Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care

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! 🐴🦇

10/30/2025

Calling all undergrad students! If you’re serious about a future in the horse industry, don’t let your chance at a career-launching internship pass you by! Peterson Smith’s Undergraduate Internship Program isn’t just something to pad your resume; it’s a true boots-on-the-ground experience that puts you right in the heart of high-level equine veterinary care.

Since 2004, we’ve helped launch the careers of future veterinarians, researchers, and equine professionals by bringing them directly into the action. You won’t simply be shadowing, you’ll be learning alongside our experienced team in a real clinical setting, working hands-on with horses in one of our three core departments of your choice: Hospital, Ambulatory, or Advanced Fertility.

If you’re studying animal science, agriculture, equine studies, or a related field, and you’re passionate, hardworking, and ready to learn, this is your chance to step outside the classroom and into a world where elite equine athletes, fragile foals, and complex medical cases are part of everyday life. You’ll gain practical experience, see cutting-edge veterinary care in action, and build the confidence to pursue your goals, whether that’s vet school, graduate school, or a lifelong career in the horse industry.

Looking for the best chance to get your boots in the door? Consider applying for the spring term! With many students in school during that time, we receive fewer applications, meaning your chances of being accepted are much higher. You’ll still experience the best of our program: a high, diverse caseload, working alongside top veterinarians, and building skills that set you apart, all with the same hands-on experience that makes our internships unforgettable.

The last day to submit applications for our 2026 class is October 31st. Don’t let procrastination come back to haunt you…apply now to secure your spot! https://petersonsmith.com/undergrad-internship-program/

10/27/2025

The Peterson Smith Star Award recognizes an employee who goes above and beyond: someone whose skill, dedication, and heart make Peterson Smith the exceptional place it is!

Today, we’re proud to honor Rebecca Guerrera, Hospital Treatment Tech, for her sharp instincts, incredible attention to detail, and unwavering dedication to patient care! Her quick thinking recently made a huge difference in a foal’s recovery.

Thank you, Rebecca, for setting such a high standard and making a real impact on the horses and people around you!

10/22/2025

Warning: graphic photos!

Which one of these wounds should you be the most concerned with? This tongue laceration will certainly result in a visit from your veterinarian, but you may decide to treat the small leg wound yourself. It’s just a small scrape, so no need to panic, right? Below, Dr. Faith Hughes (DVM, DACVS) explains why looks can be deceiving!

“Often, we equate the severity of a wound on our horse to its size, depth, amount of bleeding, or just how gross it looks. Owners may see small wounds that don’t even appear big enough to need stitches, so don’t worry much about it, until it’s too late.

However, SMALL WOUNDS = BIG PROBLEMS if they involve a joint or tendon sheath! Most of us know where the joints are, but it’s a good idea to become familiar with the location of the tendon sheaths as well. These are called synovial structures. If interfered with, they can be among the most dangerous wounds a horse can sustain.

When fluid can drain out through the injury, the horse may appear fine. But once the wound begins to close and trap bacteria inside, a severe, extremely difficult to treat infection can develop. By the time the horse becomes noticeably lame, we’re already late starting aggressive treatment. The outcome may be career or even life-ending. The tongue laceration in the picture will heal easily. The laceration over the hock, however, could be very, very serious if the tendon sheath is involved."

Moral of the story: never judge a wound by its size. When in doubt, have your veterinarian evaluate it, especially if it’s near a joint or tendon sheath. Catching these injuries early can make all the difference!

10/20/2025

Tech Appreciation Week may be over, but our gratitude continues! We had a wonderful time celebrating our incredible Vet Techs, and we want to extend our heartfelt thanks once again to every technician and support team member who keeps Peterson Smith running strong every day.

There’s no particular order here, every department plays an equally vital role, and we truly couldn’t do what we do without all of you!

Our Ambulatory techs are the first line of care in the field, handling long days, unpredictable weather, and every kind of emergency with skill and calm professionalism!

