Rood & Riddle Report Fall 2015

News from Your Equine Health Care Provider | Vol. 1 | Fall 2015

IN THIS ISSUE EQUINE HEALTH

Exciting News from Rood & Riddle’s LeBlanc Reproduction Center Equine Anesthesia I May Be a Stud, But I’m No Stallion NEWS

Dr. Bob Agne Memorial Service Rood & Riddle Sport Horse of the Year Award

Rood & Riddle is the Official Equine Hospital & Veterinary Pharmacy of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Rood & Riddle has been named the Official Equine Hospital and Veterinary Pharmacy of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and Title Sponsor of the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Post-Position Draw.

This year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 13 races and $26 million in purses and awards, will be held for the first time at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington on Oct. 30-31.

The Rood & Riddle Breeders’ Cup Post-Position Draw will be held at Keeneland on Monday, October 26. The draw will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, drawing of 11 Breeders’ Cup World Championships races, will be held in the Keeneland sales pavilion at 1 p.m. ET. The Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff and the Breeders’ Cup Classic will be drawn from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Maker’s Mark Bourbon Lounge at Keeneland.

“Rood & Riddle has a firmly established outstanding reputation of excellence as leaders in the equine medical field, and we are very pleased that they are supporting this year’s Breeders’ Cup as an official partner and sponsor of the Post-Position Draw,” said Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “With intense interest focused in the Bluegrass region for the first ever Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, we are also very excited that the draw will the first gathering of horsemen and the community among the great festivities planned during Breeders’ Cup week.”

We’re celebrating the Breeders’ Cup!

Rood & Riddle invites you to attend an open house on Tuesday, October 26 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m at the Rood & Riddle Conference Center. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres and tours of the facility for those who are interested will be offered. We hope to see you and any guests that you would like to invite. No RSVP is necessary.

If you have any questions, please contact Erin Morgan at emorgan@roodandriddle.com or 859-280-3316.

“Rood & Riddle recently acquired a 160 acre property located just ten minutes from our Georgetown Road hospital. This expansion will allow us to accommodate more donor mares in our program, as well as offer state-of-theart facilities for recipient management, client mare management and stallion standing services.”

“In addition to embryo transfer as a method of producing offspring from a given mare, we continue to provide oocyte aspiration.”

Exciting News from Rood & Riddle’s LeBlanc Reproduction Center By: Maria Schnobrich, VMD, Dipl. ACT

Maria Schnobrich, D.V.M., Dipl. ACT

I hope that this update finds our clients, colleagues and patients well as we reach the end of the 2015 breeding season. I am grateful for this opportunity to share with everyone some exciting news from the Leblanc Reproduction Center, as well as review some of the services we continue to provide. The Leblanc Reproduction Center has always strived to provide our clients with comprehensive, state-of-the-art reproductive care and service, and our team (Drs. Etta Bradecamp, Charlie Scoggin, and myself) is very excited about some new developments.

Rood & Riddle’s reproduction department has been providing embryo transfer for our clients since 2002. This procedure involves removing a fertilized egg (an embryo) through a lavage once it has entered the uterus, and then transferring the embryo into a surrogate mare (recipient). This procedure is performed by one of our boarded theriogenologists, who are available to manage the donor mare, and who also, in order to optimize results, supervise and monitor our own on-site recipient herd. Through careful selection, monitoring and experience our embryo transfer and pregnancy rates have allowed us to be competitive with the best embryo transfer programs in the country.

In response to the growing demand for our embryo transfer service we are expanding to a new larger facility for recipient and client mare management. Rood & Riddle recently acquired a 160 acre property located just ten minutes from our Georgetown Road hospital. This expansion will allow us to accommodate more donor mares in our program, as well as offer state-of-the-art facilities for recipient management, client mare management and stallion standing services. The new facility will be open for the 2016 breeding season and we invite you to contact us to arrange a tour of the farm or to discuss the services we will be providing there.

