Dr. Robert Bowker

Robert M. Bowker VMD, PhD

Bob grew up in northern New England before going to undergraduate school in Massachusetts and then on to veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania, where he met Barb. Following graduation he continued his studies in neurobiology, receiving his PhD and continuing on at several major universities in the U.S. His research interests in horses began in the early 90's when he began focusing upon understanding how nerves aid and improve foot function, how horses use the many sensations present in the foot to negotiate within its environment and how the foot dissipates energy and supports the horse during health and disease conditions. He has presented his results to numerous international and national audiences over the past ten plus years. He enjoys teaching interested groups about the foot as he believes that a healthy foot translates to a healthy horse.

Education and Training:

PhD, Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania, 1979
VMD, Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 1973
BS, Biology/chemistry, Springfield College, 1969

Research Interests:

Integrative medicine and its application to the horse
Equine foot
Navicular disease

Recent Publications:

Bowker RM, Linder K, Van Wulfen KK, Perry RL, and Ocello PJ. Distributions of local anesthetics injected into the distal interphalangeal joint and podotrochlear bursa: An experimental study. Pferdeheilhunde. 12:609-612, 1996.

Bowker RM, Van Wulfen KK, Perry RL, and Linder KL. Anatomy of the equine synovial joint cavities of the forelimb and the hindlimb. Amer. Assoc. Eq. Pract. 42:33-47, 1996.

Bowker RM, Linder K, Van Wulfen KK, and Sonea IM. Anatomy of the distal interphalangeal joint of the mature horse: Relationships with navicular suspensory ligaments, sensory nerves and neurovascular bundle. Eq. Vet. J. 29:126-135, 1997.

Sonea IM, Wilson DV, Bowker RM, and Robinson NE. Tachykinin receptors in the equine pelvic flexure. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 29:306-312, 1997.

Bowker RM, Van Wulfen KK, Springer SE, and Linder KE. Functional anatomy of the cartilage, the distal phalanx and digital cushion in the equine foot and hemodynamic flow hypothesis of energy dissipation. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 59:961-968, 1998.

Sonea IM, Bowker RM, and Robinson NE. Distribution of substance P binding sites in equine airways. Eq. Vet. J. 31(3):238-242, 1999.

Rosenstein DS, Bowker RM, and Bartlett PC. Digital angiography of the feet of horses. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 61:255-259, 2000.

Bowker RM, Atkinson PJ, Atkinson TS, and Haut RC. Effects of contact stress in bones of the distal interphalangeal joint on microscopic changes in articular cartilage and ligaments. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 62:414-424, 2001.

VanWulfen KK and Bowker RM. Microanatomic characteristics of the insertion of the distal sesamoidean impar ligament and the deep digital flexor tendon on the distal phalanx in healthy feet obtained from horses. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 63:215-221, 2002.

VanWulfen KK and Bowker RM. Evaluation of tachykinins and their receptors to determine the sensory innervation in the dorsal hoof wall and insertion of the distal sesamoidean impar ligament and deep digital flexor tendon on the distal phalanx in healthy feet of horses. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 63:222-228, 2002.

Bowker, R.M. 2003. The growth and adaptive capabilities of the hoof wall and sole: Functional changes in response to stress. 49th Amer. Assoc. Eq. Pract. 49: 146-168.

Bowker, R.M. 2003. Contrasting structural morphologies of "good" and "bad" footed horses. 49th Amer. Assoc. Eq. Pract. 49: 186-209.

Bidwell, L.A. and R.M. Bowker. 2006. Evaluation of changes in architecture of the stratum internum of the hoof wall from the fetal. Newborn and yearling horses. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 67:1947-1955.

Bowker, R.M. and E.E. Haas. 2006. Growth of Equine Hoof Wall in the Term Fetus and Foal Occurs by Keratinocyte Migration From Laminae. Amer. J. Vet. Res. (submitted).

Lancaster L.S., R.M. Bowker and W. A. Mauer. 2006. Density and morphologic features of primary epidermal laminae in the feet of three-year-old racing Quarter Horses. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 68:11-19.




