Revised:  11/12/2009

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Diana M. Orban Brown Director of Communications Rutgers Equine Science Center 732-932-9419 orban@njaes.rutgers.edu

Equine Science Center at Rutgers Schedules ‘Horses 2009’;
Invites Veterinarians and Vet Techs to Participate

Educational Conference Provides 11 Hours of CE Credits

     Horses 2009 is coming to Rutgers on Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, 2009, and will offer 11 hours of continuing education (CE) credits for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

     The CE units have the approval of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards’ Registry of Approved Continuing Education and are accepted for professionals practicing in numerous states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

     The Horses 2009 program is organized by the Equine Science Center at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and will offer attendees an intense learning experience, with a liberal sprinkling of exhibitor information, fun, prizes, gifts and valuable networking. Subjects covered will give veterinarians and their associates a rare opportunity to look at current horse health issues from the client’s perspective.

     The event is expected to draw 1,000 people, and it will be held at the expanded facilities of the Busch Campus Center near Route 18 in New Brunswick/Piscataway. To register for Horses 2009 visit the Equine Science Center website at www.esc.rutgers.edu or call 732-932-9419.

     “Horses 2009 will look at topics that are very important to horse owners and their care-giving professionals, and it will introduce new subjects that have emerged as important issues in the horse world,” says Karyn Malinowski, director of the Equine Science Center.

     In addition, a new feature of Horses 2009 will be one-on-one classroom sessions throughout each day, where attendees and presenters can engage in in-depth discussions.

     The keynote speaker on Saturday will be veterinarian Scott Palmer, founder of the New Jersey Equine Clinic and past-president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), who will tackle the topic, “Responsible Horse Ownership: When the Dream Becomes a Reality.” Palmer is very active in the responsible ownership movement of the AAEP and the American Horse Council and is recognized as one of the most dedicated and thought-provoking experts on this delicate subject.

     Palmer will be followed by a panel of veterinarians discussing: “When to Call The Veterinarian.” Dr. Michael Fugaro, a Centenary College and Rutgers faculty member and owner of his own practice, will address serious illnesses and injuries; Dr. David Marshall of the University of Delaware will talk about first aid, vital signs and minor injuries; and Dr. Daniel Keenan, whose ambulatory practice is Keenan-McAlister Equine, will look at pre-purchase exams and spotting lameness.

     Equine behavior is next up on the agenda, with Dr. Jeannine Berger from University of California-Davis looking at the subject from a scientific point of view and Heidi Potter, a certified instructor whose operation is in southern Vermont, sharing insights regarding the rider’s influence on horse behavior.

     Following will be Dr. Carey Williams and Dr. Sarah Ralston, both of Rutgers, looking at aspects of nutrition and feeding, and Laura Florence, former farrier with the New Bolton Center and now practicing on her own, discussing hoof and foot issues.

     On Sunday, the keynote speaker will be Eric Scott, news director of Millennium Radio and New Jersey 101.5, who can be heard almost every weekday morning reporting on developments in New Jersey, particularly news generated by public officials. He will give an overview of “The State of the State We’re In,” with an insider’s look at what New Jersey residents and neighbors in nearby states can expect in the months ahead.

     His talk will set up a serious look at farm and barn management presented by Bix DiMeo, longtime manager of Showplace Farm, discussing the economics of the business; Nick Attwood, consultant on equestrian surfaces for the U.S. Dressage Federation, addressing arenas, footing and fencing; Chris Wittstruck, a Long Island lawyer and professor with Hofstra University, looking at contracts, liability and insurance; and Robert Bruch with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture bringing the audience up to speed on farmland assessment.

     After the management discussion, a blue ribbon panel will take a look at the high performance horse, with Dr. Brendan Furlong, adviser to the U.S. Equestrian Federation, sharing his thoughts on lameness; Dr. Celeste Kunz, former chief veterinarian with the New York Racing Association, talking about chronic conditions; and Dr. Kenneth McKeever of Rutgers, discussing performance-altering substances.

     A final panel – consisting of Dr. David Horohov of the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Center and Dr. Tim Cordes of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s APHIS division – will share thoughts on immunology and prevalent diseases.

     In between panels and at breaks, attendees will have ample opportunity to visit with partners and sponsors and register for gifts and giveaways. One attendee each day will win a hand-crafted solid wood tack trunk, courtesy of Rick’s Saddle Shop in Cream Ridge.