Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center for Equine Athletes

Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center for Equine Athletes

Exterior view of the proposed Equine Sports complex in Leesburg.

Interior view of the proposed indoor facility at Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg.

Equine sports medicine is a special focus of the diverse strategic plan being implemented at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg. This branch of veterinary medicine supports equine physical fitness and the treatment and prevention of injuries related to equine sports and exercise.

The Steven and Jane Hale Indoor Arena—made possible by a generous donation from Aimee and Frank Batten and a bequest from Steven and Jane Hale—will mark the completion of the center’s extensive facility upgrades that will support top-quality medical, surgical, and preventative sports medicine services. High-performance equine athletes and pleasure horses, as well as more-mature horses, can benefit from recent advances in sports medicine techniques.

Sitework for the new arena will commence in the fall, with completion slated for summer-fall 2022. Designed by Blackburn Architects PC, noted for their design of innovative equestrian facilities, the complex will provide a covered, dedicated space for the evaluation of all sports-medicine-related issues.

“The indoor arena complex will provide a consistent lameness evaluation area in a comfortable environment for both the horses under evaluation and their owners, offering complete protection from the worst weather that Northern Virginia has to offer,” said Norris Adams, clinical assistant professor of equine lameness and surgery.

Designed to allow maximum airflow and plenty of natural light, the indoor arena will feature jogging strips with soft and firm surfaces, two lunging rings, and a large, dust-free area with synthetic footing to evaluate horses under saddle on the flat and over fences.

“Having the ability to assess lameness that may only be apparent when the horse is under saddle on the flat or jumping will be incredibly beneficial,” said Dr. Maureen Kelleher, clinical assistant professor of sports medicine and surgery.

The new indoor arena, which will adjoin the Youngkin Equine Soundness Clinic and the center’s dedicated podiatry unit, will collectively focus on the treatment of cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, podiatry, and neurologic issues and will also offer therapeutic physical rehabilitation options for the horse.

The center’s sports medicine services are supported by an unparalleled selection of diagnostic imaging that includes computed tomography (CT), nuclear scintigraphy (bone scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal ultrasonography, digital X-ray, and dynamic and standing endoscopy. In addition, intensive treatment options are available, such as regenerative medicine and therapeutic podiatry services offered by Goodness Farrier Associates, LLC, a group farrier practice known for producing exceptional results with difficult therapeutic cases.

“Upgrades to the center’s facilities are part of a multiyear strategic plan to enhance our ability to offer high-level sports-medicine-related treatment and care services, with the goal of ensuring the health and well-being of equine athletes of any breed and at any competitive level entrusted into our care,” said center director Dr. Michael Erskine, Jean Ellen Shehan professor. “Generous philanthropic support by individuals who value our faculty and staff have been a cornerstone of the center’s success since the facility was founded, and we are extremely grateful for our donors’ continued support.”

Details: www.Blackburnarch.com and www.emc.vetmed.vt.edu