A Quarterly Newsletter from Your Equine Health Care Provider | Fall 2012
IN THIS ISSUE
Shoeing to Manage Conformational Faults in the Sport Horse By: Scott E. Morrison, DVM | Shareholder, Rood & Riddle
EQUINE HEALTH Shoeing to Manage Conformational Faults in the Sport Horse Feeding and Managing Your Horse During Drought Conditions Patient Success is a Team Effort NEWS Sea Walker is Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year Rood & Riddle is Proud to be Named the Official Veterinarian, Farrier and Veterinary Pharmacy of the Alltech National Horse Show Hats Off Day Over 13,000 People Celebrate Kentucky’s Horse Industry Yearling Sales Seminar attracts nearly 300 Horsemen Around the Practice
1a Fig. 1a: Toe in (Fetlock Varus). Compressed growth plate medially with physitis Fig. 1b: Lateral extension shoe to alter forces on the growth plate
For a foot to remain healthy and accommodate its basic functions, it needs to have proper form and structure. Balance is the term most widely used when describing the foot’s form and structure. A balanced foot is believed to be functionally efficient and capable of providing support to the limb. Balance can be broken down into dynamic and static. Static balance evaluates the foot in regards to its geometric shape. Dynamic balance assesses the foot in motion such as flight and landing patterns. A balanced foot isn’t necessarily perfectly symmetrical, but does posses a degree of symmetry and is free of hoof capsule distortions such as flares, dishes, bull nosed dorsal wall, crushed/collapsed wall, contracted heel, etc., which are all signs of imbalance. Distortions are a sign of over or under loading a particular region of the foot. These distortions or shape changes are seen as collapsing or structural failure of an area of the hoof wall. These hooves don’t respond well to normal loading forces and are more susceptible to trauma and injury. The point of ground contact affects the manner in which the foot and all the structures above it are loaded. This is the essential concept underlying the importance of dynamic balance. A preventative hoof care program should be implemented to effectively deal with and respond to hoof capsule distortions before they cause lameness. All horses should be evaluated walking and trotting before and after trimming/shoeing. Ideally the foot lands slightly heel first at faster gaits (thus the shock absorbing function of the heel). At the walk, however, landing flat is normal. Also it is ideal for the foot to land directly beneath the bone column in a limb with good conformation. Signs of dynamic imbalance are limb interference, toe first landing, and obvious medial or lateral landing, twisting or bowing of the limb when traveling in a straight line. Often lameness further up the limb corresponds to dynamic imbalance either as a cause or result. Other causes of dynamic imbalance which should be considered are: general weakness, immaturity, neurological disorders and rider induced. In the growing horse, trimming and shoeing can have a huge influence on the growth and development of the bony column. The point of ground contact has a direct effect on limb position, which effects how all the structures of the limb are loaded. This is how foot manipulations alter physeal (growth plate) growth through altering compression/ tension forces on different regions of the growth plate (Fig. 1a,b). However in the adult horse, the limb conformation cannot be changed, only managed. Several trimming and shoeing mechanisms can be implemented to prevent these adult feet from abnormal loading and becoming severely distorted. Shoeing modifications can influence the point
of ground contact, offer additional support and therefore help optimize the efficiency and loading characteristics of the limb. Care must be taken when implementing these shoeing techniques, as there is a boundary between offering support and applying too much leverage or force. Simply stated there is a fine line between under shoeing, over shoeing, and getting it just right for each individual horse or limb. The concept is particularly important in athletes as these forces are magnified at greater speeds. Fig. 2a: Handmade shoe used to treat a collateral ligament injury. Widened inside branck to treat a desmitis of the medial (inside) collateral ligament of coffin joint.
