Rob Franklin, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, partner at Fredericksburg Equine, in Texas, as well as co-founder and mission coordinator at animal nutritional supplement company FullBucket, was installed as president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) during the November 21 President’s Luncheon at the AAEP’s 68th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Franklin received his veterinary degree from Texas A&M University in 1999 and became board-certified in large animal internal medicine in 2003 while completing his residency at the University of Florida. He subsequently established and/or led intensive care units at equine referral hospitals in Australia, Florida, and Texas before opening a veterinary consulting and practice ownership firm in 2012. He has been affiliated with Fredericksburg Equine since 2018.

A founding director of the Equitarian Initiative, Franklin established the Texas Equitarian Project in Guatemala in 2012 and continues to lead the annual two-week mission to administer care to working equids and education to their caretakers. His worldview of service helped inspire the FullBucket philosophy of “Be Good and Do Good,” under which the company has helped thousands of working animals through donation of products for each FullBucket product sold.

“As a board-certified equine specialist who has lived, practiced, and traveled all over the world, I’ve developed a singular purpose in helping other people care for the animals that they depend on for physical labor, travel, sport, pleasure and companionship,” said Franklin. “Leading the AAEP provides an opportunity to further lean into this pursuit by stewarding the welfare of the horse, supporting the development of their caregivers and being a voice for the profession in the industry.”

Franklin has served the AAEP in numerous capacities during his 24 years of membership, including as a director from 2015–2017; past chair of the Wellness Committee (he shared his ideas on veterinarian wellness in this piece on TheHorse.com, Intensive Care); member of the Nominating Committee and numerous task forces; and, currently, as a member of the Educational Programs Committee.

Beyond the AAEP, Franklin is co-founder and past president of the Texas Equine Veterinary Association, past president of the Marion (County, Florida) Veterinary Medical Association, and a former director of the Florida Association of Equine Practitioners. In addition, Franklin has published numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles, and he has presented at national and international veterinary conferences.