The U.S. Gateway Clinic (GC)

The Foundation For LH Equine Hoof Care Training Programs

Participants in the GC receive four days of training that includes extensive hands-on, supervised trimming instruction, a hands-on anatomy lab, an X-ray analysis workshop, and classroom instruction. The classroom sessions provide in-depth information about the principles that guide successful trimming and the non-trimming factors that affect hoof health and shape.

The GC is recommended for: 

• Those seeking a career in equine hoof care or who are already trimming professionally and want to augment and validate their knowledge and skill through our certification program.

• People who care for mounted working horses, e.g., mounted police horses.

• People who want to trim their horses or perhaps just want to be able to knowledgeably evaluate the health of their horse’s hooves and the work of their professional hoof care provider.

Hosted by Naples Zoo, Naples, Florida.

October 4 — 7, 2025

The Gateway Clinic will be held at the same time as our Hoof Health Workshop for Zoo Professionals. The zoo workshop is designed for anyone aspiring to be a professional hoof care provider for out-of-the-wild ungulates, i.e., ungulates in zoos. The information and the principles of trimming are relevant to both groups. Breakout sessions will address information that is specific to the groups. Having the two workshops run simultaneously has important advantages for GC participants:

• It gives participants a broader understanding of the principles of hoof care and how to apply the principles of trimming to various hoof forms.
• It opens the door for equine hoof care professionals to apply their skills to non-equine animals, e.g., farm animals and ungulates in private and accredited zoos. Zoos often do not have an experienced hoof care professional on staff.

• It provides in-person interactions with others who are interested in hoof care but who have different points of emphasis and challenges, broadening the GC participants’ perspective about hoof care and its application.

Clinic Instructors

Ann Corso, Co-founder of the LH Barefoot Initiative, Director of LH Barefoot Training Programs, Owner of Liberated Hoof Care, LLC, and Master Hoof Care Professional.

Cynthia Niemela, Master Hoof Care Professional, and Equine Osteopath, EDO.

Cindy Hall, Animal Operations Manager at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Liberated Horsemanship Certified Zoo Hoof Care Professional.

Dr. Bruce Nock, MS, PhD., LH owner, biomedical scientist, and retired medical school professor.

Registration Includes

• The four-day seminar.
• Light morning refreshments and lunch.

Registration

Registration is open and closes on 9/4/2025 or when the clinic is full.

Cancellation & Refund Policy: Approximately one month before the clinic, we will send an email message to all registered participants confirming that the event will take place. We suggest you wait until then to make plane reservations. This will prevent the loss of travel funds due to an unexpected cancellation of the clinic, e.g., an instructor’s illness, travel restrictions, etc. If such an event occurs, we will refund all registration fees in full. Registration fees will also be refunded in full up to 30 days before the beginning of the clinic upon the request of a participant. No refund will be granted thereafter.

 

*Registration Fee for First-time Participants = US$1,450*

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*Registration Fee for Returning Participants = US$750*

Please note: Returning participants are now awarded 5 continuing education/professional development credits per full day of attendance toward the designation Master Hoof Care Professional. For more information, go to Frequent Questions.