Fig. 2b: Wide lateral branch formed into a key shoe Fig. 2c: Handmade wide lateral branch shoe
Fig. 3: Onion heel shoe used to create “flotation” of heels in soft footing
Fig. 4a: Jumper with base narrow hind end and hock soreness shod with wide lateral branch Fig. 4b: Base narrow race horse that travels close behind and interferes
Fig. 4c: Same race horse after shoeing to widen the base narrow stance
Fig. 4d: Same racehorse. Shod with lateral support shoe
Flotation is a term used when describing the effects of some shoe modifications. An increased surface area on a particular region of the shoe can be created by widening an area of the shoe through welding more metal into an area or forging out a widened area of the shoe, this will promote that area to have more surface area to sit or float on the soft footing while the other areas of the shoe sink into the ground (Fig. 2a,b,c). This can be used to alter foot position during weight bearing. Medial or lateral flotation can be used to compensate for some conformational faults and alleviate stress on structures further up the limb. Wider branches are occasionally used to support a collateral ligament injury. Another example of the use of flotation would be the low heel hind feet on a dressage horse in soft footing that gets sore over the hamstrings and back. A conventional wedge may place too much force on the weak heels (in which they are “propped up” continuously). Another option would be to widen the heel branches and narrow the toe branch so that the toe sinks and the heel floats on the footing. This often gives these horses relief and improves propulsion behind (Fig. 3). Conversely, a suspensory shoe is occasionally used in cases with chronic suspensory desmitis, in which the toe is broadened and the heels penciled or narrowed to encourage flotation of the toe and sinking of the heels to load the DDFT and decrease load on the suspensory ligamaent (Fig. 4a,b,c,d). Other examples are the base narrow hind end horse that twists the limb or bows the hocks outward when walking and sinks in excessively on the lateral heel in soft footing. These horses are often shod with a widened lateral branch and rockered toe. This case probably responds to the widened branch for its flotation effects, but the widened branch also affects the point of ground contact and foot placement, thus widening the stance. Of course anytime we alter a horse’s gait this much, we need to be careful not to over-do it and careful monitoring of the horse afterward is needed. Shoes can also be used to compensate for poor foot conformation or to establish more ideal spatial arrangement and proportions of the weight bearing surface of the foot. Ideally the center of the coffin joint should line up to the center of the ground surface of the foot. Two properties of the shoe can help achieve this goal: heel position/fit and break over point. The heels are trimmed back to the widest part of the frog, if this is not possible, as in the severely under run heel, then the shoe can be fit to this point. The breakover point and heel position should both be located equidistant from the coffin joint. If the toe cannot be trimmed to achieve the ideal breakover point then shoe modifications such as rolled and rockered toes or a combination of both can be used to set the required breakover point. Severely compromised or distorted feet usually require some form of axial support to redistribute weight off of compromised areas of wall. Axial support refers to recruiting structures within the margins of the wall for support. Shoe modifications such as heartbars, broadened branches, onion heels, heel plates, and sole support materials are various options. A good evaluation of the foot, horse footing, environment and discipline is required to properly utilize each of these.
Feeding and Managing Your Horse During Drought Conditions By: Peter Morresey, BVSc, MACVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACT | Associate, Rood & Riddle
The recent drought conditions affecting a great majority of the central United States have highlighted the need for sound feeding and management programs for horses faced with limited feed stores and owner finances. In addition to sourcing adequate feed during a drought, horses benefit from management procedures to make the most of what feed is already available and make supplementary feeds last longer. Horses are individuals that vary widely in their feed requirement, this being largely dependent on life stage and current usage. An aged horse does not have the same needs as a young, growing horse or a pregnant mare. Grouping horses according to condition score, age, size and nutritional demand (this greatly depending on use or pregnancy status) makes it easier to provide that which is needed for all horses in a particular group. Dominance is a factor here, as when feed is short some horses will eat more than their share at the expense of the more lowly ranked members of the herd. These malnourished horses become apparent with weight loss in excess of the remainder of the group. It is easier to maintain body condition than to replace it once it is lost. Regular assessment of body condition of all horses in the group will identify problems early and allow more equitable allocation of feed. It may be necessary to wean early, allowing mares to be managed as dry mares with lower feed requirements. This will require careful feeding of the newly weaned foals to avoid undernutrition with resultant health and developmental disorders. While a period of compensatory growth can occur when feed supplies improve, it is best to avoid the need for this to happen if at all possible. When necessary, idle horses not in work may have to be allowed to lose condition to provide for the needs of the most at risk groups (young and growing, aged and infirm). Preservation of what pasture is available may require some degree of confining of horses. This will minimize overgrazing that leads to pasture damage and bare areas susceptible to wind erosion. Once eaten down too hard grasses are unable to recover without rainfall, and pastures become overrun with weeds. A small area may be sacrificed to preserve the pasture available on the rest of the farm. This small area is much easier to rehabilitate than widespread damage over the entire farm once rain arrives. Additionally, if horses are not encouraged to roam widely to obtain grazing areas, less body condition is lost. This sacrifice area must be tended to regularly by the picking up of manure and removal of weed species that may take the opportunity to establish in the absence of regular pasture species. Someof these weeds may be toxic, as may be trees adjacent to the pasture that wouldn’t usually be eaten. While trees are important to provide shade and shelter, ensure the bark is protected from stripping and any overhanging branches are not providing access to toxic leaves or fruit. Roughages (hay, pasture) are a crucial component of a horse’s diet. The fiber contained promotes normal function of the digestive system. A minimum of one percent of bodyweight is required as roughage each day, with up to two percent desirable. They also provide energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. Weighing each portion of hay before feeding ensures the dietary goals are being met and excess above requirements is not being fed, stretching the hay supply.
