Trisha Dowling, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM, ACVCP
Associate Professor, Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
hello,
I fully agree with this as I am a member of the OSU SCAAEP (Ohio State
University Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine
Practitioners). These people (students) know NOTHING about distance
riding. Most are from a showing, racing, or nonhorse background. I am an
anomoly. I give at least one speech a year to the SCAAEP to get future
vets interested in distance riding. I think supporting your local chapter
is a very good idea. Several seniors went to Helen Cantrell's ride this
year and were very surprised at the veterinarians level of importance (did
that sentence make any sense at all?). Education is the key! Unless you
can get more students interested (or at least informed) the pool of vets
needed to support distance riding will not increase at the same speed
interest in the sport is increasing.
I am trying my darndest to get more OSU students interested in what I am
doing. Many recognize me as "that strange person who rides a long way"
without any real comprehension as to why I do it or what it entails. In
Ohio, at least, we need to do a lot more to get recognition and
understanding from nonendurance veterinarians and vet students. After all,
the endurance horse is not your average beast.
Shannon Loomis and Quail Meadow Star
PS Anyone who has videos, slides, photos, or an already made-up
presentation--please contact me. I am trying to set up a standard speech
that I can give at meetings and to interested groups. Thanks.