Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care

09/14/2025

This week, our interns participated in an upper airway endoscopy wet lab led by Dr. Ryan, Dr. Russell, and Dr. Stolsworth! Endoscopy is one of the most versatile tools in equine medicine, used to visualize the upper airway and even guide treatment within the guttural pouch.

Our internal wet labs are designed to provide hands-on practice in a supportive environment, giving interns the chance to refine their skills under the guidance of our experienced clinicians. It’s part of how we ensure they leave our program not only with knowledge, but with confidence!

We’re proud to invest in these opportunities that keep our interns learning, growing, and advancing the future of equine medicine. Want to learn more about our internship program? Visit https://petersonsmith.com/internships/ for details and application information!

09/12/2025

Applications for the 2026 Peterson Smith Undergraduate Internship Program are officially OPEN! This is the opportunity every equine-obsessed student dreams of: a front-row seat to the incredible, fast-paced world of veterinary medicine at one of the Horse Capital of the World’s leading equine practices!

You won’t just stand in the background, you’ll be immersed in the pace and rhythm of real equine veterinary medicine! Participate in treatments, daily care, and learn practical skills that will give you a head start long before vet school. Along the way, you’ll witness unforgettable moments: a foal taking its first breath, the intensity of an emergency call, and the advanced procedures that keeps elite equine athletes performing at their best.

You’ll choose your path: hospital, ambulatory, or reproduction, and each one will give you an insider’s perspective many students never get to see. More than just a line on your resume, this program will sharpen your abilities and show you what your future could really look like!

Act fast: applications close October 31st, and spots will go quickly! Don’t just dream about your future, step into it. Apply now at https://petersonsmith.com/undergrad-internship-program/!

09/05/2025

Welcome, Dr. Kelsey Katchuik, DVM!

Join us in welcoming Dr. Kelsey Katchuik, a member of our 2025–2026 Hospital intern class! Originally from Innisfail, Alberta, Kelsey graduated from Ross University and completed clinical rotations at Oklahoma State University. He’s passionate about orthopedic surgery, diagnostic imaging, and neonatal medicine. When he’s not in clinic, you’ll find him bow hunting, fly fishing, or golfing. Kelsey’s goal is a future in equine surgical residency, and we’re excited to support his path!

09/02/2025

We’re so proud of the work EQUIGEA is doing! It was great to see the team out in the community this weekend.

If you missed them at WEC, be sure to follow along for upcoming events and learn how they’re helping shape the future of advanced reproduction!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit us at the Labor Day Barrel Blast at WEC this weekend! We loved connecting with riders, owners, and breeders and sharing more about how EQUIGEA is helping bring the next generation of champions to life.

It was a great few days celebrating fast horses and the people who love them: we can’t wait to see you at our next event!

08/29/2025

Happy Labor Day from all of us at Peterson Smith!

Our office will be closed on Monday, September 1st in observance of the holiday. Emergency hospital and ambulatory services will remain available, and regular business hours will resume Tuesday, September 2nd.

If your horse needs us, please call 352.237.6151. Wishing you and your horses a safe and happy Labor Day! 🐴❤️

08/28/2025

Headed to the Opportunities in Equine Practice Seminar (OEPS)? Be sure to stop by and learn about Peterson Smith Equine Hospital!

Associate Veterinarian Dr. Rhiana Ryan and current Intern Dr. Kelin Donahue will be there to share what makes PSEH such a special place to launch your career. As one of the largest equine practices in the country, we’re proud of our supportive, mentorship-driven culture, our state-of-the-art facilities, and the hands-on learning opportunities we provide: our interns take part in 18 in house wet labs a year, covering everything from advanced procedures to everyday clinical skills!

We also welcome externships during veterinary school, so you can experience life at PSEH firsthand before taking the leap to an internship. No matter what you’re curious about, come say hello, we’d love to meet you!

08/18/2025

Last Saturday, we were honored to welcome UF veterinary students on the equine track as they toured Ocala’s leading practices and gained hands-on experience through interactive wet labs! Here at Peterson Smith, Dr. Cayot and Dr. Stolsworth guided students through a distal ultrasound of the forelimb and hindlimb.

Supporting the next generation of equine veterinarians is something we’re truly passionate about. A big thank you to FAEP for organizing such a meaningful event and to the students for bringing their energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm into our hospital. The future of equine medicine is bright!

