Equine Wellness Once Again Proves Popular as Topic of Annual Forum for Horse Enthusiasts

Three people are standing around the front of a brown horse. — Dr. Emma Stapley (right), graduate lecturer in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department, leads a hands-on demonstration about emergency skills with assistance from Equine Club student volunteer Aidan Walker (on left).

More than 150 people turned out in person and virtually for the perennially popular Equine Wellness Forum hosted by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine recently at Lynn Hall, as the latter days of winter started to give way to thoughts of spring rides on horseback. The all-day continuing education program for horse owners and equine industry professionals on Saturday, February 7, featured insightful presentations as well as engaging demonstrations.

A woman wearing a white jacket is standing at the front of a lecture hall, giving a presentation to a large crowd — Dr. Erin Wilson (PU DVM 2008), equine field veterinarian for Cargill Animal Nutrition, gives an equine nutrition talk during the Equine Wellness Forum.

The day began with opening remarks by Dr. Tim Lescun, professor of large animal surgery and interim head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. The program then continued with presentations by equine specialists on the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty as well as other experts who are College of Veterinary Medicine alumni.

During a midday break for lunch and live demonstrations, attendees had the opportunity to view a horse running on the high speed equine treadmill as well as demonstrations of emergency skills and bandaging. The day concluded with tours of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s David and Bonnie Brunner Equine Hospital.

The range of speakers and their topics included:

Camilla Jamieson, BVMedSci, BVM & BVS, DACVIM (LAIM), Clinical Assistant Professor of Large Animal Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) – “Equine Insurance: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Assets”
Erin Wilson (PU DVM 2008), Equine Field Veterinarian for Cargill Animal Nutrition and practicing equine veterinarian in central Indiana at the McDavitt Veterinary Clinic – “Nutrition is Medicine: Functional Ingredients in Equine Feed”
Amy Peoples (PU DVM 1998), Professional Services Veterinarian – “Equine Osteoarthritis and Chondroprotective Therapies”
Morgan Johnson, DVM, DACVO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology – “Ophthalmology Eye Emergencies”
Dr. Jurica Trsan, DVM, DACVIM (LAIM), Visiting Assistant Professor of Large Animal Medicine & ECC – “EPM”

A female veterinary professional is demonstrating how to wrap a horses leg. The horse is a plastic model, and there is a large crown gathered behind the demonstration. — Dr. Danielle Cucuzella, visiting assistant professor of large animal surgery, conducts a demonstration of equine bandaging skills.

A special thank you is in order for the veterinary student volunteers from the Equine Club who helped with the forum, especially by assisting with the demonstrations and hospital tours.

A group of seven young veterinary volunteers pose for a group photo. They are all wearing neutral colored shirts and blue jeans. The background is a brick wall and the floor is a tile grid pattern — Thank you to vital veterinary student volunteers from the Equine Club (left-right): Riley Eder (president), Madeline Frey, Becca Tudor (treasurer-elect), Sandra Warne, Annalyssa Rudolphi, Rebekah Addison, and Aidan Walker.

The event attracted registrants from near and far. Counting virtual participants, attendees represented more than a dozen states besides Indiana, including Alabama, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin. The audience included horse owners, veterinary technicians and assistants, students, government workers, clinical staff, farm workers, and Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni.

Given the popularity of the annual Equine Wellness Forum, the date for next year’s event already is set. It will be held at Lynn Hall Saturday, February 13, 2027.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

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