In December, Newman just didn’t feel right under saddle so I asked the local veterinarian I work with to maintain my horse’s health and soundness to come out and try to diagnosis this subtle asymmetry. Through a bevy of lameness…
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Blog Archives
A Walk Down Memory Lane…to Vet School
I recently returned to my alma mater, the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, at the request of the first-ever SmartPak Vet Student Class Rep, 3rd year veterinary student Cheyenne Sams. She had scheduled a “Lunch & Learn” for…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Trail Riding in Hawaii
Just before Christmas, my husband and I were lucky enough to make an unexpected trip to Hawaii for 5 days and 4 nights. It was our second time on the island of Oahu, where the state capital of Honolulu is…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
6 things I learned at the Explore Driving! Day of round table topics
Come November in the Midwest, the carriage driving season is over and there are no more shows, clinics, or recreational drives. So what’s a driver to do to fill their time? Come to a day of panel discussions on a…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Seven Steps to Sidesaddle Success!
Almost a year ago, I set out on a journey to learn how to ride sidesaddle, as my horse gets bored quickly and thrives on new challenges (as long as the question is more mental than physical). If he were…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Dressage Seat Equitation: Calling all adult amateurs!
What to do when you’ve reached a plateau in competitive dressage: try your hand at earning a new Dressage Seat Equitation award from the USDF! I say “new” but I think this award has been open to all riders –…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
SmartPak Goes to Saratoga
SmartPak attends one small, one medium, and one large equine veterinary meeting each year. In 2018, the “small” was the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Summer Focus meeting in Raleigh, NC in June which was capped at about 100…
Posted in On the Road with SmartPak
The CAA Driver Proficiency Program: Earning Our Level 1 and Road Driving Certificate
There aren’t a lot of recognized carriage driving shows in my area (in fact, there’s not a single one in the entire state of Illinois!) so it’s challenging for me to compete my horse in Combined Driving Events. However, as…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
A Driving Day with Demers
There are two kinds of people in this world: those that HAVE taken a lesson with Patricia “Trish” Demers and those that WISH they had taken a lesson with her (and those, like me, that have been evaluated by her…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
On the Road with SmartPak: The AAEP Summer Focus Meeting
Nearly 200 equine veterinarians gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina June 24-27 for the annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) summer meeting. This is a much smaller event than the annual convention in December with just two tracks – ambulatory…
Posted in On the Road with SmartPak, Stories & Adventures
25 Things to Do Before Show Season
Preparing for the upcoming summer show season begins in December of the year before and continues straight through the spring. This year, I wrote all the little tasks down and even I was amazed at the sheer enormity of the…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
What’s in YOUR Library?
As I sit inside during yet another New England nor’easter, I thought I would share some of the equestrian books that I’ve collected for study whenever the weather makes me think more hot chocolate than half pass. Books ARE my…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Considerations for Horse Owners Concerned About Bone Health
What should horse owners who are concerned about bone health be considering? If you have concerns about bone health, either in the mature performance horse or in the growing horse, we recommend working with your veterinarian. It is critical to…
Posted in Ask the Vet
How Do You Choose Between Bone, Joint, and Recovery Supplements?
When would you choose a bone supplement like SmartOsteo Pellets over a joint supplement, or a recovery supplement like SmartFlex Rehab Pellets? Joint health formulas such as the SmartFlex line, new SmartStride Ultra, and the wide selection of other quality…
Posted in Ask the Vet, Misc. Topics
Fun with Ground Poles!
How many poles have you and your horse gone over at one time? 4? 6? 10? At the end of each 90-minute group session in the recent “Fun with Ground Poles” clinic with Kelley Shetter-Ruiz, participants were coached through a…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