“Regular assessment of body condition of all Horses in the group will identify problems early and allow more equitable allocation of feed.”
“A minimum of
1% of bodyweight is required as roughage each day, with up to
2% desirable.”
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Decreased losses of hay provided may be achieved by the use of feeders that minimize hay spillage to the ground. This hay may be trampled and lose palatability. Losses from wind are also reduced. Wetting down hay decreases loss of leaf and minimizes dust particles. “Group buying power or at least sharing of transport costs For hay purchased some distance away makes this a more viable option.”
Supplementary feed already provided can be increased to make up for the shortfall in pasture or hay; however as with all feed changes increased amounts should be progressively added to the diet. Horse evolved grazing continuously throughout the day. Shifting to a predominantly interval feeding pattern may lead to boredom and stall vices (e.g. cribbing, biting) which may require providing some form of distraction to the horses if confined. Also essential is free access to clean palatable water. Drought conditions dry up natural water sources and cause excessive losses from buckets and troughs. Increased gastrointestinal and generalized health problems can be expected from horses inadequately provided with water. When looking for additional sources of hay, this may be a time to cooperate with your neighbors. Group buying power or at least sharing of transport costs for hay purchased some distance away makes this a more viable option. Your local agricultural extension agent may also provide information on alternative feed sources available. Although not always a desirable feed, hay in round bales is cheaper than small bales usually fed to horses. While some quality issues due to storage and grass species contained may be present, feeding of a round bale in a specialized feeder to minimize waste and control access is a good option to supplement higher quality hay in smaller bales. The key is to limit access to the bale with a feeder that minimizes hay spillage to the ground. Alternative feeds can substitute for a portion of the hay usually offered. Concentrate feeds may also be used in increased amounts.
“...weighing of the amount of feed is very important to provide accurate amounts so as to avoid overfeeding and digestive disturbances.”
Instead of using a standard measure of feed volume, weighing of the amount of feed is very important to provide accurate amounts so as to avoid overfeeding and digestive disturbances. Many complete concentrate feeds regularly fed to horses with higher requirements for digestibility (e.g. senior feeds) are higher in fiber than more routine feeds and can partially substitute for hay if introduced progressively to the diet. Over short periods these senior-type feeds can largely substitute for roughage in young mature horses if some hay is also provided. Very high fiber (>20%) extruded feeds can completely substitute for hay or pasture but may allow appearance of stall vices (wood chewing) or mane/tail chewing. Processed roughage-based feeds (bagged chopped or cubed hay) can similarly spare the supply of hay but is likely a more expensive source of feed. The nutritive value may be higher in these alfalfa-based feeds allowing a more cost competitive solution than at first appears. With any concentrate, hay or roughage change, if a horse that usually eats well appears to refuse what is offered this may indicate spoilage or other quality issues. These can only lead to other health problems. Lack of consumption may first become apparent through loss of body condition making regular assessment of body weight important in times of nutritional stress. Furthermore, older animals are less resistant to the effects of drought conditions, and while younger horses require more nutrients to grow. In these cases, choosing concentrates with higher levels of fat and protein may still allow
maintenance of condition in older horses and meeting of growth target in younger horses throughout drought conditions. With all feed changes, to minimize digestive problems, a progressive alteration should be made over a 1-2 week period. A drought period is a challenge to health of the horse and the feed budgeting skills of the owner. It is possible to supplement pasture and hay with feeds of lesser quality for short periods. Over longer periods, consideration must be given to the fiber content of the diet to ensure appropriate digestive function. Conservation and efficient utilization of feed already on hand, and the sourcing of supplementary feeds of acceptable quality have dual goals: the maintenance of horse health and the sparing of available pasture from the ravages of drought conditions to ensure long term feed supplies are available once the drought ends.
