The Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center presented "Acupuncture and Pain Relief for Horses" during its second Tuesday Talk session of the season. The seminar, which was held in Leesburg, Va., on Jan. 16, featured Alison A. Smith, DVM, who is a clinical assistant professor in anesthesia at the center. The meeting was attended by a record number of 120 veterinarians, horse owners and horse professionals.

Smith, a board certified veterinary anesthesiologist who completed the IVAS Basic Course from October 2005 to March 2006, discussed the theories behind how acupuncture works, why it is effective for pain relief, and which injuries and conditions can benefit from the treatment.

Although the number of veterinarians offering acupuncture is growing, it is still relatively rare. According to Dr. Ed Boldt, Jr., executive director of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS), only 920 veterinarians from around the globe are currently certified in veterinary acupuncture through IVAS, approximately 200 of whom are performing equine acupuncture exclusively