Scholars visited Jackson Chiropractic Wellness Center in Versailles, KY.  We met with Drs. Bruce and Anita Jackson, D.C., owners of the practice, who spoke to us about the complicated role proper bone structure and alignment play in the overall health of the horse.  The Jackson’s facility is unique in that they treat humans, horses, and dogs.  They explained how they both obtained their degree in human chiropractic medicine, and then went to additional schooling to become certified in animal chiropractics.  Their experience allows them to travel throughout the country to treat some of the leading horses in the hunter/jumper, Saddlebred, and Arabian show circuits.

Dr. Bruce also spoke about the value of using chiropractics in conjunction to traditional medicine to prevent and treat common injuries seen in horses.  Live detonations with both a dog and horse showed us how kinesiology and muscle testing is used to help determine the state of the animal and where adjustments need to be made.  We also learned about additional alternative medicine and therapy treatments such as acupuncture and laser therapy.

Thank you Dr. Bruce and Dr. Anita, for allowing us this awesome experience to learn about equine chiropractics!

Scholars volunteered and were given a V.I.P. tour of the 2012 Alltech National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park. 2012 was the second year that the show has been held in Lexington, KY and the first year that the Equine Scholars Program has been part of the experience.  The National Horse Show is the United States’ oldest indoor horse show, and historically has been held in New York City at Madison Square Gardens.  While normally the show is limited to hunters and jumpers, this year was a special one, as it brought back the American Saddlebred championships.

Carrie Wirth of Phelps Media Group, gave us a wonderful behind-the-scenes  tour which consisted of learning the history of the show, meeting with a top rider and competitor, seeing the exclusive exhibitor’s lounge, Gracie’s Place interior design and art gallery, the press box, and understanding just how much work is involved to produce a show such as the National.

Student volunteers were present throughout all five days of the show and helped with everything from ticket sales to information services.  Each scholar was given an official National Horse Show t-shirt and a pass for the entire length of the show.  The Georgetown Equine Scholars Program would like to thank Phelps Media Group and Alltech for their hospitality and for allowing us to be part of the event!  We look forward to being there in 2013!

Spy Coast Farm specializes in the breeding and development of top-quality performance horses. With three locations along the East Coast (New York, Florida and Kentucky), Spy Coast is able to take advantage of the best climate, vet services, show facilities, training and riding talent. Equine Scholars got to speak with Spy Coast Vet Dr. Burleson, a young vet who is doing an AWESOME job!

We learned about the quarantine facilities, young horse shows, breed inspections and more that occur on their farm every year. What an impressive place!

Are you as curious about their name as we were? This is from their website: www.spycoastfarm.com

“Our Name
At one time, our original farm, located on Strong’s Neck in Setauket, NY, was prime fishing and hunting territory for the Setalcott Indians.
During the Revolutionary War, George Washington commissioned the Setauket Spy Ring to operate from the area. It is said that the patriot, Anna Smith Strong, received intelligence from the local tavern owner and then hung her petticoats and handkerchiefs on her laundry line in a predetermined array in order to inform the whale boat captain, Caleb Brewster, in which harbor the Redcoats were located. Their efforts contributed in no small measure to the success of the Patriot troops.
Since that time, the Strong’s Neck area has been known as the Spy Coast. We consider it an honor to be able to name our farm after this significant chapter of our nation’s history.”

Waterford-Millford Farm, located in historic Midway, Ky., is 850 acres with 13 varying-style barns, from two 25-stall facilities to a pair of five-stall barns. The differing numbers of stalls in our barns enables them to handle the needs of any group or individual, whether it be for sales, breeding or quarantine. In all, there are 200 stalls spread across the farm.

From numerous paddocks to 100-acre fields, Waterford-Millford Farm has everything required to offer complete and competent care for all ages of Thoroughbreds. The farms’ yearling division offers a freestyle walker, a major component to preparing horses for the sales.

Mares and foals roam the large, shaded fields in varying-size groups, according to the foals’ ages. The quarantine division is highly respected around the world. Having handled quarantine procedures for many international clients, Waterford-Millford’s staff is entirely familiar with the shipping process, government requirements and health regulations for all countries, as well as the process of maintaining the individual horse in top condition.

