Emergency Veterinary Care at Horse Shows

Most horse show emergencies are able to be cared for on-site, but if a crisis develops, the horse should be stabilized and transported to a full-care facility, according to Rick Mitchell, DVM, of Fairfield Equine Associates in Newtown, Conn.
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Most horse show emergencies are able to be cared for on-site, but if a crisis develops, the horse should be stabilized and transported to a full-care facility, according to Rick Mitchell, DVM, of Fairfield Equine Associates in Newtown, Conn. He presented during the in-depth session on emergency care at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif.

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Watch a video interview on show horse health with Dr. Rick Mitchell.
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An on-grounds clinic facility should be clean, well-lighted, and have good ventilation, running water, and electricity. It should be stocked with supplies typical of an equine practice, including diagnostic equipment (i.e., radiography and ultrasound units). This facility provides a place where clients can find the veterinarian, while giving them a quiet place to work. It might be necessary to arrange such a building with the organizing committee and show management prior to the show. Personnel at a nearby referral hospital should be contacted in advance to provide care if an injury or illness exceeds the scope of available horse show care. There should be some means of emergency transport available, with a select group of personnel trained in dealing with emergency situations

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Written by:

Nancy S. Loving, DVM, owns Loving Equine Clinic in Boulder, Colorado, and has a special interest in managing the care of sport horses. Her book, All Horse Systems Go, is a comprehensive veterinary care and conditioning resource in full color that covers all facets of horse care. She has also authored the books Go the Distance as a resource for endurance horse owners, Conformation and Performance, and First Aid for Horse and Rider in addition to many veterinary articles for both horse owner and professional audiences.

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