AAEP Examines Owner-Trainer-Vet Relationship in Racing

The AAEP is developing protocol to improve the relationship among owners, trainers, and veterinarians.
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The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is developing protocol designed to improve the relationship among owners, trainers, and veterinarians in horse racing.

Scott Palmer, VMD, director of the New Jersey Equine Clinic and chair of the AAEP Racing Committee, said discussions led to the realization that more could be done to improve the owner-trainer-veterinarian relationship in a way that would "improve horse welfare, reduce the cost of veterinary services, and improve the business model of racing."

Palmer discussed the initiative during the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing & Gaming in Tucson Dec. 7. Much of it centers on communication.

"The classic owner-trainer relationship in its simplest form is a hierarchical relationship with the owner at the top," Palmer said. "The owner hires the trainer, and the trainer hires the veterinarian. The veterinarian, however, bills the owner, occasionally with the bill being first reviewed and approved by the trainer. In this hierarchical relationship all communication between the owner and veterinarian is filtered through the trainer

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Tom LaMarra, a native of New Jersey and graduate of Rutgers University, has been news editor at The Blood-Horse since 1998. After graduation he worked at newspapers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania as an editor and reporter with a focus on municipal government and politics. He also worked at Daily Racing Form and Thoroughbred Times before joining The Blood-Horse. LaMarra, who has lived in Lexington since 1994, has won various writing awards and was recognized with the Old Hilltop Award for outstanding coverage of the horse racing industry. He likes to spend some of his spare time handicapping races.

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