3 Day SMd Dissection
Details
When: October 16-18, 2026
Time: 9am to 5pm on each of the three days. Please arrive by 8.30am on the first day for sign-in.
Where: The Stables at Yellow Creek - Murrayville, GA
Cost: $850 – payment can be made via venmo or check. Once your form is submitted you will be added to the list of applicants. If a spot is available, we will notify you directly for payment. Once notified, your place will be held for 10 days, while we wait for your payment to arrive. After 10 days, your spot will be open to the next in line on the waitlist.
Dress: Please dress in layers as we will be in a classroom but it is not insulated and Fall can bring variable temperatures to Georgia.
Meals: Bottled water will be provided. Please bring your own lunch or plan to go somewhere nearby.
Accommodation: The closest towns are Gainesville, Dahlonega, and Dawsonville. Ample locations for lodging, food, and fuel.
About Sharon
Dr Sharon May-Davis comes to us all the way from Australia. She is a life-long horsewoman, a successful competitor, a dedicated researcher and an authority in the areas of equine anatomy, biomechanics and dissections. She has worked therapeutically on horses all over the world including top performance horses in 8 different disciplines.
Academically, Sharon has a PhD from the University of New England (Australia). She has published 20 scientific peer-reviewed papers (with more in the works) in areas of congenital malformations, variations in anatomic morphology (congenital or induced) and the potential influence these have on performance, management and equine behavior. Information for these studies is based on her findings gleaned from over 500 equine dissections (~30 breeds) in 10 countries
Sharon is probably best known as author of the first papers describing the congenital malformations of C6-7 to which she later assigned the acronym ECVM. Additional research projects focus on comparative morphology between equine species and sister taxa by means of analyzing paleontological specimens.
What to expect
Over the three days, Sharon will take you on an amazing journey as she unveils the complex layers of fascia, musculature, nerves, blood vessels, bones and secrets beneath the skin. Specific topics include joint pathology, fascial connections, ligaments, muscles and their inter-relationships. We will review what is known of the donor horse’s life history, medical/behavior issues and clinical diagnostics (if available). As the dissection progresses, Sharon will point out pathology in the body that may relate to problems with which the horse had been living. Imagine a real-life equine CSI episode with your very own “CSI” Expert Guide!
Sharon’s dissections are also “hands on” (for those willing). You will be able to:
* palpate normal/abnormal muscles and areas of restriction in the fascia
* experience range of motion of both the front and hind limbs, and get a better understanding of the stay apparatus of each, including the upward fixation of the patella
* see and feel the effect of different bits and noseband pressures to understand how they affect (restrict) the movement of the hind limbs via connection to the hyoid apparatus
* and much, much more!
Course fee – what is included?
The cost for each dissection is $850 USD. See below for our refund policy. Please note, payment is required in full prior to the dissection start.
Your Fee includes:
* Manual (PDF)
* Disposable protective wear for the dissection (gloves, gowns)
* Drinks – bottled water
Not included in the fee (your responsibility):
* Transportation
* Accommodation
* Meals
* Note taking supplies
* Folding chairs
Who can attend
We can accommodate only 20 guests in this dissection.
Priority for attendance is being given to: equine veterinarians, academics (i.e. those involved in equine research through a university or private facility), osteopaths, bodyworkers, and physiotherapists actively working on horses.
If there are slots remaining, we will then add hoof care providers, saddle fitters, equine dentists, instructors/trainers and students of these disciplines.
The reasoning behind Sharon’s preferred audience is based on the technicality of the dissections and the method in which Sharon teaches/shares the information. In other words, a working knowledge of anatomical terminology is a must.
Sharon brings to each dissection an extensive knowledge of the functional anatomy of the horse, inside and out, that she shares with a professional, yet fun teaching style with a delightful sense of humor!
Standing dissection
In a standing dissection, the horse is suspended by a specially designed rack, which allows everyone to walk around the whole body, view all angles and compare both sides as the dissection proceeds. This upright posture also makes the practicals of moving the limbs easier and therefore the biomechanics more understandable.
The Facility
The dissection will be held at The Stables at Yellow Creek, 6384 Yellow Creek Rd. Murrayville, GA 30564. (*ensure your GPS takes you to Murrayville and not Ball Ground*)
There will be signs for parking when you arrive.
We will have a porta-potty available for use.
Course fee refund policy
* Cancellation by Sharon or An Act of God:
– The course fee minus $50 will be refunded. $50 is retained for administrative costs (supplies have to be pre-purchased).
* Cancellation by Attendee:
– The course fee minus $100 will be refunded for cancellation notification given 3 weeks prior to the dissection starting date.
– NO refund will be issued if notification is received after 3 weeks from the dissection starting date, unless we can fill that slot from the waitlist.
If you would like to attend
Please use the below link to fill out and submit the application form. You will need to sign into your Google account or create one for free.
As a dissection with Sharon in the states is a rare occasion coveted by many, we must follow a priority protocol for attendees.
In summary of your horse experience, please be succinct. Include your job description e.g., DVM or bodywork modalities, and any relevant educational pursuits.
If you successfully submit your form and do not receive an email within 3 business days confirming receipt, you may reach out directly to 4hooveshoofcare@gmail.com to confirm receipt.
As stated above, seats will be given based on a priority for veterinarians and equine professionals. Once you receive a message confirming your seat, your place will be held for 10 days, while we wait for your payment to arrive. After 10 days, your spot will be open to the next in line on the waitlist. The cost is $850 – payment can be made via venmo or check.