Veterinary Support

TRACKSIDE ~MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ~ FARM VETERINARIANS

The generosity and support of the Michigan veterinary community is an outstanding example of professionals who are so dedicated to their mission and so deep is their compassion that they offer injured racehorses owned by CANTER every opportunity to begin the next phase of their young lives healthy and pain free.

Phase One: Trackside

An injured horse owned by CANTER, either through trainer donation or purchased by CANTER because it is at risk, will first receive evaluation, diagnostic tests, medication and/or treatment while still at the racetrack. Trackside veterinarian at Great Lakes Downs, Steve Weeks, DVM, and Melissa Kessler prepare to x-ray a horse for CANTER. Doctor Weeks donates 100% of his services to help the horses he knows so well move into nonrace homes through CANTER.

Phase Two: Michigan State University

Since 1999, Michigan State University and CANTER have made a joint commitment to help Michigan's injured Thoroughbred racehorses. Retiring horses owned by the CANTER program frequently receive donated arthroscopic surgery to remove bone fragments from joints or to repair fractures, enabling them to prove that racing is just one phase in their young lives. Funded by grants and private donations, the injured or ill horses have available to them the full diagnostic resources and surgical services of the Large Animal Hospital and have been evaluated and/or treated for a variety of ailments including pleuritis, neurological problems, colic and colic surgery, and castrations.

Chief of Staff John Stick at Michigan State University Large Animal Teaching Hospital instructs veterinary student Mary Lassaline on the removal of a bone fragment from the knee of a CANTER owned filly named Lookalike. CNN World Headline News featured MSU's involvement with donated surgeries for CANTER horses in December 1999 on hourly broadcasts. Michigan State University also provides other forms of surgery, clinical examinations, evaluations, diagnostic testing and other procedures for horses owned by the CANTER program.

Elizabeth Carr, DVM performs a neurological examination on Meadow Mark, a 16.3 hand 3 year old CANTER gelding and discusses findings of the neurological examination with Emily Graves, DVM, veterinary students: Gabriela Olmos, Julie Lloyd, Judy Hewitt and Jennifer Nissen and vet tech student, Dionne Rodgers. Such evaluations serve as teaching tools for the veterinary program.

Phase Three: Farm Veterinarians

After treatment trackside or at the University, the horses face a recovery and recuperation phase at a variety of foster homes throughout the state. Due to the wide geographic range of foster homes, a number of equine private clinics and farm veterinarians were needed for follow up care and routine care such as immunizations and deworming and our Michigan veterinarians responded generously and wholeheartedly to this need. Because it is not uncommon for the CANTER owned horses to sell to a farm near the foster farm, many of these veterinarians continue to be the treating veterinarian in the horses' new lives with their new owners!

Henry Vaupel DVM

Examining a stifle at a foster home in the area of his private practice is Henry Vaupel, DVM, owner of Kern Road Veterinary Clinic. Assisting Dr. Vaupel is eventing professional Jennifer Merrick-Brooks. Kern Road Clinic veterinarians donate their services and travel over a large geographical area to examine and treat horses owned by CANTER.

Randy Rice DVM

Private veterinarian and owner of Equine Health Services, Randy Rice DVM, receives some unsolicited equine help interpreting an x-ray for CANTER at a foster home in Salem Township, Michigan. Doctor Rice and Doctor Koskovich donate 100% of their services for the CANTER owned horses

Cynthia Trombley DMV

Dr. Trombley, owner of Clinton Veterinary Service stops for a moment in her examination and treatment of Sir Rupert, a CANTER horse at a foster home near Lansing, Michigan. Doctor Trombley supports the CANTER program through her generous donation of services.

Miles Hildebrandt DVM

Dr. Hildebrandt, owner of Stoney Creek Equine Veterinary Service, Berville, Michigan, pauses for a moment during his examination of CANTER owned horse, Boafubum. Doctor Hildebrandt generously donates his services to help the CANTER ex-racehorses and you may visit his Website.