US Equestrian hosts summit on horse care

US Equestrian brought together 28 top veterinarians this week at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, for a two-day summit dedicated to improving standards in the care of performance horses. Held on Monday and Tuesday, the event focused on enhancing horse welfare across all equestrian disciplines by developing science-based, practical solutions for everyday veterinary challenges. The summit welcomed not only sport horse specialists but also experts from the horseracing world, creating a broad, collaborative environment.

A united effort to protect equine athletes

Over the course of the event, attendees held in-depth discussions on key aspects of equine health and performance management. These included injury prevention, the latest advances in diagnostic tools, medication protocols, and strategies for early detection of health risks. The ultimate goal: to create a unified set of best practices that will serve as a national blueprint for veterinary professionals working with competition horses.

“This summit has been instrumental in bringing together the expertise needed to elevate horse care standards,” said Dr. Tracy Turner, President of the American Association for Equine Practitioners. “Every horse, regardless of discipline, merits the level of care we have outlined here.”

Dr. Kent Allen, USEF Veterinary Committee Chairman and FEI Veterinary Delegate, echoed the sentiment: “Promulgating rules to protect the show horse is not enough. We must also explore whatever science-based methods we can find or create to promote the health and wellbeing of these magnificent animals.”

Support through research and education

To support the advancement of veterinary care in equestrian sport, US Equestrian encourages contributions to the Chromatic Fund, a joint initiative of the AAEP, USEF, breeder KC Branscomb, and The Foundation for The Horse. The fund is dedicated to supporting innovative research and education projects that improve sport horse welfare. Donations can be made at usef.org/donate by selecting “The Chromatic Fund” in the dropdown menu.

The collaborative work from the summit will be instrumental in shaping the future of performance horse care in the United States—placing horse welfare firmly at the center of competitive sport.