Patient Success is a Team Effort
“With all feed changes, to minimize digestive problems, a progressive alteration should be made over a 1-2 week period.”
By: Natalie Voss
Every owner’s worst nightmare is arriving at the barn to find their horse ill or injured. Last October, Mendy Abrahamson discovered her appendix Quarter Horse The Only Gucci in distress. Gucci was up and down in the stall and dancing in the crossties as if to mimic the abdominal pain of colic, but also had a fever of 104.3. After a visit from her regular practitioner, the two became concerned that the issue was more complex than colic, so they put Gucci on the trailer and hauled him from Ohio to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. Dr. Bonnie Barr, Dipl. ACVIM, and her team were waiting for Gucci when he pulled into the clinic. She took particular note of the fact that the gelding had nasal discharge from his right nostril, and began her exam with a complete panel of blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound to search for an infection that could be causing his fever. Gucci was started on intravenous fluids and a variety of medications to make him more comfortable, and received round-the-clock monitoring by Rood & Riddle’s team of experienced technicians. “I was very impressed with the hospital—the nurses sat with him 24 hours a day,” recalled Abrahamson. The next morning however, Dr. Barr noticed that Gucci had become unwilling to move, resting his rump against the wall and seeming unsteady on his feet. Since laminitis can be a complication of infection or injury, she checked for an increased digital pulse in his hooves but found none. As is common at Rood & Riddle, she called the podiatry department in for consultation. “When I looked at him he appeared to be very foot sore in all four feet, although I didn’t get much response to hoof testers, coronary band felt normal and digital pulses were normal,” recalls Dr. Bob Agne, a veterinary podiatrist at Rood & Riddle. “It’s beneficial to have on-site podiatrists. Not only are we able to address laminitis that may be secondary to other disease processes, we can help clients with horses that, although may not have presented for foot problems, bring horses in that need attention to their feet.”
“...we can help clients with horses that, although may not have been presented for foot problems, bring horses in that need attention to their feet.”
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“I think his personality is what kept him afloat.He loves people— that’s what saved him. He probably wouldn’t have made it at home..”
While Dr. Agne examined Gucci’s radiographs, Dr. Barr and her team performed an endoscopic examination of his upper airway and discovered fungal plaques in his right guttural pouch, indicating guttural pouch mycosis. Guttural pouch mycosis is a fungal infection that usually involves only one of the two guttural pouches. The fungus can cause damage to nerves and blood vessels that are located in the guttural pouch. The reason why a horse would develop guttural pouch mycosis is not known. In this case, fungus plaques grew over time and lead to the nasal discharge his owner noticed that October morning. After examining x-rays of Gucci’s feet, Dr. Agne concluded laminitis was not a factor, so in a search for answers for his sudden reluctance to move, Dr. Barr took a tap of his cerebrospinal fluid. The CSF tap indicated bacterial meningitis, a neurological infection of the meningies in the brain. Dr. Barr says it’s impossible to tell whether Gucci’s meningitis was in any way connected to his guttural pouch mycosis, though it’s possible immunosupression from one led to the other. Development of mycosis can sometimes be “just dumb luck”, as Dr. Barr says, but the meningitis made surgical treatment of the guttural pouch mycosis challenging, since it makes anesthesia risky. While Gucci stabilized with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for his meningitis, Dr. Barr consulted Rood & Riddle surgeon Dr. Brett Woodie, Dipl. ACVS on a procedure to treat the guttural pouch mycosis. Once the gelding was stable, Dr. Woodie performed surgery to occlude, or tie off, the right internal carotid artery to shut off the source of blood flow, which was providing nutrients to the fungal plaques. Horses can function perfectly fine with an occluded internal carotid artery and, after a few more weeks to monitor his progress post-surgery, Gucci was able to come home. During the month Gucci spent at the clinic, Abrahamson believes his plucky attitude was his salvation. “I think his personality is what kept him afloat. He loves people— that’s what saved him. He probably wouldn’t have made it at home.” At the heart of Gucci’s recovery was the teamwork between Rood and Riddle veterinarians, who worked together across departments to stay on top of his progress at all times. Abrahamson is proud to report that Gucci is nippy and playful these days, and after a careful rehabilitation to riding, competed in his first hunter show since his illness this spring at the Kentucky Horse Park. With his new trainer, Gucci earned fourth, sixth and seventh place ribbons and is happy to return to work. “Now, you’d never know it happened.”
