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…
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Blog Archives
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
Carriage Driving Truly Is for Everyone
Ever thought about getting into carriage driving but don’t know where to start? Why not join the local driving club in your area to meet some fellow enthusiasts, learn about the sport, and find out where all the cool driving…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Newman’s Winter Project: Sidesaddle!
I remember it like yesterday. I was sitting on the bleachers of the demonstration arena at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY on September 29, 2010, when into the arena came a chestnut half-Arabian park-type horse. The mare was…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Two SmartPakers Practice Their Hands-on Equine Skills at the NEAEP Wet-Labs
As the Staff Veterinarian and Medical Director for SmartPak, I consider myself lucky in that I get to attend not one, but two equine veterinarian meetings each year: the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Annual Convention usually in December…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Young & Developing Horses (and Young & Developing Riders) Share the Spotlight at Lamplight
Imagine you’re warming up for a dressage test in the same arena as . . . Laura Graves! And your judges include . . . FEI 5* judge Gary Rockwell! And then George Williams, the USDF President strolls by! This…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
A Day of Driving followed by . . . Another Day of Driving
What ranges from 9 to 17 hands? Entries in the first-ever “Day of Driving” at the Fox Valley Saddle Association and at the first-ever HUB Club Arena Driving Trial, that’s what! Held Saturday July 15 and Sunday July 16 at…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Pre-Purchase Exams
Could you review the components of a typical pre-purchase exam? Which parts do you see as vital for any buyer? Which parts might you consider optional? – via HorseChannel.com A pre-purchase examination (PPE) in a horse is a “snapshot” of…
Posted in Ask the Vet, Misc. Topics
