http://www.aaep.org/blogs/outofthestartinggate.html AAEP, Inc. Online Blog en-us Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:13:03 -0500 Copyright: (C) 2012 AAEP, Inc. With the country facing an economic downturn that has affected veterinary medicine negatively – at least equine practice in our neck of the woods – it's been a good time to reflect on strategies for improving practice methods, professional development and ways to generate new revenue.I've gotten to spend a lot of time lately thinking about goal-setting in my equestrian career: I recently achieved my long-term goal of completing a long-format "Classic Training 3-Day Event." I'll spare you the ... Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:13:03 -0500 http://www.aaep.org/blogs/outofthestartinggate/myveterinarycareertaketwo.html I love failblog.org. If you haven't checked out this Web site (or any of its affiliates, such as friendsofirony.com and thereifixedit.com), take a minute to peruse some of the pictures, signs, and video clips illustrating how many people or groups of people simply fail at life. (One of its sister sites, "icanhazcheezburger.com," features mostly pictures of cats and kittens that have been captioned in a stylistic way. They are known as "lolcats" in cyber-speak. But I digress – you'll just need... Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:50:58 -0500 http://www.aaep.org/blogs/outofthestartinggate/fail.html This entry has very little to do with veterinary medicine, but it's a pretty big deal to me. Spoofin, one of my OTTBs and regular competition partner for the last few years, finally helped me achieve something I haven't done in my 16 years as a three-day eventer-place first in a horse trials. Oh, I've gotten plenty of ribbons in my 16 years of eventing – but not too many blue ones. Some of my friends had those horses that just always seemed to kick butt no matter where they went. They were al... Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:11:31 -0500 http://www.aaep.org/blogs/outofthestartinggate/victorysixteenyearsinthemaking.html Part of what I love about my job is client education. I like explaining things to my clients and helping them understand what's going on with their horses – how an insulin resistant horse is like a human diabetic, how the various types of joint treatments are supposed to work, the process of wound healing. I also kind of enjoy opportunities where I can share my knowledge and experience with groups. This past weekend I got the chance to speak on a topic very near and dear to my heart – evaluat... Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:15:45 -0500 http://www.aaep.org/blogs/outofthestartinggate/publicserviceannouncementoff-the-trackthorougbreds.html Before I start the story: We have a Papillion. Yes, that same pathetic-looking Papillion from Petfinder. We named him Elton. He had the glamorous job of "stud dog" at a Missouri puppy mill for nearly 7 years, the poor thing. He's well socialized with other dogs (our husky-cross mutt, Ghost, was his instant BFF) but doesn't care much for us yet. He was amazingly quiet and unassuming for the first week he was here, but now he feels no shame whatsoever barking his opinion regularly and frequentl... Mon, 17 May 2010 15:33:58 -0500 http://www.aaep.org/blogs/outofthestartinggate/drselvigvscrazyownerjen.html Some clients are emotionally exhausting. You know who they are: You see the name on the schedule and groan internally. You just know you'll feel the life being sucked out of you during whatever agonal conversation ensues. Often it has nothing to do with not getting paid or being a poor horse owner. They just know how to drain your energy. But others are hilarious, or downright inspiring. Their stories either make you crack up or realize that some people are just better than most at making lem... Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:24:09 -0500 http://www.aaep.org/blogs/outofthestartinggate/isthishorsecolickyorpregnant.html A couple of Saturdays ago I was on my way back from an appointment that was quite a ways out (otherwise known as "East Jabib" or "Bumblef***"). I got a call from the office asking if I could divert to a town we were just passing on the freeway to "tranq a horse for a trailer ride" for a "new client." Oh boy. Sure, why not? My tech and I did manage to find the extremely narrow driveway, accidently driving by it only once. The driveway itself could have passed for ski moguls, and we were prett... Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:34:45 -0500 http://www.aaep.org/blogs/outofthestartinggate/secretcodes.html I think I am one of those people who, if I'm not careful, could become an animal hoarder. Maybe not on the scale of 27 cats and 32 dogs and 54 goats on your half-acre lot, like on those really sad Animal Planet shows, but on a somewhat smaller scale, as in, "you people are getting dangerously close to being considered really weird animal people." (Actually, we might be there already, but whatever.) Currently our animal count is at 10, but it could easily become 11. Ironically, our latest clo... Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:12:03 -0500 http://www.aaep.org/blogs/outofthestartinggate/justtattoosuckeracrossmyforehead.html I am NOT a small animal vet. Don't get me wrong: I can vaccinate dogs and cats, and make some cursory recommendations when it comes to fairly simple problems. But after three years of equine-only practice I do not pretend to remember much of anything about small animal dermatology, and I failed to take the small animal surgery rotation entirely. So whenever I meet anyone who asks what I do, I always specify that I am a HORSE vet. Because inevitably, when my new acquaintance learns of my profe... Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:44:14 -0500 http://www.aaep.org/blogs/outofthestartinggate/iamnotasmall-animalvet.html Welcome to the new AAEP blog, "Stable Living"! I had a lot of fun writing for "Out of the Starting Gate" and I'm looking forward being a part of this new team effort. "Stable Living" will feature five practicing equine veterinarians, including myself, and we will rotate through a regular schedule so you'll get five posts every two weeks. The goal is to offer some insight, humor and practical commentary on trying to maintain a fairly normal life in addition to working as equine vets. With the ... Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:06:22 -0500 http://www.aaep.org/blogs/outofthestartinggate/sayinggoodbyetomyteacher.html