• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
Veterinary Heroes
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Lexington equine event exceeds expectations

October 1, 2003
Stephanie Davis

Lexington, Ky.-On Labor Day weekend, leading Lexington practitioners wanted to send a message to veterinary students tracking in equine medicine.

Lexington, Ky.-On Labor Day weekend, leading Lexington practitioners wanted to send a message to veterinary students tracking in equine medicine.

"There are over 7 million horses in the United States today. There aren't enough equine practitioners in the country. There aren't enough coming out of school. Somebody needs to champion equine practice," says Dr. Bill Rood, partner and CEO of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.

Dr. Bill Rood of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., gets acquainted with students during a weekend event he co-sponsored to help future veterinary practitioners explore options in equine medicine.

Champion equine medicine is exactly what Rood's hospital did, collaborating with Hagyard-Davidson-McGee Associates, also in Lexington, to host an event for students boasting prospects in equine medicine over the three-day weekend.

Titled "Opportunities in Equine Veterinary Practice," the first-of-its-kind three-day weekend, packed with 16 speakers, was the vision of Dr. Andrew Clark, MBA, an equine practice consultant who shared his concept with Rood.

"We thought it would be fun to invite all incoming juniors in veterinary school to Lexington all expenses paid," says Rood, of the weekend, which he hopes to turn into an annual occasion.

Advertisement

The weekend drew 330 students from 31 veterinary schools in North America. Speakers addressed topics such as surgery, medicine, racetrack medicine, practice ownership, internships, financial remuneration and balancing equine practice and motherhood.

Dr. Marsha Heinke, DVM Newsmagazine contributor and consultant, who spoke to students about financial remuneration, says she was as enthused as the students about the turnout.

"Having sat through multiple talks by veterinarians, many of whom aren't public speakers and hear them speak from the heart in different capacities really was amazing, emotional," she says.

She says she hopes students retain the positive message about careers in equine medicine. "One recurring theme was: a career as a veterinarian is not necessarily a financial homerun, but if you stay true to the course through continual improvement, challenging yourself to see as many cases as you can, refine and hone your skills to become very good, work hard, do all those things, the only thing that holds you back is yourself."

Dr. Deborah Spike-Pierce, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, was one of 16 speakers.

In addition to attending seminars, students were invited on tours of six thoroughbred farms and two equine hospitals (Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and Hagyard-Davidson-McGee Associates). Students also spent a day at Keeneland Racetrack.

Rood says pursuing the event was an easy decision given personal concerns that veterinary schools aren't adequately singing the praises of equine medicine careers.

"They tell kids in one fashion or another - in equine practice you don't make a lot of money. We're telling them that's not true," he says. "We also want (students) to know working with horses is a lot of fun. If our practice and career is not being accurately represented at the veterinary schools, then the equine practitioners will take it upon ourselves to show what wonderful opportunities exist in equine medicine."

According to AVMA statistics, equine practitioners are highest paid, averaging $108,000 a year after several years out of college; small animal practitioners, by comparison, average $82,000.

Money issues aside, Ryan Carpenter, third-year veterinary student at the University of California, Davis, always wondered if Lexington, Ky., the "Horse Capital of the World," lived up to its title.

He got his chance to find out by attending the Kentucky event.

"I had heard a lot about Kentucky and the horses and clinics and wanted to see it in person. Actually, it was a lot greater than I ever imagined. It was breathtaking," he says.

Rood says the event overwhelmingly surpassed any organizer's best anticipations.

At the conclusion of the event, Rood collected surveys seeking comments on the weekend. Student feedback included:

  • "Hearing others' stories and experiences reminded me why I wanted to be a veterinarian."

  • "It was very surprising and refreshing to see no expense spared and a truly 'wow' weekend! I would have paid to attend this conference, but it is even better because it was complimentary."

  • "I suppose I had many misconceptions about the opportunities available for equine trackers, how challenging the equine profession can be, and quality of care provided to racehorses. This weekend served to dispel many of those misinformed ideas."

Industry supporters of the event included Milburn Distributions, Bayer Corp., Fort Dodge Animal Health, Merial, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Intervet, Pfizer and Primedia Equine Network. Professional organization support came from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Nearly 50 private practices also contributed funds.

Related Content:

Equine
LSU Vet Med plays major role in detecting toxin affecting Louisiana horses
LSU Vet Med plays major role in detecting toxin affecting Louisiana horses
First injectable pentosan for equine osteoarthritis is approved by FDA
First injectable pentosan for equine osteoarthritis is approved by FDA
The Foundation for the Horse announces over $10 million in support
The Foundation for the Horse announces over $10 million in support

Advertisement

Latest News

What's new with the "Dentistry Lane" across the veterinary profession?

Meet the BlackDVM Network

Study finds certain canine breeds should be screened for cancer at young ages

AVMA releases 2 videos informing pet parents on pet dental care

View More Latest News
Advertisement