Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care

05/07/2026

We’re proud to see Equigea, part of Peterson Smith’s Advanced Fertility Center, featured by The Plaid Horse. It’s so exciting to see the innovation and dedication behind their process highlighted and shared with the equine community!

Breeding the next generation of equine super stars is no easy feat. The breeding process alone can be complex and stressful, and while assisted reproductive technologies have vastly improved outcomes and allowed mares and stallions with low fertility to successfully breed, the multi-step process often requires numerous laboratories or veterinary clinics to work in tandem. With that comes communication errors, shipping delays and other variables that threaten the viability of the future pregnancy.

But Equigea, based in Smithfield, Florida, is streamlining the process of equine Intracytoplasmic S***m Injection (ICSI), a technique which fertilizes donor mare eggs with a single s***m. By being the only reproductive center in Florida to handle the process from oocyte and semen collection to birth, Equigea and its employees can ensure tighter quality control, better communication and mitigate the risks of shipping genetic material.

As the lead veterinarian, Prell does the aspirations to collect the oocytes from the donor mares herself and works alongside a technician who came from the human in-vitro fertilization (IVF) world in the laboratory to fertilize and either store or implant the embryos using Avantea’s procedures and technology. While the lab work is done in-house at Peterson Smith, Pratt consults with Avantea, which is based in Italy on all lab decisions.

Once oocytes are aspirated, they are placed in a maturation media until mature. At that point, the oocytes are injected with s***m. Prell then checks for embryos beginning at seven days post injection. By day 10, she knows whether an embryo has formed, which mimics the timeline seen in natural breeding. Once an embryo is formed, it can either be implanted into a recipient mare, which can be provided by Equigea, or frozen for preservation. The entire process can be done in-house, eliminating the need for shipping, where delays can affect viability.

“It provides a little bit of continuity and fewer variables,” says Prell. “So once you start opening yourself up to having to ship oocytes, there’s all kinds of things that can happen. They can get lost with FedEx; they can get lost with airplanes, which then forces a delay in getting them into the lab, getting them in maturation. It’s fewer variables when you’re doing it all in one place, which then makes it easier to ensure the quality is going to be the best it can be, because you have more control.”

📎 https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/04/30/equigea-takes-stress-out-of-breeding/
📸 © Equigea

05/02/2026

Good luck to all of our Florida connections in the Kentucky Derby! We’re wishing a safe, successful race for every incredible athlete competing on racing’s biggest stage.

We’re proud to stand behind the breeders, trainers, owners, and athletes that make Florida one of the most powerful forces in Thoroughbred racing. Florida-breds consistently rank among the top two in the U.S. for total starters, starts, wins, and stakes wins. From Triple Crown contenders to hardworking two-year-olds, our local Thoroughbred industry fuels racing at every level.

At Peterson Smith, we support these athletes from foaling shed to finish line with cutting-edge diagnostics, sports medicine, surgery, internal medicine, and world-class reproductive care. Whether it’s preparing a future stakes winner or rehabbing a seasoned campaigner, our team is dedicated to helping horses perform at their peak.

We’re cheering loud this weekend, and we’re proud to be part of what makes Florida racing great!

Want to learn more about how we can support your racehorses or breeding operation? Call 352.237.6151 or visit www.petersonsmith.com!

04/24/2026

We asked our vets what well-meaning action owners take that can actually cause harm, and one answer came up over and over again: removing stuck objects from a horse’s hoof before veterinary evaluation! 🐎🩺

It’s natural instinct to want to pull foreign objects out right away, but that can make the injury far worse. Check out the photos to learn why vets recommend leaving it in place and calling for help first!

04/23/2026

$13,961.71! We’re incredibly proud to have been part of such a meaningful event and so grateful to everyone who helped make it a success. Thanks to the amazing support from sponsors, participants, and the entire equine community, an incredible $13,961.71 was raised for The Foundation for The Horse!

It was an honor to work alongside such a dedicated group of partners and to see the community come together at the Florida Horse Park for a cause that supports the health and welfare of horses everywhere. Events like this are a great reminder of what can be accomplished when people who care about the industry join forces.

We had so much fun being part of it and are already looking forward to doing it all again in 2027!!