Sea Walker is Named the Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year By: Susan Salk | www.offtrackthoroughbreds.com
Sea Walker, a champion show jumper whose heart beats with the bloodlines of Secretariat, was named the 2011 Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year this month in recognition of his 17 wins at major shows. The naturally balanced ex-racehorse, who almost effortlessly switched gears from the racetrack to the show ring, was honored at the annual Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (TOBA) dinner Sept. 7. In recognizing Sea Walker, the second ex-racehorse
Thoroughbred to be so honored by Rood & Riddle, it is hoped his success helps shine a light on the potential that most ex-racehorses have to excel in sport. “These awards,” says TOBA President Dan Metzger in a press release, “are a wonderful way to heighten awareness so that we may broaden the career of the Thoroughbred horse beyond racing.” “By spotlighting their successes in second careers, we hope to encourage people to rehabilitate and retrain Thoroughbreds after they have retired from racing.” Sea Walker is a case in point. In 2011, the beautiful bay whose face is adorned with a brilliant, white star, competed against Warmbloods at some of the finest show venues. Tucking his knees, pricking his ears, he carried owner and rider Nicole Oliynyk gracefully over three-foot three-inch jumps, winning handily in 17 competitions. Among his wins were first-place finishes at WEF, Fieldstone, Skidmore, Lake Placid, and the I Love New York circuits, according to a press release. He finished the year with three Championships and three Reserve Championships, and placed fifth in the nation in the Amateur Owner 3.3 Division.
“These awards are a wondeful way to heighten awareness so that we may broaden the career of the Thoroughbred horse beyond racing.”
Sea Walker is the second ex-racehorse to win horse-of-the-year since the award was established in 2009 by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital cofounder Dr. Tom Riddle, DVM. Before that, Courageous Comet, a grey gelding owned and ridden by Becky Holder, won in both 2009 and 2010. In an earlier interview with OffTrackThoroughbreds.com, Dr. Riddle spoke of his hope that ex-racehorses would come to be viewed as gifted, competitive sport horses.“My goal in developing this award was to try to put the spotlight on Thoroughbreds and on their usefulness in careers other than racing,” Riddle says. “It’s very important to me that these horses who have served us so well as racehorses be given other opportunities. “Through this award, we hope to decrease the number of unwanted horses in the U.S. by demonstrating their value in these non-racing professions. They’re amazing athletes. People need to be aware of that.” Before she purchased Sea Walker from some friends in 2005, Oliynyk had been given the opportunity to ride and show him. It was clear from the outset that he possessed the heart to compete, and a natural flair that needed little fine tuning. But his feet were a different matter altogether. “When he showed, he couldn’t keep his shoes on,” Oliynyk says. “Even when he raced, he was always losing a shoe.” The solution was glue-on shoes! After taking about a year to allow his feet to grow out from their racing shape, and to toughen up, the glue-on shoes eventually proved to be the best foot protection for him. “That’s the shoe he wins in,” she notes. As for secrets to winning on her OTTB, there are none. From the beginning, Sea Walker required very little tutelage to re-shape his career from racing to showing, she says. “His lead changes were perfectly natural, and he had a beautiful jump,” she says. “When I bought him, he had already been shown professionally at the three-foot level” and it took very little on her part to get the best performance out of her boy.
“From the beginning, Sea Walker required very little tutelage to re-shape his career from racing to showing.”
