Showcasing excellence: Open House at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center focuses on equine sports medicine

The recently completed indoor arena at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center (EMC) allowed clinicians to present a live under-saddle demonstration to Open House visitors for the first time.

Guests at the June 29 Open House asked questions about the footing by Attwood Equestrian and the enormous fans that kept the temperature inside the building at a temperate level during the live demonstrations. 

The Open House highlighted the Jane and Stephen Hale Equine Performance Evaluation Center, the Youngkin Equine Soundness Clinic (YES Clinic), and the Paul Goodness Podiatry Clinic, which collectively serve as the Center’s Sports Medicine Complex. Visitors learned about treatments and therapies available at the EMC to ensure that equine athletes and trail companions perform at their absolute best.

The EMC is a full-service equine hospital located at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia and is one of three animal healthcare facilities of Virginia Tech’s Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, based in Blacksburg, Virginia. 

The phenomenally successful Open House welcomed over 170 guests who experienced the recently completed Sports Medicine Complex. Held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the event highlighted the center's state-of-the-art facilities and provided valuable insights into equine health and performance.

Renowned experts in equine veterinary medicine, surgery, and sports medicine delivered informative presentations, sharing their knowledge and expertise with the audience. 

Lameness flexion exams with Lameness Locator were hosted by Jennifer Barrett, Theodora Ayer Randolph Professor of Equine Surgery. Barrett explained the advantages of using the Lameness Locator while demonstrating her preferred flexion process. Nerve blocks, a valuable diagnostic tool, were described in detail. Lameness Locator diagnostic results were shared and explained by Barrett. 

Gustavo Zanotto, clinical assistant professor of sports medicine and lameness, presented equine stretching exercises. Zanotto demonstrated exercises designed to support flexibility and range of motion in the horse, aid recovery during rehabilitation, and enhance athletic performance.

Requests by attendees for videos of the stretching exercises did not go unheard. Plans are in place to produce educational videos for the EMC website. 

Norris Adams, clinical associate professor of equine surgery, demonstrated dynamic endoscopy equipment with the help of volunteer rider Anna Gibson and her preliminary level event horse, Black Label. 

Dynamic endoscopy is a valuable diagnostic tool that allows for real-time evaluation of the upper respiratory tract of horses during exercise. Unlike traditional endoscopy, which is performed while the horse is at rest, dynamic endoscopy allows veterinarians to observe and assess the function of respiratory structures while the horse is on the move.

Open House guests were given the opportunity to evaluate the heart rate of two of EMC’s resident teaching horses. Emily Schaefer, clinical assistant professor of equine emergency and critical care, explained the points on the horse where a pulse can be felt and demonstrated the proper use of a stethoscope to listen to the heartbeat. Guests were given stethoscopes to take home to evaluate their own horse’s heartbeat.

Two stations in the YES Clinic focused on imaging modalities available to horses and diagnostic techniques for evaluating poor performance in the horse.

Ann Masters-Stern, lead clinical veterinary assistant with decades of imaging experience, guided guests through the available imaging modalities, explaining why one imaging modality is preferred over another for diagnostic purposes, and shared images from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan), all taken with equipment available at the EMC. 

An adage for a horse that is not thriving is “Ain’t Doin’ Right” (ADR). Horses often come to the EMC for emergency treatment or as outpatients for ADR treatment. Elizabeth MacDonald and Megan Marchitello, clinical instructors of equine medicine, were on hand to answer questions about available treatment options and diagnostics for poor performance-related issues, and gastroscopy techniques for evaluating the intestinal tract.

The Paul Goodness Farrier Shop was open to guests, and Amy Sidwar-Seaver answered questions related to shoeing and therapeutic techniques. Guests brought images of their horse’s feet and were interested to hear Amy’s opinion on therapeutic options available to their horse.

Children’s activities and a lunch tent catered by Panera Bread rounded out the day’s activities.

The EMC would like to thank everyone who attended this special event. We hope you enjoyed the live demonstrations, and the opportunity to meet our dedicated team. Your support and interest in our work is invaluable as we strive for excellence in equine care.