During the lecture, Dr. Reef will explain why a diagnostic ultrasound is critical to assessing the viability of a foal in a mare during a high-risk pregnancy. She also will discuss how veterinarians can use findings from the ultrasound to decide when and how to intervene and to prepare for complications.

Topics will include networking, relationship-building, decision-making strategies, building coalitions, marketing, industry management, financial and legal strategies, and the socio-economic value of the equine industry.

“The American Veterinary Medical Association over its past 150 years has really been an advocate of promoting animal health. It started off that veterinarians were taking care of horses. The number of veterinarians involved in equine medicine was 80% in 1900, but when the car came along in 1920, it was down to 10%.”

Guy McLean, Stacy Westfall, and Richard Winters will be presenting Foundation First clinics over the four days of the event. Each will train one unbroke horse to be ridden, and attendees and horse owners will be able to observe their progress through daily clinics.

Initially launched in August of this year for the iPhone, HSVG is designed to help caretakers of horses (and other equines) make better health-care decisions for their horses. In just four months, HSVG has been downloaded in more than 26 countries, and it has been ranked as a Top 25 reference app in iTunes in 12 countries.

This January, Equine Guelph will be providing students with the opportunity to re-examine their knowledge regarding equine welfare with its online course, The Equine Industry.

“There are several features of the equine eye that makes it quite vulnerable to injury and anatomical features of the equine skull that contribute to this increased risk for injury,” said Dr. Leslie Easterwood

Spokesperson for the AVA, Dr David Neck, said that pet owners need to make sure they are responsible when their pet is sick and prescribed antibiotics.

Ensuring that mares have access to roughage throughout the day and night has beneficial effects on reproductive efficacy according to a recent report.

Caddy (Spook DeVille), an 11-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, was at the top of his game in 2012. He captured several racing titles, including the Western Classic Grand Champion barrel race title, and set a new Western Classic arena record for the fastest time. A tragic accident befell Caddy, though, in the spring of 2013.