Monday featured the sad conclusion to Quarter Horse mare Surely Awesome’s story in an excerpt from Equine ER, the Eclipse Press book about a year inside one of the country’s most prominent equine hospitals. Today, we take a closer look at the doctor who tried to save her. 

Dr. Alan Ruggles is one of the top equine orthopedic surgeons in the country. He came to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital from Ohio State University, where he was an associate professor in clinical orthopedic surgery. Before that, he was at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, one of the top large animal veterinary teaching clinics in the world. Ruggles is in his mid-forties; I would vote him one of the veterinarians who would be most fun to take on a road trip. He tells good stories. He listens to Ted Nugent when he’s doing surgery. When I rode with him, he drove fast (if a bit recklessly), asked for directions, and I am certain he would pull over if you wanted to check out a view or stop and eat at a roadside diner you spotted in the shape of a giant piece of fruit.

 Dr. Al Ruggles (center) with clients last year