Horses 2007 offers credits for continuing education

by Anastasia Miklojcik

New Brunswick, NJ — The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) has approved up to 14 continuing education (CE) credits for veterinarians and veterinary technicians attending the Horses 2007 educational conference, sponsored by Rutgers Equine Science Center.

The conference is scheduled for Saturday, March 31, and Sunday, April 1, 2007 at the Cook Campus Center on the Cook Campus of Rutgers University. The program is designed to appeal to all types of horse enthusiasts and professionals, regardless of their level of expertise or the particular breed of horse or equine pursuit they enjoy.

The Saturday presentations will tend to focus on newcomers to horsemanship or ownership, but also will interest instructors, parents, anyone looking for basic science, or anyone working regularly with new horse owners. On Sunday, the more experienced and/or professional horse community, including equine veterinarians, will benefit from the topics. Both days are open to all, and continuing education credits can be earned by veterinarians and vet technicians on both days.

Saturday’s session, which runs from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. provides 7.5 CE units. Sunday’s presentations from 9:50 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. offer up to 6.5 units. Veterinarians and technicians seeking CE credits will be required to complete an evaluation form in order to receive their CE certificate of attendance.

Dr. Patty Hogan, a surgeon with the New Jersey Equine Clinic in Clarksburg, N.J., and Dr. Sue McDonnell, a renowned equine behaviorist at the University of Pennsylvania, will be the keynote speakers at Horses 2007.

Dr. Hogan first came to the nation’s attention when a horse she saved — Smarty Jones — went on to win the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, along with several other major races. Her story of how Smarty Jones recovered is just part of her spell-binding talk, “It’s All About the Love of Horses: Saving Smarty Jones and Other Stories That Inspire.” This acclaimed equine surgeon is also a horsewoman whose hard work and dedication throughout her education and career will enthrall anyone who has ever dreamed of becoming an equine professional.

Dr. McDonnell maintains a herd of ponies specifically for the study of their physiology and behavior under semi-natural conditions. She has lectured on stallion, mare and foal behavior, raising an orphan foal, foal bonding, stress-free weaning, causes of and cures for vices, bad habits and related topics and has written books on equine behavior for both the layperson and equine professionals. Her topics will be “Why Does My Horse Do That: Elements of Basic Horse Behavior” and “Current Research on Horse Behavior.”

Additional speakers at Horses 2007 include the following: Dr. Rick Doran, staff surgeon at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Ringoes, N.J.; Dr. Brendan Furlong of B.W. Furlong & Associates Equine Veterinarians in Oldwick, N.J., and Wellington and Ocala, Fla.; Dr. Scott Palmer, hospital director and staff surgeon with the New Jersey Equine Clinic in Clarksburg, N.J.; Dr. Dan Keenan of Keenan McAlister Equine; Dr. Betsy Greene, Extension equine specialist with the University of Vermont; Dr. Amy Burk, Extension horse specialist with the University of Maryland; and Dr. David Marshall of the University of Delaware and equine Extension veterinarian with the Delaware Cooperative Extension Service.

Several of the featured speakers at Horses 2007 are prominent members of the Rutgers faculty and are affiliated with the Equine Science Center. They include Dr. Karyn Malinowski, director of the Equine Science Center; Dr. Ken McKeever, associate professor with the Department of Animal Sciences and associate director of research for the Equine Science Center; Dr. Sarah Ralston, associate professor with the Department of Animal Sciences and associate director of teaching with the Equine Science Center; and Dr. Carey Williams, the equine Extension specialist and associate director of outreach with the Equine Science Center.

In addition to the main conference, a two-day Farm and Land Management Short Course will be conducted for farm owners and managers that will address current regulatory issues, water quality, pasture and nutrient waste management, weed identification and control, forage production and similar topics. Enrollment in the short course is limited to 80 persons, so early sign-up is recommended. Certified Crop Adviser CE units will be given at the Short Course.

Profiles of all the speakers and a complete schedule of presentations and events appear on the Equine Science Center’s website at www.esc.rutgers.edu/Horses2007. Registration forms are available on the website or can be obtained by calling (732) 932-9419 or e-mailing esc@aesop.rutgers.edu.

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