Ohio Practitioner Provides Special Care to Keep Hooved Heroes Healthy

As part of its Good Works For Horses Campaign, the American Association of Equine Practitioners applauds Dr. Ron Genovese for helping therapeutic riding horses at Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center stay on their feet.

The AAEP’s Good Works For Horses Campaign honors AAEP-member practitioners who perform volunteer service to improve equine welfare and reach out to the local horse-owning community. Horse owners, equine organizations and veterinary professionals are encouraged to nominate veterinarians to be considered for the next monthly recognition by Aug 31.

Dr. Genovese of Cleveland Equine Clinic in Ravenna, Ohio, ensures the health and mobility of more than 30 therapeutic riding horses at Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center. With support from staff at his veterinary clinic, Dr. Genovese helps keep these “hooved heroes” working by resolving serious lameness cases. About once a month, ailing horses from the clinic are brought to the clinic for diagnostic work-ups and therapy at reduced prices. Because most of these horses come from previous careers and are advanced in years, they require costly treatment for conditions including laminitis, tendon injuries and chronic arthritis.

In difficult economic times, Dr. Genovese and his practice understand the importance of easing financial burdens for the non-profit riding center. Since Dr. Genovese began his relationship with the center in 2008, he and his practice have donated more than $13,600 worth of services, medications, and surgical and non-surgical procedures. Jinene Studzinski, Fieldstone Farm’s Equine and Facility Director, said Dr. Genovese is deeply and personally invested in the well-being of the center’s horses.

Dr. Genovese returns admiration to the Fieldstone Farm for its mission to help disabled children and families. Extremely humbled by the Good Works honor, Dr. Genovese said he is grateful to be involved in making sure these special horses can continue serving as “therapists” for children.

“We have been able to restore some of those warriors and get them back to work,” Dr. Genovese said of the therapeutic riding horses. “You have no idea how much happiness and joy they bring to so many kids and families.”

Throughout 2011, the AAEP’s Good Works for Horses Campaign will spotlight AAEP-member practitioners whose volunteer efforts are improving the health and welfare of horses. Monthly honorees will be considered for the 2011 Good Works Award, to be presented during the 57th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Nomination forms are currently available at www.aaep.org/goodworks.htm.

The Good Works Campaign is sponsored in part by AAEP Educational Partner, Pfizer Animal Health. Pfizer Animal Health strives to improve horse health by helping to build strong relationships between veterinarians and horse owners and providing a range of products backed by the highest standards of scientific research.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 10,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.