THANK YOU!!!! With the help of our wonderful sponsors and race participants, we were able to donate a total of $13,961.71 to The Foundation for The Horse. We had so much fun bringing this event to the Florida Horse Park this year, and look forward to returning in 2027.
Your hosting sponsors Zoetis Equine, The Equine Medical Center of Ocala, Ocala Equine Hospital, and Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care are grateful for the support of the following. Platinum Sponsors: Arthramid, Creative Science. Gold Sponsors: Aurora Pharmaceutical, Great American Insurance, Boehringer Ingelheim, Purina, OBS Feed & Supply, Western Ivy, Brook Ledge Horse Transportation, Seminole Feed, Tenzing Financial Advisors, Dechra. Silver Sponsors: Aligned Veterinary Services, PHD Veterinary Service, Midwest Veterinary Supply, Inc.. Bronze Sponsors: Hello Gorgeous Salon, Chewy. Special thanks for additional support, supplies, and prizes from: Patterson Veterinary Supply, Animal Health International, Platinum Performance, Ocala Polo Club, Club Pilates, The Juniper General Store, The Running Elements Ocala, Takens Tailored Corner LLC, Virginia's Creations, American Running Company, The Horse Talk Show, Miller's Ale House, and Tractor Supply.
It was truly a team effort, and a great example of what can be accomplished when the local community joins forces!!! If I inadvertently left anyone out, please let us know. Please be sure to thank and support our sponsors, there is no way we could have pulled this off without them!!!

04/08/2026

🚨 Foal Alert! 🚨

Dr. C**k was interviewed and featured in this important guide on diarrhea in young foals! 🐴💛 She breaks down the causes, warning signs, and what to do fast to keep your foal safe.

Read below to see her insights: https://www.ftboa.com/diarrhea-in-young-foals

BY HEATHER SMITH THOMAS Intestinal infections can be deadly for young foals, especially in the first days and weeks of life. A clean environment, good care and monitoring, and being proactive to head off or deal with any problems are very important. Dr. Gemma C**k, an internal medicine specialist at

04/08/2026

We were honored to host the American Association of Equine Practitioners Dentistry XP program last week at Peterson Smith Equine Hospital!

It was an incredible two days of hands-on learning and collaboration led by Dr. Travis Henry and Dr. Nick Moore. Participants dove into a wide range of topics, including radiographs, comprehensive oral exams, occlusal equilibration concepts, sinus conditions, and advanced extraction techniques. Unlike traditional lecture formats, Dentistry XP focuses on real-world application through personalized, small-group instruction, allowing attendees to build confidence and leave with immediately actionable skills.

We’re always thrilled to support continued education that advances equine veterinary medicine and improves patient care. Thank you to the AAEP for trusting us as a lab partner, and to everyone who joined us for such an exciting and impactful program!

04/02/2026

We are so excited to hear our own Andrew Smith, DVM, PhD, DACVS-LA, CVMMP featured on The Plaidcast, recorded live from the Live Oak International!🎙️🔥

He was part of a conversation centered around improving equestrian sports, which is something we care deeply about, not just in the work we do every day, but in the bigger picture of where the horse industry is headed! We’re proud to see him representing Peterson Smith in spaces like this, contributing to thoughtful, forward-moving discussions that matter.

🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://www.theplaidhorse.com/the-plaidcast/
Photo credits: Erin Gilmore / Megan Mullen Photography

04/01/2026

There was a sea of Peterson Smith blue out on the course last Sunday at the Love of the Horse Ocala 5K! 💙

We were thrilled to see so many Peterson Smith team members and their families show up, show out, and support the Love of the Horse 5K! This event wouldn’t be what it is without this incredible community behind it!

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this event such a success. From our sponsors to our volunteers to every single person who crossed that finish line, you made it unforgettable.

We’re already looking forward to next year! 💫

Thank you to Sublime Photography for these amazing photos, and to Ocala Polo Club for sponsoring our race photography!

03/25/2026

Small changes, big impact! 🐎 We asked three of our vets: What’s ONE management change that can make a big difference in your horse’s health?

👉 See the images in this post to find out, and let us know, what’s one change that’s helped your horse?