When elite equestrians compete for world titles this month, the American Association of Equine Practitioners will be working behind the scenes and before the cameras to ensure the health of equine athletes.
The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, held Sept. 25-Oct. 10 in Lexington, Ky., is anticipated as the largest sporting event to take place in the United States this year. As the nation’s leading organization dedicated to equine health care, the AAEP and its members will participate in many ways during the three weeks of the Games. The AAEP will actively promote the equine veterinary profession to an international audience, involve its student membership in learning opportunities and provide crucial equine medical information to the numerous media outlets covering the Games.
The AAEP’s participation during the Games includes:
Veterinary student volunteers. Thirty-three fourth-year veterinary student members of AAEP student chapters will monitor biosecurity, help assess competition horses and provide general veterinary care alongside the Games’ official veterinarians.
The AAEP On Call program. AAEP members Drs. Alan Ruggles and Larry Bramlage will be prepared to respond to equine medical emergencies and answer equine health care questions as part of the AAEP’s award-winning On Call program. Events will be telecast on NBC Sept. 26, Oct. 3 and Oct. 10.
The Equine Village. AAEP staff and member volunteers will be on hand to offer equine health care resources and help promote the AAEP at the Equine Village, a unique venue for equine industry groups.
AAEP Headquarters. The AAEP’s home office is conveniently located at the National Horse Center on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park. Members are invited to stop in the office during the Games for hospitality and business assistance.
In addition, the AAEP, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Alltech are sponsoring a Veterinary Sport Horse Symposium held Sept. 22-24 in conjunction with the Games. A Sport Horse Owner Workshop will be held Friday, Sept. 24. For more information about the two educational events, visit www.aaep.org.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 10,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.