Mr. West gave us a wonderful tour and informed Scholars of the various quarantine protocols needed to ship to different countries. We also got to see foals they had on the ground as well as many barns located on the property.

Equine Scholars got a behind-the-scenes peek at the new 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country fences on a beautiful afternoon in the Bluegrass. Held at the Kentucky Horse Park, Mick took us around to some of the new fences (which are awesome!) and explained new procedures put in place in the last few years to keep horses and riders safe (think frangible pins, one fall, etc.). Mick has been a dear friend to the Equine Scholars Program for many years.

Mick Costello grew up in a horsey family in Anaheim, Calif., where he eventually built courses at places like Pebble Beach (eventing was huge there the 1960s and 70s). He has travelled extensively; having built the Radnor Three-Day in 1986 and 1987, as well as from 1991 to 2001. He built courses at Fair Hill from 1989-1993 and has built for the Rolex Three-Day Event from the fall of 1998 to present day. Mick also designed the Alltech 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games cross-country course (as well as the marathon course).

Laura D’Angelo grew up in Meaford, Ontario, in a decidedly non-horsey family. When she was 8 years old, she received her first pony. She spent much of her childhood riding and showing ponies. “Her path to becoming a Lexington lawyer focusing on the equine and gaming industry, however, was not linear; she got an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Guelph in Ontario and spent a year doing research in exercise physiology. Due to encouragement from a mentor who owned the stable where she kept her horses, D’Angelo went back to school to pursue a master’s degree in business, leading to a job in brand management with Proctor & Gamble. One aspect of brand management that particularly fascinated D’Angelo was the role of the legal department, which analyzed the risks of the claims the campaigns were proposing. After a couple of years, she decided to pursue a law degree, and the University of Kentucky, with its proximity to the Kentucky Horse Park that she had grown up reading about, seemed like a perfect fit.” To read more about Ms. D’Angelo, go here: www.bizlex.com/Articles-c-2011-05-10-97675.113117-Laura-DAngelo.html

Ms. D’Angelo, who works for Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, gave our aspiring equine attorneys a true look at equine law — and left them wanting more! Ms. D’Angelo explained the nuts and bolts of law school, what it is like to work for a large law firm and also what it’s like to work in equine law in the Horse Capital of the World. She was engaging and kind and answered a zillion questions — even when we know she’s so busy!

Ms. D’Angelo mentioned she is always willing to have students shadow her as well as answer any questions students might have. We’re so thankful to her for coming, even when she’s so busy!

Lexington Equine Surgery and Sports Medicine is a new facility dedicated to the care and well-being of the equine patient. After completing an anesthesia residency in 2005 at Michigan State, Dr. Lori Bidwell moved to Lexington, Ky., to act as the head of anesthesia at a large equine practice. During that period, Dr. Bidwell trained 10 interns per year and ran or supervised over 40 anesthetic cases per day during the spring and summer months with an average of 5,000 surgical cases per year.

In 2009, Dr. Bidwell moved to St.Kitts in the West Indies to teach at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (how lucky is she?!), currently the largest veterinary school in the world. Although living and teaching in the Caribbean was an amazing experience, the opportunity arose to return to Kentucky to work for Lexington Equine Surgery and Sports Medicine in 2011.

Dr. Bidwell is currently the anesthesiologist for the practice and is also independently training and consulting anesthesia for equine and small animal practices through her business Veterinary Anesthesia and Pain Management Services. In addition, Dr. Bidwell is acting as editor and author for the upcoming textbook Handbook of Equine and Small Ruminant Anesthesia Procedures for Blackwell Publishing.

Dr. Bidwell explained the differences between working at an all-hours practice versus Lexington Equine Surgery and Sports Medicine, where surgeries are scheduled and there are no all-hours emergency calls. She spoke of her past experiences with anesthetizing wildlife, which was amazing! Many Scholars hope they can shadow her and contact her for more information — she has led such an amazing life!