clinics before the ELPO even existed. (then Cytek stole the ideas and *******ized it with cast iron shoes... )
Dr Pollitt from University of Queensland has been over here quite a bit, and has spent some time at the ELPO and lectured for them . Maybe someone can convince him to host a clinic, and get some of the ELPO instructors over from the UK to do it if they are closer?