In addition to embryo transfer as a method of producing offspring from a given mare, we continue to provide oocyte aspiration. Through collaboration with facilities that provide the ICSI service (ICSI-Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), we are able to offer you yet another advanced reproduction technique to assist you in producing a foal from your valuable mares and stallions. Oocyte aspiration, which is done with the mare standing in stocks, is a technique where the mare’s egg is harvested through a needle passed through the vaginal wall into the ovarian follicle. Once recovered, the egg is shipped overnight to a facility where it is fertilized by placing the selected sperm cell directly into the egg’s cytoplasm and then cultured to a stage where it can be transferred into a recipient mare’s uterus.

We routinely performed aspirations this past breeding season on a number of breeds and, following ICSI at other facilities, these embryos were sent back to us for transfer and successfully established pregnancies in our own recipient herd. This new procedure allows us to achieve pregnancies from mares that were unsuccessful in carrying their own pregnancies, were not successful as embryo transfer donors, or when only very limited semen was available. Very few clinics offer this procedure in the United States and we are delighted with our results this past year. We are also very pleased with the successful relationship we have established with clinics performing ICSI. While embryo transfer and ICSI are not available to Thoroughbreds as a way to circumvent specific infertility issues, we have also made advances in other techniques that help both Thoroughbred and non-Thoroughbred clients. Over the past several years our comprehensive problem mare work-up has aided many clients in diagnosing and treating previously unresolved infertility. Our comprehensive, tailored evaluations begin with a thorough review of medical history and systemic health evaluation, followed by detailed ultrasound of the reproductive tract and detailed cervical exam. From there, this examination can include advanced screening aides for reproductive pathogens and pathology, endometrial biopsy, and video endoscopic evaluation of the inside of the mare’s uterus (hysteroscopy).

This thorough and detailed approach has allowed us to identify subtle as well as dramatic problems that had not been discovered previously. Based on our findings we develop a comprehensive treatment plan that is usually implemented by the on-farm veterinarian. We are always available and committed to following these patients and hope to communicate and help you as you continue with the patient’s reproductive management following our evaluation.

Frustrating for owners, and veterinarians alike are the problem mares in which we cannot identify a cause for their infertility. In recent years, we have identified a subset of mares that have similar histories of infertility that the oviduct flushing technique has helped. This procedure was perfected by Dr. Inoue from Japan, who traveled to Kentucky to instruct us in his technique. We have been performing this procedure since 2011 and have achieved success in mares that had been barren for a number of years. Oviduct flushing or “Hydrotubation of the Oviducts” is a procedure where a catheter is placed in the oviduct opening and flushed using the video endoscope with the mare standing in stocks. In some of the mares treated they have been bred and conceived on the next cycle after the procedure.

While this procedure in not the panacea for every infertile mare, we have had success with it using appropriate case selection and have had no complications with this non-surgical intervention.

In summary, I appreciate the opportunity to announce our new expansion and review some of our reproductive services. As a group, we thank you for your past referrals and your trust in our patient care. We hope you will continue to rely on us to provide you with the very best comprehensive and advanced reproductive needs for your mares and stallions.

“Over the past several years our comprehensive problem mare work-up has aided many clients in diagnosing and treating previously unresolved infertility. Our comprehensive, tailored evaluations begin with a thorough review of medical history and systemic health evaluation, followed by detailed ultrasound of the reproductive tract and detailed cervical exam.”

“We have been performing this procedure (Oviduct flushing) since 2011 and have achieved success in mares that had been barren for a number of years.”

www.roodandriddle.com

Equine Anesthesia By: John A.E. Hubbell DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVA

“The goal of the preoperative physical examination is to identify any pre-existing abnormalities and determine if they can be corrected or need to be compensated for prior to anesthesia.