07/30/2025

Breeding without breaking stride! If you’ve got a performance mare and a packed schedule, this is worth a look! 👇 See how ICSI can work around your program, not the other way around.

If you’re balancing a busy training schedule or a full show season, the thought of multiple vet visits or repeated breeding attempts can be overwhelming. That’s where ICSI truly shines: it does not requires lengthy pauses in your training and showing program; it just takes one precisely timed aspiration appointment, after identifying maximal follicular count via ultrasound examinations, to collect everything needed for a breeding cycle.

Imagine this: your mare competes all weekend, then comes by our facility Monday morning for a well-timed follicular aspiration. Within days, her eggs are fertilized and cultured in our lab, while she’s back to light work and preparing for the division later that same week. No long term stay required. No missed training. No added stress. This streamlined “one and done” process saves you time and lets your mare stay on her game without interruption, all while maximizing your chance at obtaining embryos.

Ready to start breeding on your terms? Call us at 352.307.3000 or email AFC@petersonsmith.com to get started.

07/23/2025

Everyone talks about ICSI as an option for mares, but not enough people realize how powerful it can be for stallions. Whether you’re working with limited frozen semen or a stallion who’s passed away, ICSI lets you do more with less. It only takes a single s***m cell to fertilize an oocyte, meaning every straw goes further and nothing is wasted. We’re so proud to offer this cutting-edge option through EQUIGEA, and we’d love to help you explore how it could benefit your program. Call us at 352.307.3000 or email AFC@petersonsmith.com to learn more!

ICSI isn’t just an option for mares: it can be a gamechanger for stallions, too!

While many people associate intracytoplasmic s***m injection with helping mares who can’t carry a pregnancy or who are still in full training, the truth is that ICSI offers powerful advantages for stallions as well. It allows us to create embryos using just a single s***m cell, which is incredibly valuable when working with limited or low-motility semen. For stallions with only a few straws of frozen semen left, or those who have passed away, ICSI offers a way to continue their legacy without waste. It’s also ideal for stallions in high demand, because a small amount of semen can be used to fertilize multiple oocytes, maximizing every collection

If your stallion is your program’s future, ICSI can help you protect it. To learn more about how EQUIGEA can help extend your stallion’s breeding career, call us at 352.307.3000 or email AFC@petersonsmith.com.

07/18/2025

If you’ve been wondering how to keep your mare’s future flexible, this is a game-changer worth knowing about. Learn more about how embryo freezing can work for you and your mare!

Even if you’re not planning to breed this year, or not sure if you want to breed your mare at all, you still have options. With ICSI, we can collect oocytes from your mare, fertilize them in the lab, and freeze the resulting embryos for use whenever you're ready. There’s no pressure to implant right away, and no need to interrupt your mare’s career or conditioning schedule. Embryos can be stored indefinitely without compromising quality, giving you total flexibility to breed on your own timeline, or not at all. It’s an ideal solution for preserving genetics from older mares, performance mares in full work, or yet to be proven bloodlines you may want to revisit down the road.

Whether you’re thinking about breeding next season or ten years from now, EQUIGEA makes it possible to plan ahead without rushing the decision. To learn more about freezing embryos for future use, call us at 352.307.3000 or email AFC@petersonsmith.com.

07/18/2025

Welcome, Dr. Sara Trujillo, DVM! We’re excited to introduce Dr. Sara Trujillo, one of our talented 2025–2026 Hospital interns! Born in Medellín, Colombia, Sara moved to Florida three years ago to pursue her veterinary passions. She earned her DVM from Corporación Universitaria Lasallista, with interests in internal medicine, emergency care, and neonatology. When she’s off-duty, she loves horseback riding, Paso Fino shows, working out, and quality time with her dogs. We’re thrilled to have Sara with us this year!

07/15/2025

We're excited to introduce Dr. Emmi Ezekiel, a dynamic new member of our 2025–2026 Hospital intern class! Originally from Aiken, SC, Emmi earned her undergrad at Wofford College and her DVM from Auburn in 2025. She's passionate about all aspects of equine medicine, especially sports medicine and surgery. Off-duty, she’s an avid reader and enjoys outdoor time with her rescue dogs (Clifford & Lucy) and cats (Nala & Rudy) Emmi's well-rounded approach and compassion make her a fabulous addition to our team!