AAEP Convention 2004: Horseman’s Day–Performance Horse
“Maintaining a performance or pleasure horse represents a substantial investment of time and
- Topics: Article
At Horseman’s Day at the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. 4-8, 2004, Sally Vivrette, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, of Triangle Equine Veterinary Services in Cary, N.C., discussed strategies for keeping the performance horse healthy and fit.
“Maintaining a performance or pleasure horse represents a substantial investment of time and money,” she said. “People sometimes put their efforts toward the purchase of a nice horse and a lovely truck and trailer, forgetting some of the basics that help improve horse health and performance.”
It all begins, she said, with selection of the correct horse for the discipline involved. If one is to purchase a horse for the first time, a knowledgeable horse owner should be called upon for assistance and a pre-purchase examination by a veterinarian should be a priority, she said.
“A pre-purchase examination by a veterinarian can help identify problems that may interfere with performance,” she said. “Just like humans, horses can be better at certain jobs than others. Try to select a horse that either knows the discipline of riding you are interested in or has a family history of talent in that area
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