Additional tests include a complete blood count to make sure that the horse is not anemic or is not harboring an infection, particularly a respiratory infection that was not detected on the physical examination.�

John A.E. Hubbell, D.V.M., MS, Dipl ACVA

Successful equine surgery is inherently dependent on successful equine anesthesia. As the complexity of surgical procedures has increased over the years, the need for increased monitoring and supportive care during the anesthetic period has increased as well. The purpose of this article is to provide you with a perspective on how equine anesthesia is performed and how horses are managed throughout the perioperative period.

Equine surgeries are typically designated as either elective or emergency. Elective surgeries include procedures that are not time sensitive for scheduling, such as arthroscopy for a fetlock chip or perhaps removal of a benign ovarian tumor. Emergency surgeries would include an exploratory laparotomy for abdominal pain (colic), surgical repair of a laceration, or repair of fractured bone.

Anesthesia for emergency surgeries tends to be more difficult because there is less time to prepare for anesthesia and because the horses may have been stressed by recent trauma, transportation or the pain associated with their condition. Other stressors associated with emergency surgery may include dehydration or other alterations in homeostasis associated with the disease process.

Elective surgeries are typically scheduled in advance so that the horse can be transported to the locale of the surgery. As we know, some horses are easy shippers and others require some time to settle in. Preoperative evaluation of the horse includes a complete physical examination with particular emphasis placed on looking at the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Although the safety of anesthetic agents has increased greatly, the agents still produce significant depression of cardiac function even in horses that are relatively unstressed. In addition, once a horse is anesthetized it is placed in either dorsal recumbency (on its back) or lateral recumbency (on its side). Horses are not adapted to spending a lot of time being recumbent so the efficiency of both cardiovascular and pulmonary (lung) function is reduced during the anesthetic period. The goal of the preoperative physical examination is to identify any pre-existing abnormalities and determine if they can be corrected or need to be compensated for prior to anesthesia.

Additional tests include a complete blood count to make sure that the horse is not anemic or is not harboring an infection, particularly a respiratory infection that was not detected on the physical examination. As part of the physical examination, a body weight is measured or estimated because the anesthetic drugs are dosed based on the horse’s weight.

In most hospital situations, an intravenous catheter is placed in a jugular vein either prior to anesthesia or as part of the anesthetic induction. Different from the anesthesia of people or most other animals, induction of anesthesia in the horse takes the horse from a standing position to a recumbent position; that is, the horse sinks to the floor as the anesthetic drugs take effect. This assumption of recumbency needs to occur in a predictable, controlled manner and in a relatively brief

period of time (60 to 90 seconds). The predictability of anesthetic induction is increased when the horses are fully sedate and when the drugs used for induction are delivered rapidly intravenously. The drugs that are most frequently used to sedate horses prior to anesthesia are called alpha2 agonists such as xylazine (trade name Rompun) or detomidine (trade name Dormosedan). Once the horses assume a head down posture with droopy eyelids and ears that are spread apart, recumbency is induced using the anesthetic ketamine and the sedative/muscle relaxant midazolam given intravenously. The horses are positioned next to a wall and are supported against the wall as they sink to the floor. Once the horse is recumbent, a tube is placed through the mouth into the trachea to protect the airway and facilitate delivery of anesthetics via the lungs. This is the most controllable way of anesthetizing horses and the method used most frequently in hospital settings. Horses do not breathe deeply when anesthetized nor do they breathe as often as they do when awake so respirations are routinely supported by using a ventilator.

The most important part of equine anesthesia is monitoring the horse’s response to the anesthetic drugs. Typically, patients are monitored for cardiovascular function, respiratory function and the depth of anesthesia. Basic cardiovascular function is monitored by feeling the pulse and counting the number of beats per minute. In horses anesthetized in the hospital setting an electrocardiogram is attached and a catheter is placed into an artery in order to directly monitor arterial blood pressure. Directly monitoring arterial blood pressure is the best way to estimate the effects of the anesthetic drugs on cardiovascular function. If arterial blood pressures are too low, the anesthetist may attempt to reduce the depth of anesthesia. In addition, the rate of intravenous fluid administration would be increased and drugs, such as dobutamine, administered to increase cardiovascular function, raise blood pressure, and thus the perfusion of vital tissues. Respiratory function is monitored by counting the number of breaths per minute and assessing the depth of ventilation. For many procedures, ventilation is assisted right after induction of anesthesia because we know that most horses do not breathe adequately. Anesthetic depth is assessed by looking at the horse’s eyes in order to determine how much depression of the blink reflexes is being produced by the anesthetic drugs. Obviously, the anesthetist also watches for any movement associated with the stimulation of surgery.