	Robert Bowker DVM
	Robert M. Bowker VMD, PhD Bob grew up in northern New England before going to undergraduate school in Massachusetts and then on to veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania, where he met Barb. Following graduation he continued his studies in neurobiology, receiving his PhD and continuing on at several major universities in the U.S. His research interests in horses began in the early 90's when he began focusing upon understanding how nerves aid and improve foot function, how horses use the many sensations present in the foot to negotiate within its environment and how the foot dissipates energy and supports the horse during health and disease conditions. He has presented his results to numerous international and national audiences over the past ten plus years. He enjoys teaching interested groups about the foot as he believes that a healthy foot translates to a healthy horse. Website: http://www.coronavistaequinecenter.com/home.html Education and Training: PhD, Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania, 1979 VMD, Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 1973 BS, Biology/chemistry, Springfield College, 1969 Research Interests: Integrative medicine and its application to the horse Equine foot Navicular disease Recent Publications: Bowker RM, Linder K, Van Wulfen KK, Perry RL, and Ocello PJ. Distributions of local anesthetics injected into the distal interphalangeal joint and podotrochlear bursa: An experimental study. Pferdeheilhunde. 12:609-612, 1996. Bowker RM, Van Wulfen KK, Perry RL, and Linder KL. Anatomy of the equine synovial joint cavities of the forelimb and the hindlimb. Amer. Assoc. Eq. Pract. 42:33-47, 1996. Bowker RM, Linder K, Van Wulfen KK, and Sonea IM. Anatomy of the distal interphalangeal joint of the mature horse: Relationships with navicular suspensory ligaments, sensory nerves and neurovascular bundle. Eq. Vet. J. 29:126-135, 1997. Sonea IM, Wilson DV, Bowker RM, and Robinson NE. Tachykinin receptors in the equine pelvic flexure. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 29:306-312, 1997. Bowker RM, Van Wulfen KK, Springer SE, and Linder KE. Functional anatomy of the cartilage, the distal phalanx and digital cushion in the equine foot and hemodynamic flow hypothesis of energy dissipation. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 59:961-968, 1998. Sonea IM, Bowker RM, and Robinson NE. Distribution of substance P binding sites in equine airways. Eq. Vet. J. 31(3):238-242, 1999. Rosenstein DS, Bowker RM, and Bartlett PC. Digital angiography of the feet of horses. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 61:255-259, 2000. Bowker RM, Atkinson PJ, Atkinson TS, and Haut RC. Effects of contact stress in bones of the distal interphalangeal joint on microscopic changes in articular cartilage and ligaments. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 62:414-424, 2001. VanWulfen KK and Bowker RM. Microanatomic characteristics of the insertion of the distal sesamoidean impar ligament and the deep digital flexor tendon on the distal phalanx in healthy feet obtained from horses. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 63:215-221, 2002. VanWulfen KK and Bowker RM. Evaluation of tachykinins and their receptors to determine the sensory innervation in the dorsal hoof wall and insertion of the distal sesamoidean impar ligament and deep digital flexor tendon on the distal phalanx in healthy feet of horses. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 63:222-228, 2002. Bowker, R.M. 2003. The growth and adaptive capabilities of the hoof wall and sole: Functional changes in response to stress. 49th Amer. Assoc. Eq. Pract. 49: 146-168. Bowker, R.M. 2003. Contrasting structural morphologies of "good" and "bad" footed horses. 49th Amer. Assoc. Eq. Pract. 49: 186-209. Bidwell, L.A. and R.M. Bowker. 2006. Evaluation of changes in architecture of the stratum internum of the hoof wall from the fetal. Newborn and yearling horses. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 67:1947-1955. Bowker, R.M. and E.E. Haas. 2006. Growth of Equine Hoof Wall in the Term Fetus and Foal Occurs by Keratinocyte Migration From Laminae. Amer. J. Vet. Res. (submitted). Lancaster L.S., R.M. Bowker and W. A. Mauer. 2006. Density and morphologic features of primary epidermal laminae in the feet of three-year-old racing Quarter Horses. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 68:11-19.