All the ribbons and trophies did not prepare her, however, for the thrill of being selected the Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year. www.roodandriddle.com
“I was flattered and honored,” she says, noting that the panel of judges were equally as impressive as the field of horses they considered for the honor. Each year, the winning Thoroughbred is chosen by a four-person committee assembled by the chef d’equipe from each of the top four disciplines—Show Jumping (George Morris), Hunters (Patty Heuckeroth), Eventing (Mark Phillips) and Dressage (Hilda Gurney). Celebrity Thoroughbred trainer Michael Matz, whose standout career includes training Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, is given the fifth vote. And this year, when all was known, and the judges had evaluated the stellar records of all the Thoroughbred Sport horses, it was Sea Walker who ran away with the title. For the full story and other news about Thoroughbreds that are pursuing a second career visit www.offtrackthoroughbreds.com
Rood & Riddle Again Partners with the Alltech National Horse Show By: Phelps Media Group
The Alltech National Horse Show, announced that Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital has once again been named the Official Veterinarian, Farriers and Veterinary Pharmacy for this year’s event, scheduled for the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on October 30 – November 4, 2012. Lexington-based Rood & Riddle is a full-service equine hospital established in 1986 as a referral center for horses requiring specialized medical and surgical care. Today, Rood & Riddle is known and respected throughout the world for its innovative and highly skilled treatment of horses. The hospital facility at Rood & Riddle offers a full range of services including surgery, internal medicine, advanced diagnostic imaging, a focused Podiatry Center and a specialized Reproductive Center. The practice also provides ambulatory services (onsite care) for breeding farms, sport horse facilities, horse shows and events, with a variety of services, including emergency and preventative care, general reproduction, lameness, radiography, podiatry, and internal medicine. “Rood & Riddle is the one name you think of when you think of first-class veterinary care in Kentucky.” - Mason Phelps, President of the Alltech National Horse Show
Dr. Bill Rood and Dr. Tom Riddle formed a partnership in 1982 and four years later expanded their successful ambulatory practice by opening Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. Today, Rood & Riddle is owned by 19 shareholders and includes over 50 veterinarians, who together hold 15 board certifications in surgery, internal medicine, theriogenology, veterinary practice (equine) and ophthalmology. “Rood & Riddle is extremely pleased to once again serve as the Official Veterinarian, Veterinary Pharmacy, and Farrier for the upcoming Alltech National Horse Show. Last year’s show exceeded our expectations and we look forward to another wonderful experience in 2012,” Dr. Riddle said. “Rood & Riddle’s support of the National Horse Show underscores our practice’s commitment to the sport horse and our community.” “Rood and Riddle is the one name you think of when you think of first-class veterinary care in Kentucky,” said Alltech National Horse Show President Mason Phelps, Jr. “They did an outstanding job at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and we heard nothing but great things from the competitors at the Alltech National Horse Show last year. We are thrilled to have the team at Rood & Riddle with us at this again this year at the Kentucky Horse Park.” In addition to services provided in Kentucky, the Rood & Riddle sport horse veterinarians and podiatrists provide services in Wellington each winter and travel regularly to competitions throughout the eastern United States.
The Alltech National Horse Show will be held at the beautiful, new Alltech Indoor Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America’s oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association’s primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities. For more information on the National Horse Show Association of America, Limited, please visit www.nhs.org.
Yearling Sales Seminar Attracts Nearly 300 Horsemen On Thursday, August 16 nearly 300 people represented farms, veterinary practices and sales agencies from all over the country at Rood & Riddle’s first “Veterinary Concerns at Yearling Sales” seminar. The attendees heard 4 world-renowned Rood & Riddle veterinarians discuss the changes in sale conditions at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton yearling sales as well as commonly encountered veterinary terminology and what it really means to the value of a yearling. Many people were surprised at the candid nature of the panel discussion. Dr. Larry Bramlage discussed some abnormal conditions that do not adversely affect racing; he encouraged attendees to “Buy that horse. you’re going to get a good deal and it will run well.” This made people excited at the possibility of using this new information to get great horses at a reasonable price.
Over 13,000 People Celebrate Kentucky’s Horse Industry on Hats Off Day A big thanks to the over 13,000 people who attended Hats Off Day: A Day to Celebrate Kentucky’s Horse Industry! The gates opened at 4:00pm to big crowds ready to take advantage of the only free day at the Horse Park all year. Equine businesses from the area provided inflatables, pony rides and other activities for families and people of all ages to enjoy. Many patrons saw, for the first time, how many different national and international equestrian organizations are headquartered at the Kentucky Horse Park and understood that Lexington truly is the Horse Capital of the World. The day was capped off by the largest attendance ever at the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix. The opening ceremonies for the Grand Prix wowed patrons with a riding display from Lyndsey Jordan Prix in stunning fashion on her favorite mount Urban. The Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix has quickly become one of the premier events in stadium showjumping. www.roodandriddle.com
Around the Practice... During the Alltech National Horse Show, Rood & Riddle will be teaming up with Alltech to offer a special Equine News and Brews ”Sport Horse Symposium”. The Symposium will feature prominent veterinarians from Rood & Riddle who will be discussing issues that affect the sport horse. Rood &Riddle Podiatrist Dr. Scott Morrison will be discussing, “Problems of the Hoof Wall” and Dr. Chris Newton will discuss, “Diagnostics and Therapies for the Modern Sport Horse”. This free program will be held Thursday, November 1st at 5PM at the Alltech Arena and provide food and drink as well as the opportunity to purchase half-priced tickets to the Alltech National Horse Show. Reservations are required.
