Saddle Up Saturday for PVM’s Mane Event for Horse Enthusiasts

Sandy Taylor sits with foal on a padded mat while the foal's mother stretches her neck over the doorway
Dr. Sandra Taylor, one of the speakers for the 2021 Equine Wellness Forum, treats a foal in the Purdue University Large Animal Hospital neonatal unit, while the foal’s mother looks on.

Calling all horse enthusiasts this Saturday, February 6, for the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual Equine Wellness Forum, which this year can be attended without leaving home or office! The annual continuing education program, to be presented in a virtual format, will include a series of lectures about healthcare for horses, with topics ranging from basic preventive health care and husbandry to state-of-the-art medical advancements.

The lectures tomorrow will cover such subjects as customizing the diet of your horse; kidney and liver disease; and neck and back pain in horses.  Another feature will be a testimonial from Dr. Steve Adams, professor of large animal surgery, who will give a presentation entitled, “40 Years of Equine Surgery.”  Additionally, Dean Willie Reed will begin Saturday’s program with a welcome session and update on PVM’s new hospital facilities under construction.

This year marks the first time that the event will be hosted virtually.  In addition to the four lectures offered tomorrow, the program will include four subsequent sessions to be held on Wednesday evenings through March 3. Sessions will be recorded for attendees to view later, but participants must view the sessions live in order to receive the available continuing education credits.

It’s not too late to register! Online registration will be available until 4:00 p.m. (EST) today (February 5). Attendees must register by today’s deadline to attend any or all of the lectures, including the subsequent sessions between now and March 3. Registration for all eight lectures is $40 for standard admission and $25 for students, which is lower than in prior years.

In addition to Dr. Adams, who specializes in equine surgery and has research interests involving the prevention and treatment of orthopedic infections, other speakers for this year’s Equine Wellness Forum include:

  • Amanda Farr, DVM, DABVP (Equine), clinical assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and clinician in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital Equine Field Service, and a member of the Purdue DVM Class of 2001. Her clinical interests include reproduction and dentistry.
  • Jan Hawkins, DVM, DACVS, professor of large animal surgery in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, who will review the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of melanomas in horses. His areas of interests include lasers in veterinary medicine, equine upper respiratory tract disease, and the role of growth factors in osteoarthritis.
  • Tim Lescun, BVSc (Hons), PhD, DACVS, professor of large animal surgery in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, whose clinical interests include orthopedics, lameness, sports medicine, and general equine surgery. Dr. Lescun currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons Foundation.
  • Sandra Taylor, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, associate professor of large animal internal medicine in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, who researches equine sepsis. Her other areas of focus include equine infectious disease, immunology, virology, and neonatology.
  • Stacy Tinkler, DVM, MPH, DACVIM, clinical associate professor of large animal internal medicine in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, whose interests include international veterinary medicine and global health, infectious disease, and nutrition and metabolic disease, with a particular focus on sustainable veterinary program development for working equids and their caregivers.
  • Sarah Waxman, DVM, MS, DACVS-LA, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and clinician in the hospital’s Equine Field Service, whose research interests include emergency surgery, wound care, lameness treatment, and joint injections and sepsis.
  • Erin Wilson, DVM, equine nutrition consultant with Nutrena, who earned her DVM degree at Purdue in 2008. Dr. Wilson has a passion for equine medicine and nutrition, and is committed to promoting optimal equine health and client education. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association and the Indiana Association of Equine Practitioners.

A special thank you to the sponsors of this year’s virtual Equine Wellness Forum, Nutrena, ProElite, and Zoetis.

Click here to learn more. Click here to register.

Writer(s): Jonathan Martz, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week, our appreciation is extended to Dr. Dielson Vieira who is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences.

When Therapy Isn’t Enough

Emma Senter, a Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences junior, has always considered herself an animal person. So, when she had the opportunity to join the Human-Animal Partnerships and Interactions (HAPI) Lab in the College of Veterinary Medicine, she jumped at the chance.

PVM Collaborates with Indianapolis Zoo to Host Emerging Conservationist Award Winner at Lynn Hall

Purdue veterinary students had a unique chance this week to hear first-hand from one of the world’s leading conservationists who is making a significant impact while still early in his career.  Through a collaborative arrangement with the Indianapolis Zoo, the College of Veterinary Medicine hosted a visit by Mwezi “Badru” Mugerwa, the winner of the 2025 Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award, on Monday, September 29, so he could share his message with Purdue DVM students.

Career Fair Connects PVM Students with Future Opportunities

Close to 75 veterinary medical employers, ranging from individual veterinary practices to corporate enterprises, sent representatives to Purdue University for the College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual Career Fair for DVM and Veterinary Technology students. Held in the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms Friday afternoon, September 19, the event attracted a strong turnout of students excited to learn about future career opportunities.