Once the surgical procedure is finished, the depth of anesthesia is reduced and the horse is transported to a recovery stall. Recovery is perhaps the most difficult part of equine anesthesia. Most horses are reluctant to remain recumbent for extended periods of time. Horses spend most of their time standing and their natural reaction to many unfamiliar situations is to flee. Ideally, a horse recovering from anesthesia would gradually awaken, roll from its side to its chest, remain in sternal recumbency for a few minutes, and then stand squarely on all four feet without excitement. Horses vary in their acceptance of strange surroundings and circumstances thus it is hard to predict how a horse will react. Another complicating factor is the effort it takes for horses to stand. If you have seen horses rise in the field, you know that they toss their head to generate momentum to get to their feet, a maneuver that requires considerable energy and coordination. The great force generated in their effort to stand and the potential for residual incoordination associated with anesthesia further increase the risk of accidents during recovery.

“The most important part of equine anesthesia is monitoring the horse’s response to the anesthetic drugs.

Typically, patients are monitored for cardiovascular function, respiratory function and the depth of anesthesia.”

“Ideally, a horse recovering from anesthesia would gradually awaken, roll from its side to its chest, remain in sternal recumbency for a few minutes, and then stand squarely on all four feet without excitement.”

www.roodandriddle.com

“Equine anesthesia has made dramatic advances in safety in the last twenty years including the use of better sedatives, induction agents, and inhalant anesthetics and improved monitoring capabilities.”

It is important not to rush the horse through the recovery period. Horses are sedated to extend the period of time that they tolerate recumbency so that the effects of the inhalant and intravenous anesthetic agents have time to “wear off” or be eliminated. In addition, head and tail ropes are applied in order to assist the horse to its feet and help control its recovery. Most horses stand within an hour of the end of the surgical procedure.

Equine anesthesia has made dramatic advances in safety in the last twenty years including the use of better sedatives, induction agents, and inhalant anesthetics and improved monitoring capabilities. Despite these advances, anesthesia of horses remains more difficult than in the other domestic animals and people. One international study performed by Mark Johnston when he was at the Animal Health Trust in England suggested that the risk of death due to any cause within seven days of elective surgery was approximately 1%. Horses at increased risk included foals less than 1 month of age, horses with fractures, and emergency status. The study also identified increasing age as an increased risk.

These factors are outside of the control of the surgeon and the anesthesiologist so they concentrate on those factors that they can influence such as maintaining cardiovascular function and keeping the duration of surgery to a minimum.

When Rood & Riddle looked at their success rate in 2004, they reported a complication rate about one tenth of that rate. Safety in anesthesia has always been a priority at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital.

I May Be a Stud, But I’m no Stallion By: Charlie Scoggin, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT “A significant factor influencing stallion fertility is the environment he lives in and the husbandry practices he is subject to.”

Those of you that do breeding work know there are practical and proven methods of managing a mare to enhance fertility.

These typically consist of manipulating her estrous cycle, as well as local and systemic treatments to optimize her fertility.

These therapies are based on our knowledge of the physiologic events within and anatomic parts of the mare.

Our grasp of stallion physiology and anatomy is similar to that in broodmares. However, reproductive management is different for a few reasons: 1. Stallions do not demonstrate cyclical behavior like mares; instead, they are (or should be) continually producing sperm and willing to breed.

2. They are not influenced by photoperiod or light near to the extent of mares 3. Stallions are usually housed independently and the majority of social interaction is that between him and the handler.

