The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will strengthen the equine veterinarian's ability to serve the horse through applicable science, effective business tactics and welfare advocacy during its 56th Annual Convention, Dec. 4-8, in Baltimore, Md.
As the world's largest gathering of equine health care professionals, the Convention unites more than 4,000 equine veterinarians, veterinary students and veterinary technicians annually. This year's meeting features scientific presentations, industry forums, equine welfare sessions and business management workshops.
Features scheduled for this year's meeting include:



Keynote Speech: The Equine Welfare Wars. A prominent veterinary voice for equine welfare issues, Dr. Thomas R. Lenz will open the Annual Convention Sunday, Dec. 5, with his keynote speech, "The Equine Welfare Wars: When Emotion and Fact Collide." The presentation will provide members of the veterinary profession a better understanding of society's varying ideas about the acceptable treatment of horses, with a close look at the pressing issue of the unwanted horse.

Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture: Ophthalmology. Equine eye researcher Dr. Dennis E. Brooks will prepare practitioners with the necessary knowledge to save vision in horses with catastrophic disease during his Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture. The lecture titled "Catastrophic Ocular Surface Failure in the Horse" is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 6.


Farrier Program. Practitioners and farriers will sharpen their skills in equine hoof and foot care with the return of the AAEP Farrier Program. A full day of lectures presented by leading veterinarians and farriers will be held Dec. 8