Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care

12/18/2025

As we approach Christmas and New Year's, we want to remind our valued clients that our office will be closed on December 24th-25th and December 31st-January 1st to allow our team to spend time with their families.

Before the holiday hustle and bustle kicks into full gear, be sure to check that your horse has all the medications, supplements, and essentials they need. If you need any refills or have questions, please reach out to us this week so we can help make sure everything is ready.

Though our office will be closed, our emergency hospital and ambulatory services will remain available 24/7 to care for your horse when you need us most. For emergency assistance, call 352.237.6151.

From all of us at Peterson Smith Equine Hospital, we wish you and your equine companions a joyful, safe, and peaceful holiday season filled with love, laughter, and Christmas magic!

12/04/2025

Peterson Smith is excited to announce that we will be attending the AAEP Internship/Externship Night, Sunday, December 7th from 5pm-7pm! This is a great opportunity for aspiring equine veterinarians to come meet us and learn how we can help take your career to the next level.

We have opportunities in our ambulatory, hospital, and reproductive departments, providing hands-on experience in all areas of equine care. Our program also offers countless educational opportunities through in-house wet labs, networking, and mentorship from our dedicated team.

In addition to professional growth, we provide excellent benefits and the chance to work with a truly incredible team of doctors who are passionate about mentoring the next generation of equine veterinarians. Don’t miss this chance to explore what makes Peterson Smith Equine a fantastic place to start and grow your career!

12/01/2025

We’re excited to officially welcome Dr. Jessica Hutchings as a new ambulatory veterinarian! Many of you may have already seen her out on the road, but we wanted to give her a proper introduction!

Dr. Hutchings is originally from the southwest of England. She earned her undergraduate degree in Animal Science, with a minor in Equine Science, from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, then returned to the UK to complete her veterinary degree at the University of Glasgow. Following graduation, she completed a rotating internship at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center and has since spent time working in California, the Northeast, and South Florida!

She enjoys all aspects of general practice, but her passion lies in sports medicine, with a particular interest in diagnostic imaging and gait analysis. Outside of work, you can find her enjoying the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with her husband, Gannon, and their dog, Max.

Help us give Dr. Hutchings a warm welcome; she’s looking forward to meeting even more of our amazing clients and their horses

11/28/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Peterson Smith! We are so grateful to be part of your horses’ care, and for the privilege to support such a dedicated community of equestrians. 💙🦃.

Our office is closed today through November 30th so our team can celebrate the holiday with their families. If your horse needs urgent care, our emergency hospital and ambulatory services are always available 24/7. For emergencies, please call 352.237.6151.

We hope you’re enjoying a peaceful day with the people (and horses!) you love most. Wishing you and your family a safe, happy, and relaxing Thanksgiving!

11/25/2025

Today was our annual Peterson Smith Thanksgiving Potluck, and it was such a great way to kick off the holiday week! Our incredible team showed up with an amazing spread of sides, desserts, and family favorites!

It’s one of our favorite traditions and always a fun reminder of how lucky we are to work alongside such a talented, thoughtful, and tight-knit group of people. Thank you to everyone who cooked, baked, stirred, carried, set up, and taste-tested!

11/24/2025

As Thanksgiving approaches, we wanted to let our clients know that our office will be closed from November 27th through November 30th so our team can spend the holiday with their families.

Before the break, please double-check that your horse has everything they need: medications, supplements, and any other essentials. If you need refills or have questions, we encourage you to reach out early this week.

Although the office will be closed, our emergency hospital and ambulatory team will still be available 24/7. If you need emergency assistance, please call 352.237.6151.

From all of us at Peterson Smith Equine Hospital and Complete Care, we wish you and your horses a happy, safe, and peaceful Thanksgiving!

11/20/2025

Peterson Smith is actively monitoring the current Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) outbreak reported in other regions. As of today, there are no confirmed cases in Florida.

We remain in close communication with state officials and trusted disease-surveillance partners to ensure we have the most accurate, up-to-date information, and will continue to keep our clients informed of any changes.

For the most reliable, real-time updates, please refer to the Equine Disease Communication Center’s official alert page:
https://equinediseasecc.org/news/article/Equine-Herpesvirus-Myeloencephalopathy-(EHM)-Outbreak

Our team is always here to support you! If you have concerns about your horse’s health or biosecurity practices, please reach out to your veterinarian directly for guidance.

The Equine Disease Communication Center is monitoring an outbreak of EHM that originated at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event Nov 5-9. To date, officially confirmed cases have been reported in the following states-

11/11/2025

Veterans Day is about perspective, remembering that freedom and safety don’t happen by accident. They’re built by people who gave up time, comfort, and certainty to protect something bigger than themselves. Today, we’re grateful for that kind of courage. From all of us at Peterson Smith, we simply want to say: thank you for your service, and for continuing to serve in so many ways!

11/10/2025

It’s going to get chilly tonight! Sudden drops in temperature can affect how horses drink and digest, so keeping an extra eye on them is never a bad idea. If something doesn’t seem right, just give us a call. We’re always happy to help keep your horses feeling their best!

11/06/2025

Incredible work from our practitioners at EQUIGEA! 👏 Embryo freezing allows breeders to plan matings with precision, preserve valuable bloodlines, and maximize each mare’s reproductive potential...a perfect example of how advanced reproductive science is shaping the future of equine breeding! Be sure to follow EQUIGEA’s page to see more of the amazing outcomes our team is producing in reproductive medicine! 🐴✨

Remember the mare we recovered an amazing 39 oocytes from? From that aspiration, six embryos developed and were successfully frozen for future use! These embryos will remain viable indefinitely, ready to be thawed and transferred when the timing is just right!

11/04/2025

Our interns recently participated in an ultrasound wet lab led by Dr. Meeks, Dr. C**k, and Dr. Smith! They practiced both limb ultrasounds, used for evaluating lameness and soft tissue injuries, and abdominal/thoracic ultrasounds, for internal medicine diagnostics!

Hands-on opportunities like this are at the heart of our internship program. We’re proud to frequently provide spaces where our veterinarians can practice, ask questions, and solidify the skills that will serve them throughout their careers!

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from all of us at Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care! 👻 Our annual employee costume contest brought out creative spirits from every corner of the hospital...some spooky, some hilarious, and all frightfully good fun! Take a look through the photos and let us know in the comments: who gets your vote? 🎃

From our barn aisle to yours, have a safe, fun, and treat-filled Halloween! 🐴🦇