4. Popular stallions will perform 250-300 breedings per year, thereby necessitating they are in good physical shape and possess an adequate libido.

The consequences of these differences are evident when dealing with and managing stallion fertility. Fortunately, those of us with a special interest in stallion reproduction enjoy the challenge of sleuthing out the problem and devising a treatment plan.

Doing so is accomplished by using a systematic approach, referred to as either a breeding soundness exam (BSE) or, as I prefer to call them, Stallion Reproductive Exams (SREs). Below are the important parts of a BSE/SRE. History A keen effort should be made to compile the stallion’s background information.

This part entails a true team effort, and the owners and managers can be helpful by providing any and all history on the horse. Health issues can impede breeding performance, so past surgical and medical history should be accurately recorded. When evaluating an active stallion, measures of breeding performance should also be determined and include per cycle and seasonal pregnancy rates, as well as well as number of breedings to obtain a pregnancy. On the other hand, if he is a novice stallion, this information will not be known, but care should be taken to check for congenital abnormalities and behavioral issues.

Environment A significant factor influencing stallion fertility is the environment he lives in and the husbandry practices he is subject to. Even though it may sound trite, a happy and healthy stallion is usually a fertile stallion. Facility design should be appropriate to safely and effectively house and breed stallions both indoors and outdoors. Whether in the breeding shed, stalls, barn aisles, or paddocks, adequate footing is very important to reduce wear-and-tear on the stallion’s body.

Providing proper nutrition, exercise, and enrichment activities will also go a long way in maintaining a stallion that is sound in limb, wind, spirit, and mind (and testes).

Physical Examination When evaluating a stallion—whether as a prospective breeding animal or as a case of subfertility—a common temptation is to begin the exam with evaluation of the external genitalia. However, it is important to remember that a stallion also has other organs aside from the testicles. I must thus resist the urge to go straight for the gonads and instead perform a systematic inspection of all body systems. The reason being is that issues affecting most any other system can adversely affect reproductive performance. Examples include musculoskeletal disorders, infectious disease, and trauma.

Examination of the Reproductive Organs The urge to reach for the testes is finally satisfied in this section. Various methods are used and often combined to evaluate a stallion’s genitalia. These include palpation, visual inspection, and ultrasonography—all of which have their own advantages in establishing baseline values or detecting various anatomic abnormalities, such as persistent penile frenulum, retained testicle, scrotal hernia, varicocele, and spermatic cord torsion. Ultrasonography is a non-invasive means to “look” inside the scrotum and related structures to identify such oddities as tumors and abscesses. In addition, this imaging technique allows for accurate measurements of each individual testis, which can be used to estimate daily sperm output (DSO) and, subsequently, the number of times that stallion can be bred in a day.

“A keen effort should be made to compile the stallion’s background information.

This part entails a true team effort, and the owners and managers can be helpful by providing any and all history on the horse.”

“While diseases of the internal reproductive organs (accessory sex glands) are rare, ltrasonography of the stallion’s internal reproductive organs is important to make sure no stone goes unearthed.”

www.roodandriddle.com

“Longevity studies are commonly performed and useful when planning book size for an individual stallion.”

“We understand that management strategies differ among breeders, so we are also happy to tailor a plan to fit the needs of each farm and individual stallion.”

While diseases of the internal reproductive organs (accessory sex glands) are rare, ultrasonography of the stallion’s internal reproductive organs is important to make sure no stone goes unearthed.

Semen Evaluation This portion of the SRE is comprised of several different components. First, the sample is processed to determine the total volume and concentration, which allows for calculation of the total number of sperm in the ejaculate. Most stallions ejaculate billions of sperm at a time, with most normal-sized stallion providing 3-12 billion sperm per attempt. We then perform visual assessments of individual sperm cells (i.e., morphology) to determine the number of normal looking sperm cells. Longevity studies are commonly performed and useful when planning book size for an individual stallion. We also perform test cooling and freezing of semen if and when indicated. Ultrastructural tests using advanced technologies are improving every year and are now proving useful for detecting more discrete causes of infertility.

