A record crowd of nearly 6,200 attended the 49th annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) in New Orleans, La. Included in that total was twice the number of veterinary students who attended the 2002 convention. The convention offered nearly 100 scientific presentations, hands-on wet labs, and an equine health seminar for horse owners.

The 50th Annual AAEP Convention will be held in Denver, Colo., Dec. 4-8, 2004. For more information, call the AAEP at 859/ 233-0147 or visit www.aaep.org; horse owners can see AAEP-written articles at www.myHorseMatters.com.

The AAEP, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, AAEP reaches more than five million horse owners through more than 7,500 members worldwide. The AAEP mission is: Protecting the health and welfare of the horse, furthering the professional development of its members, and providing resources and leadership for the benefit of the equine industry.

The 2004 Executive Committee and new members of the board of directors took office during the convention. The members of the Executive Committee are: Larry R. Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, Lexington, Ky., president; Scott Palmer, VMD, Clarksburg, N.J., president-elect; Thomas D. Brokken, Cooper City, Fla., vice president; Tom R. Lenz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT, Louisburg, Kan., immediate past president; and John S. Mitchell, DVM, Boca Raton, Fla., treasurer