Celebrating 40 years of advanced equine emergency and elective care

On October 14, 1984, U.S. Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) formally dedicated the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center (EMC).

“For the last four decades, the EMC has been at the forefront of equine medicine, from groundbreaking clinical treatments, and research to training the next generation of equine veterinarians," said EMC director Michael Erskine. “The EMC’s unwavering commitment to equine health has allowed the center to continually improve outcomes for equine patients. 

“We look forward to continuing this legacy for many years to come!” 

The EMC is a premier, full-service equine hospital located at Morven Park in Leesburg and is one of three animal healthcare facilities and teaching hospitals of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) based on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg.

The EMC was one of the first university veterinary hospitals in the eastern United States to concentrate exclusively on equine medicine and research, and quickly established a reputation for excellence in emergency care, surgery, and diagnostic imaging.  

The 200 acres of land on which the Center sits is part of Morven Park, a 1,000-acre historic site, with two museums and a world class equestrian center. The stewards of Morven Park, the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, agreed to a 100-year lease with Virginia Tech, and initial funding to build the center came in the form of a generous $4 million gift from steeplechasing’s grand dame, the late Marion duPont Scott, after whom the center is named. 

The equine industry had been hoping for an equine hospital for a long time, and during the development phase local equine veterinarians were consulted as to what services and diagnostic equipment they would like to see available at the EMC.  

The first director, Frederick Fregin, a charismatic and popular veterinarian who came from a faculty position at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, proved to be a highly successful fund-raiser.

Before the center opened, philanthropic support for surgical equipment and other needs came flooding in. At the time of opening, the most pressing need was to find suitable staff to fill key roles to enable the facility to be fully operational. 

The first faculty team included Ken Sullins, a former assistant professor at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine, who joined the center as an assistant professor of surgery. Gary Spurlock, formally an assistant professor of large animal surgery at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine joined the EMC as an assistant professor of surgery, and his wife Shauna became an assistant professor of internal medicine.  

The 67,000-square-foot diagnosis and treatment hospital was revolutionary, and a game changer for local equestrians seeking specialist care for their horses. From day one, the EMC was a resounding success and has since established a nationwide reputation for excellence in emergency and critical care, surgery, sports medicine, regenerative medicine, and neonatal care. 

The EMC treats between 2,200 and 2,400 patients per year. Notably the emergency caseload has blossomed in the last few years with emergency cases rising a staggering 58 percent since 2020.   

Clinical services are not the only focus. Over the last four decades VMCVM third- and fourth-year veterinary students, who elect to rotate through the EMC for specialized training in equine medicine, surgery, and sports medicine, complete three-week clinical rotations, and often visit for more than one rotation. 

In addition to training equine focused veterinary students, the EMC has provided continuing education opportunities free of charge to veterinarians and veterinary technicians, and in recent years, due to remote capabilities have educated equine specialists from coast to coast.

The EMC has kept up with innovative diagnostic modalities thanks in part to the support of philanthropic partners who see the value of having a top-notch equine specific hospital in an area teeming with equines of every kind. The center’s equine patients cover every equestrian discipline, as well as backyard ponies, donkeys, mules, and on rare occasions the odd zebra. 

Expansion to the original 67,000-square foot building has come in many forms over the years, including the isolation building to house horses with infectious disease; a laboratory focusing on regenerative medicine; the Youngkin Equine Soundness Clinic in the Fout Barn, which serves as a diagnostic area for illness and injury that can affect the athletic ability of the horse; and, most recently the addition of the Jane and Stephen Hale Equine Performance Evaluation Center, a 20,000-square-foot indoor arena that completed the center’s sports medicine complex.  

Located in the heart of Virginia horse country, the opening of the EMC in 1984 marked many years of hard work and a clear vision to support the thriving equine industry. In the last 40 years the EMC has become the premier, full-service equine hospital offering the very best in comprehensive specialty care to the burgeoning Northern Virginia equine community.