Laboratory Analysis This portion consists of collecting and performing routine blood work. Tests include a complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry panel, and hormone testing to establish normal values or identify potential areas of concerns that might not be apparent on physical examination. In addition, we commonly collect cultures of the stallion’s genitalia and semen to monitor for infectious diseases. Testing for import and export shipping are also performed based upon the origin and destination of the stallion.

Treatment Plan or Ending Status The final portion of the exam contains recommendations for future management and/or therapy of the stallion. We understand that management strategies differ among breeders, so we are also happy to tailor a plan to fit the needs of each farm and individual stallion. Being proactive yet practical can go a long way in preventing any surprises.

Summary Therein lie the basics of a stallion reproductive examination. It consists of several different layers, but the overall purpose is relatively simple: to evaluate carefully the stallion for his relative breeding soundness. Since stallions are significant “bread earners” for farms, it only makes sense to protect these investments and keep them performing as efficiently as possible.

Rood & Riddle Welcomes

Dr. Jose Bras was raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he showed and bred Paso Fino horses. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Louisiana State University in 2000.

In 2005, he graduated from The Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, Dr. Bras completed an inhospital internship at Rood & Riddle prior to a surgical residency and Master’s degree at Kansas State University (KSU). After completing his residency, Dr. Bras remained at KSU as a Clinical Assistant Professor/Emergency Clinician until he moved to Lexington, Ky. in 2012 where he worked as an Equine Surgeon at a private practice.

Dr. Bras joined the Rood & Riddle team in April 2015 where he works in both the ambulatory and surgery departments. His interests include lameness, sales work, and surgery.

Dr. William Gilsenan graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2004 with a degree in biology. He attended the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2008. Dr. Gilsenan then completed an internship at Colorado State University in 2009, followed by a large animal internal medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in 2012. He became board certified in large animal internal medicine through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) upon completion of his residency. Dr. Gilsenan joined the faculty at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. He received the Boucher Award for Teaching at the New Bolton Center in 2010 and 2011.

Areas of interest for Dr. Gilsenan are caring for critical care patients, emergency medicine, neonatology, gastroenterology, neurology, and cardiology. Dr. Gilsenan is looking forward to managing hospitalized patients, collaborating with other veterinarians, admitting emergencies, and meeting with clients. In his spare time, Dr. Gilsenan enjoys running and has completed in Savannah and Chicago marathons.

Dr. John Hubbell was raised in Lima, Ohio, in a pet and

horse owning family. After receiving his DVM from Ohio State in 1977, he completed an equine surgery internship at the University of California at Davis then returned to Ohio State as a resident in veterinary anesthesiology. Dr. Hubbell joined the faculty at Ohio State in 1982, where he served until 2015.

Dr. John Hubbell has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia since 1982.

Dr. Hubbell is an author of numerous articles on veterinary anesthesia and coauthor of two textbooks: Handbook of Veterinary Anesthesia and Equine Anesthesia Monitoring and Emergency Therapy and is a frequent continuing education on topics related to equine anesthesia. Dr. Hubbell and his wife, Shelley, reside in Bourbon County with two horses, two dogs, two cats, and a goat. They have two grown children, Meghan, who is an athletic trainer and physical therapy assistant and Jim, who is a mechanical engineer. www.roodandriddle.com