Our Hospital team works tirelessly around the clock, providing skilled, compassionate care to every patient who trots through our doors!

In Surgery, your precision, focus, and teamwork make every procedure look effortless, even when it’s anything but!

To our Laboratory staff, thank you for being the quiet heroes behind the scenes, turning data into answers and ensuring our clinicians have the information they need to make the best decisions!

Our Pharmacy team ensures every caretaker has the medications and supplies they need to provide the best care possible. Thank you for keeping treatment plans on track and every patient supported behind the scenes!

The Barn Crew provides the foundation for everything we do, ensuring every horse is cared for with kindness and respect!

And last but not least, our Reproduction tech team supports the future of the horse industry, helping countless clients bring new life into the world each season.

Also, a thank you to Zoetis for sending the Kona Ice truck to help us cool down and for adding some extra fun with a raffle, and to Aurora for the delicious Mexican buffet! We’re also so grateful to Merck for treating the team to an amazing pizza lunch, and to Dechra for topping off our cookout with some delicious Chick-fil-A sides!

To all of our techs, assistants, and support staff: thank you for your hard work, compassion, and unwavering dedication. We simply couldn’t do it without you!

10/14/2025

Yesterday, we kicked off our week-long celebration of the incredible, irreplaceable, and endlessly dedicated vet techs who are crucial to keeping our practice running smoothly! We are beyond grateful for their hard work, compassion, and expertise every single day. 💙

To start the festivities, our amazing team was treated to lunch and ice cream, generously provided by our friends at Boehringer Ingelheim! 🍦🥪

Thank you to our techs for everything you do: your knowledge, patience, and care make all the difference for our patients and their families!

10/11/2025

Fall can be a tough season for horses with airway issues: cooler, dry air, dusty hay, and barn allergens can all make breathing more difficult. In these images, Ambulatory Associate Dr. Jessica Reynolds Vences explains what to look for, when airway flare-ups are most likely to occur, and how to manage them to keep your horse comfortable and performing their best!

10/08/2025

We’re so proud to celebrate our co-founder’s recognition with the J.T. Vaughan Outstanding Equine Service Award, honoring his lifetime of leadership, integrity, and impact on the equine veterinary community.

Dr. Smith helped build Peterson Smith from the ground up, guided by Dr. Vaughan’s words: “Success in this profession doesn’t require genius, but rather the willingness to do hard work and do it when it is needed.”

That same spirit continues to inspire everything we do today. 🐴💙 Read more about Dr. Smith’s journey and this well-deserved honor below!

10/07/2025

Have you ever wondered what constitutes an emergency or how urgent that emergency care should be?🩺🐴 These slides from our ambulatory emergency vet Dr. Jennifer Madera walk you through exactly that. As well, here are a few additional tips to keep in mind to be prepared in the event of an equine emergency.

If your horse ever needs emergency care, being able to share key information, like where the horse is, who owns them, their age, breed, and what’s going on, helps your vet triage and plan treatment fast. Photos or videos can also make it easier for your vet to assess how serious the situation is. It’s also smart to know your horse’s vital signs: temperature, pulse, respiration, gum color, and whether you hear gut sounds. Additionally, before an emergency ever happens, make sure you have an established relationship with an equine veterinarian and know their emergency and after-hours policies.

Preparation is everything when it comes to getting your horse the care they need, especially when they need it most!

10/06/2025

Our team at Equigea is hard at work, all year round! Ready for your breeding program to align with your schedule? Call 352-307-3000 to discuss your horse's options today!

Good morning from EQUIGEA! Just because it’s the off-season doesn’t mean things slow down here…

We’re still actively aspirating mares, and performing ICSI! These 39 oocytes are from one single aspiration session!

Even in the “quiet” months, every procedure is a chance at a foal, a bloodline preserved, and a future champion in the making. 🐴✨

Another productive day pushing equine reproduction forward!