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Practice Owners From Texas And Montana Appointed AAEP Officers

Drs. Rob Franklin and Amy Grice have been appointed officers of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and will assume their respective positions when installed during the December 8 President's Luncheon at the 66th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. Dr. Franklin has been named 2021 vice president and will assume the role of AAEP president in 2023; Dr. Grice has been named treasurer and will serve a three-year term.

Dr. Franklin is a partner in Fredericksburg Equine Veterinary Services in Fredericksburg, Texas, and a strong advocate for equine-humanitarian efforts through his support of working equid welfare. A founding director of the Equitarian Initiative, Dr. Franklin has led more than 15 veterinary medical trips to Central America since 2012 to administer care to the region's working equids and education to caretakers. He is also co-founder of animal nutritional supplement company Animal Stewards International, whose pay-it-forward model helps animals in need in underdeveloped countries.

An AAEP member since 1998, Dr. Franklin chairs the Wellness Committee and previously served on the board of directors from 2015-2017. In addition, he has volunteered as a member of the Educational Programs and Nominating committees.

Dr. Franklin received his veterinary degree in 1999 from Texas A&M University and became board certified in large animal internal medicine in 2003. His avid support of organized veterinary medicine extends beyond his AAEP service: He is co-founder and past president of the Texas Equine Veterinary Association, past president of the Marion (County, Fla.) Veterinary Medical Association and a former director of the Florida Association of Equine Practitioners. In addition, Dr. Franklin has published numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles, and he has presented at national and international veterinary conferences.

Dr. Grice is a veterinary business consultant in Virginia City, Mont., who after 25 years as an ambulatory equine practitioner with Rhinebeck Equine in Rhinebeck, N.Y., resigned as managing partner of the large referral practice in 2015 to launch her consulting practice, which helps veterinarians navigate challenging practice environments to lead more successful and satisfying lives.

Dr. Grice received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1990 and her MBA from Marist College School of Management in 2014. She frequently speaks at educational seminars for veterinarians and contributes veterinary business articles to AAEP Media Partner EquiManagement. In addition, she facilitates regional Decade One networking groups for early-career veterinarians and serves on the AVMA Veterinary Economics Strategy Committee.

An AAEP member since 1990, Dr. Grice currently serves on the Wellness Committee. She previously served on the board of directors from 2016-2018, the Foundation Advisory Council, and the Educational Programs, Leadership Development, Nominating and Owner Education committees. She received the 2017 AAEP President's Award for her central role in the development of the AAEP-AVMA Economic Survey.

Retired Racehorse Project’s Makeover Marketplace Transitions To Virtual Event

While the in-person horse shopping and adoption experience at the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium may no longer be possible this year with the postponement of the event to 2021, the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP), thanks to a generous grant from the ASPCA, will continue to produce the Makeover Marketplace and promote transitioned Thoroughbreds as premier sport horse prospects online.

Expected to feature dozens of restarted Thoroughbreds, the ASPCA Makeover Marketplace catalog will once again be offered in print as well as digitally. Sign-ups are now open to receive the catalog, which will be printed in the Fall 2020 issue of Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, the RRP's award-winning quarterly publication. The catalog will be printed in color and feature each horse's Jockey Club name and basic details, price or adoption fee, home location, description and photo, as well as trainer contact information. Each advertisement will also include a QR code that will direct smartphone users to the horse's full online listing, which may include additional information and video.

“The ASPCA Makeover Marketplace has become one of the country's premier horse shopping and adoption opportunities for equestrians looking for well-started sport horse prospects,” said Jen Roytz, Executive Director of the RRP. “Traditionally, horse shopping includes extensive travel, often going to multiple farms in different states in order to consider horses, but changing mandates and travel restrictions during the pandemic are limiting those opportunities. The Marketplace lets you browse from the comfort of your couch and peruse dozens of photos, videos and descriptions of equine athletes for adoption or sale who have had the proper care, nutrition and training to make a successful transition to a competitive or recreational career after racing.”

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Dewey Square, 2015 Thoroughbred Makeover Marketplace graduate, now owned by Nicholas D'Amore and in training with Kate Chadderton. Photo by Amy Dragoo

The ASPCA Makeover Marketplace has become an adopter's or buyer's trusted source for Thoroughbreds for sport or pleasure. Though the Thoroughbred Makeover competition will not be taking place this year, each horse entered in the Marketplace catalog will have undergone preparation for the event, with emphasis placed on a healthy transition from the track and training for a big show environment. Past ASPCA Makeover Marketplace graduates have gone on to successful careers in eventing, hunter/jumper, field hunter, western performance, pleasure and trail riding.

“Creating opportunities for more equine enthusiasts to find their Right Horse is a vital component of our work,” said Dr. Emily Weiss, Vice President of ASPCA Equine Welfare. “The RRP continues to support us in shifting the perspective of who a retired racehorse is and showcasing the incredible potential they will bring to their next homes. While we will miss seeing all the event-goers and talented competitors this year, we celebrate this innovative virtual Marketplace experience that will help transition more great horses to their next chapter.”

The digital catalog will be released at tbmakeover.org the week of August 10, and individual horses will be featured on the RRP's social media. Watch the RRP's Facebook page for additional virtual spotlights of Marketplace horses this fall.

The post Retired Racehorse Project’s Makeover Marketplace Transitions To Virtual Event appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Study: Lasers Help Heal Equine Tendon And Ligament Injuries

High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) can be used to reduce inflammation in horses that have tendon and ligament injuries, a study from Poland has found.

Drs. Paulina Zielińska, Jakub Nicpoń, Zdzisław Kiełbowicz, Maria Soroko, Krzysztof Dudek and Daniel Zaborski used 26 Warmbloods with tendon and ligament injuries to see if laser therapy could provide anti-inflammatory relief. All horses were between 5 and 24 years old and were patients at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences.

All horses were assigned to a group that received 15 HILT treatments or a group that received no laser treatments. All horses had the same 40-day rehabilitation program, which included one 20-minute walk on hard ground each day, followed by cold water application on affected tendons or ligaments. The injuries were assessed before and after treatment, and ultrasound images were taken.

The team concluded that HILT provided swelling and pain relief; the ultrasound images showed a reduction in lesion size in the horses treated with laser therapy, as well. The researchers say that HILT can be used as a supportive treatment for horses that have tendon and ligament injuries, reducing swelling and lameness, and improving pain. They note, however, that there is no protocol for the number of HILT sessions, duration, energy dose or frequency of treatment for horses that have tendon and ligament injuries.

Corona Virus Cancels National Children’s Riding Competition

Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the US Equestrian Federation jointly released a statement that the last day of competition in the Kentucky Summer Classic was cancelled, as was the 2020 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm event that was to start Tuesday. Four people tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing symptoms; two were from a barn that had travelled to the event and one other was a braider who had been in multiple barns.

The cancellation of competition will allow the competition organizer time to sanitize the venue and determine if competitions slated to go later in August are able to commence safely. Individuals who attended the competition have been notified of the positive test results. Show management is also asking those people who tested positive for a list of whom they were in close contact with from 48 hours before their symptoms arose so that those people might be notified directly of their potential exposure.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 within 14 days after a sanctioned competition must notify the competition organizer and US Equestrian.