Rood & Riddle is proud to be a sponsor of the 9th International Conference on Equine Infectious Diseases. This conference brings veterinarians together from around the world to discuss current equine diseases and treatments and features some of the most recognizable names in Equine Veterinary Medicine in the world. The Conference takes place at the Lexington Downtown Hilton from October 21-25. Not only is Rood & Riddle a sponsor of the event, Dr. Steve Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (a Rood & Riddle shareholder and the world-wide authority on Equine Neurology) is on the local organizing committee.
We are proud to announce that founding partner Dr. Tom Riddle was recognized at the 2012 Society for Theriogenology Conference in Baltimore, MD by receiving the John D. Steiner Award for Excellence inPractice! This award is given every year by the board of the Society for Theriogenology to the Theriogenologist that displays excellence over the course of their career. To anyone who knows Dr. Riddle, this award is no surprise as he has long exemplified great character in his practice and an unparalleled knowledge of Equine Reproduction. A past president of the Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners, he has also served as president of the Society for Theriogenology and as the founding president of the Theriogenology Foundation. Dr. Riddle limits his personal practice to Thoroughbred breeding farms.
At the 10th Annual “Opportunities in Equine Practice Seminar” held at the Embassy Suites in Lexington, KY over Labor Day Weekend. Dr. Bill Rood was recognized for 10 years of dedicated service in expanding the Equine Veterinary Profession. In 2003, because of a shortage of equine practitioners, Rood & Riddle founded the “Opportunities in Equine Practice Seminar”. Over the years, the seminar has evolved into a program to provide professional guidance, advice and mentorship for students interested in the equine veterinary profession Rood & Riddle associate Dr. Ashley Embly and Rood & Riddle employee and artist Gretchen Grossardt wowed the crowd at Keeneland’s “Sunrise Trackside” with a live display of the skeletal system and internal organs of a horse in the Keeneland Paddock. Gretchen spent the morning painting the sides of a horse to display the skeletal system on one side and the internal organs on the other side. Dr. Embly took the horse into the Paddock area and used it as the centerpiece of her demonstration as she explained the internal make-up of the horse and entertained the crowd with stories from her veterinary career.
Congratulations to Rood & Riddle’s Dr. Chris Newton on winning his division of the 2012 Jump Start Horse Trials. Dr. Newton was one of 9 Rood & Riddle clients to win their division at this event.
Rood & Riddle played host to a camera crew from the documentary series “Veterinarians on Call” which profiles some of the top U.S. veterinary clinics around the country. For three days several Rood & Riddle Clinicians including Dr. Larry Bramlage and Dr. Debbie Spike-Pierce showed the cameras the great work they do on a daily basis. Several Rood & Riddle clients also gave “Veterinarians on Call” permission to follow their case through the clinical process from diagnosis and treatment to the van ride home. While being shown around Taylor Made Farm by John Hall, the cameras were also treated to close-ups of former Rood & Riddle patients Havre de Grace and Plum Pretty. They then filmed a race at Keeneland thanks to Shannon White of Fares Farms and Keeneland’s Communications team. The videos, when completed this fall, will be added to the 25 veterinarian profiles already airing on the YouTube Channel “Veterinarians on Call,” plus on AgDay TV daily news show on RFD-TV and local Kentucky TV stations. The presenting sponsor of the series is Pfizer Animal Health. www.roodandriddle.com
We believe that victories happen on and off the track.
Thoroughbred
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Rood & Riddle is a worldwide leader in equine veterinary healthcare, offering complete services in surgery, internal medicine, podiatry, imaging, ambulatory, reproduction, sports medicine, and stem cell therapy.
www.roodandriddle.com Sponsor of Keeneland's Rood & Riddle Dowager Stakes, and the Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse Awards