Horse health and care will be in the spotlight Oct. 13-14 as horse enthusiasts and horseshoers gather for a weekend of lectures, demonstrations and hands-on training.

On Saturday, Oct. 13, the 22nd annual Horse Day will feature educational lectures from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Freeborn Hall. Veterinarians, professors and a farrier or horseshoer will present talks on horse nutrition, shoeing, trail riding and horse camping, regulatory issues and equine herpesvirus-1.

A polo demonstration and a tour of UC Davis' William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital will follow the lectures.

On Sunday, Oct. 14, horse owners and professional horseshoers can learn about the anatomy and physiology of a horse's hoof and how to recognize faults in shoeing or in the horse's body structure that might make the horse vulnerable to injuries. Course participants also will be taught the importance of hoof trimming and shoeing to ensure the horse's proper balance.

A laboratory session will offer opportunities to learn more about the horse's anatomy and the importance of considering the horse's body structure before shoeing. A demonstration of shoeing, and of shoe construction and materials also will be presented.

Registration fee is $40 for Horse Day. The fee for the Farrier's Workshop is $150 per person for both the lecture and lab or $50 for the lecture only.

More information is available from the UC Davis Department of Animal Science at (530) 752-1250 and online at http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/events/horseday/2007/.