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Equine group holds student appreciation day

UF veterinary students Brittany Martabano, left; KT Steward, third from left; Emily King and Kelly Hill are shown during FAEP’s Student Day 2014 in Ocala. Second from left is an intern from Ocala Equine who was assisting in the event.(Photo courtesy of Dr. Amanda House)

Following the success of past years’ outings, the Florida Association of Equine Practitioners, a division of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, once again sponsored the biennial UF Student Appreciation Day, held Aug. 16 in Ocala for veterinary students with an equine interest.

The event hosted approximately 30 UF College of Veterinary Medicine students for a full day of educational activities. Four private veterinary practices participated by providing hands-on experience for the students. In addition, students were given the opportunity to visit GoldMark, a well-known Ocala Thoroughbred farm, and The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center. The day began at GoldMark Farms with morning breakfast and a demonstration of their horses in race training.

“It was a wonderful opportunity for students to experience a world class Thoroughbred training facility first hand,” said Dr. Amanda House, a clinical associate professor of large animal medicine and director of the practice based equine clerkship. House coordinated the event with a fellow FAEP board member, Dr. Greg Bonenclark.

Wet labs were hosted by veterinarians of four participating practices: Florida Equine Veterinary Associates, Ocala Equine Hospital, the Equine Medical Center of Ocala, and Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital.

UF veterinary students observe an abdominal ultrasound being performed on a horse by Dr. Tiffany Hall of Ocala’s Equine Medical Center. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Amanda House)

“The hands-on activities were facilitated by the generous veterinarians that donated their day to the effort,” House said.

The Sanctuary hosted the student luncheon and a portion of the wet labs, she added.

“The labs provided all students with unparalleled hands-on opportunities that are invaluable to developing specific skills in many facets of veterinary medicine,” House said.

She added that the students raved about their experiences.

“They learned from practitioners how to perform ultrasound imaging of the distal limb/thorax/abdomen, digital radiography, joint and nerve blocks, and reproductive techniques,”  House said. “It is certainly considered an experience the equine students do not want to miss.”