Dr. Melissa McKee of McKee-Pownall Equine has been announced as the course instructor for Equine Guelph's "Racehorse Injury/Lameness Prevention & Care" course.

Funded by the Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) and offered by Equine Guelph, the two-week online short course runs from February 21 - March 4, 2022 and will be free (value of $95) to the first 100 AGCO licence holders who enroll at TheHorsePortal.ca/COSA.
 
Participants will learn daily practices that can optimize health and performance and reduce the risk of lameness issues in their athletic racehorses. Everything from early detection, footing and exercise regime can have an impact on soundness.
 
Dr. Melissa McKee grew up in the local horse industry. After graduating, she worked in New Jersey at a large equine referral hospital that provided surgical care, lameness, medicine, emergency, and ambulatory practice, followed by a year in equine practice in Alberta before returning to Ontario as a founding partner of McKee-Pownall Equine Services. She is certified in Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy through the COAC. Dr. McKee has served on the American Association of Equine Practitioners Scholarship, Racing, Education, and Ethics committees, and is an Equine representative for the Ontario Animal Health Network. Dr. McKee’s professional interests include lameness, diagnostic imaging, MRI, VSMT, and racehorse/sports medicine practice.
 
Dr. McKee will be joined by guest expert Dr. Orlaith Cleary, who graduated with a veterinary degree from University College Dublin, Ireland in June 2003. Dr. Cleary joined the Ontario Equine Hospital team in April 2019. Dr. Cleary’s special interests are in advanced imaging (MRI, CT, scintigraphy), as well as all aspects of soft tissue and orthopedic surgery.
 
McKee and Cleary will be discussing common lameness issues for racehorses as well as early detection and prevention. You will also learn about the horse’s musculoskeletal system, how they move, best practices for detecting lameness, assessment tools, management of a lame horse and the latest research.
 
In the 2017 Ontario Horse Racing Industry Survey conducted by Equine Guelph, ‘injuries/lameness’ was ranked the number two health issue of concern after respiratory issues.

“COSA is pleased to support the racing industry through its partnership with Equine Guelph,” said Bill O’Donnell, president of COSA. “Anything we can do to reduce injury and lameness can only benefit our horse people and the racehorse.”

Ontario trainers, grooms, owners can sign up now for the free "Racehorse Injury/Lameness Prevention & Care" course starting February 21 to help their racehorses reach their full potential. For those who have never taken an online course before, no prior online learning experience is required. Limited registrations available.
 
• "Racehorse Injury/Lameness Prevention & Care" is kindly sponsored by COSA:  February 21 - March 4, 2022 (free to the first 100 AGCO licensees to register) – TheHorsePortal.ca/COSA
 
• Next in The Horse Portal series of racing specific courses will be "Racehorse Gut Health & Colic Prevention," kindly sponsored by Standardbred Canada:  March 7 - March 18, 2022 (free to the first 150 Standardbred Canada members to register) – TheHorsePortal.ca/SC

(With files from Equine Guelph)