Rood & Riddle Welcomes Dr. Charlie Scoggin was raised in Boulder, Colorado, where he grew up enjoying the outdoors, playing sports, and caring for his family’s Quarter Horses. He attended college at Colgate University in upstate New York and then traveled back home to further his studies at Colorado State University. Dr. Scoggin obtained his master’s degree in equine reproductive physiology in 2001, where he focused his research on methods to improve the success of embryo and oocyte transfer. In 2005, he completed his DVM at CSU and served a one-year internship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, KY where he served as the shed veterinarian for WinStar Farm and Brittany Farms. Dr. Scoggin then accepted a position as an associate veterinarian at Pioneer Equine Hospital, a referral clinic in Central California, which served a diverse clientele of both western performance and English sport horses. In the fall of 2008, Dr. Scoggin became the resident veterinarian at Claiborne Farm in Paris, KY. He was responsible for the routine and emergency care of all resident animals. He specializes in mare and stallion reproduction, as well as care of newborn foals, yearlings, and lay-ups. Dr. Scoggin became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists (animal reproduction) in 2012. He is married to Dr. Kirsten Scoggin, a research scientist and lab manager and UK’s Gluck Equine Research Center. They have two energetic kids, Eliza (12 years) and Charlie E (10 years).

Dr. Bob Agne Memorial Service Dr. Bob Agne Memorial Service A memorial service will be held to honor the life of Dr. Bob Agne. Everyone is welcome to attend to share memories of our dearly loved veterinarian.

Monday, November 16 from 5-7pm Rood & Riddle Conference Center 2150 Georgetown Road Building 25 Lexington, KY 40511 We hope you will be able to join his friends, family, and loving wife, Carrie in remembering Dr. Agne.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Glacier National Park, Greyhound Adoption of Greater Cincinnati, Greyhound Friends of North Carolina, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and a scholarship fund at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine has been created in Dr. Agne’s name.

We are all deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Agne. He was a great asset to Rood & Riddle and the level he cared for his patients and their owners, far exceeded anyone’s expectations. Our thoughts are with Carrie and their families.

Dr. Scott Morrison said, “On September 7, 2015, the equine community lost a most valuable, skilled and compassionate equine podiatry veterinarian. Dr. Robert Agne was the first podiatry intern at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital’s podiatry center in 2003 and was then hired on afterwards as a podiatry clinician.

He was a valued and much-appreciated colleague, who was adored and respected by his clients, colleagues and the Rood and Riddle staff. He cared for many cases with unyielding commitment, patience and integrity.

Dr. Agne was a dear and true friend to all those who had the privilege to know him.”

Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year Award Presented The 2015 Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year award was presented by Dr. Brad Tanner to Mensa G at the TOBA Awards Dinner.

The Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse award is given to the best Thoroughbred participating in a second career as a performance horse in dressage, eventing hunter and jumper competitions throughout the year. Previous winners of the award include Sea Walker, Houdini, and Courageous Comet.

Mensa G is owned by Carl Bouckaert, Nathalie Bouckaert Pollard and Pollard Eventing. Mensa G, sired by Colonial Affair out of Fire the Secretary, retired after forty starts with five wins, seven seconds, and four third place finishes.

His earnings as a racehorse totaled $92,901.

Mensa G has competed at 4-star events as an eventer and at the age of 16, is still reaching success.

Many times after Thoroughbreds have completed their race careers, they are ideal candidates for another vocation. To call attention to these horses’ second career possibilities, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital created an award to be presented to the top Thoroughbred sport horse each year.

Since 2009 Rood & Riddle has partnered with the United States Equestrian Federation and TOBA to sponsor this award which is presented at the annual TOBA Awards Dinner. This award is presented to the best Thoroughbred in a sporting vocation other than racing.

“These awards are a wonderful way to heighten awareness so that we may broaden Thoroughbred horses’ careers beyond the racing world,” comments TOBA President Dan Metzger. “By spotlighting their successes in second careers, we hope the awards will encourage people to rehabilitate and retrain Thoroughbreds after they have retired from racing.”

Congratulations to all of the connections of Mensa G!

“These awards are a wonderful way to heighten awareness so that we may broaden Thoroughbred horses’ careers beyond the racing world,” comments TOBA President Dan Metzger. “By spotlighting their successes in second careers, we hope the awards will encourage people to rehabilitate and retrain Thoroughbreds after they have retired from racing.”

2150 Georgetown Rd

www.RRVP.com

859.246.0112

Accuracy in every product, every time www.rrvp.com

dark horse photography