Dr. Sarah Shaw and Dr. Amy Lack have been announced as course co-instructors for the "Racehorse Respiratory Health" online course. Funded by Ontario Racing and offered by Equine Guelph, the two-week short course runs from January 24 - February 4, 2022 and will be free (value of $95) to the first 100 Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) licence holders who enroll at TheHorsePortal.ca/OR.
Participants will learn daily practices that can optimize health and performance and reduce the risk of respiratory issues in their athletic racehorses. Everything from feeding, bedding, trailering and environment can have an impact on respiratory health.
Dr. Sarah Shaw is a private practice owner and a large animal internal medicine specialist working in Ontario, Canada. After graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College, she spent one year in a large animal ambulatory practice and then completed an internship at the Equine Medical Center of Ocala. She then pursued a large animal internal medicine residency at Texas A&M where her research focused on Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. In 2016, Dr. Shaw began working at Rotenberg Veterinary P.C., a practice with a focus on Thoroughbred mares, foals, sales yearlings and racehorses. Concurrently, she has developed a diverse equine internal medicine referral caseload and is an adjunct professor at the Ontario Veterinary College.
Dr. Amy Lack grew up riding and showing horses in western New York. She obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri in 2015 and completed a residency in internal medicine at Mississippi State University in 2019. During her residency, she completed a Master’s thesis with a focus on Equine Asthma. Dr. Lack joined the Large Animal Internal Medicine service at the Ontario Veterinary College in July of 2020.
Dr. Shaw and Dr. Lack will be discussing common respiratory issues for racehorses as well as early detection and prevention. You will journey through the anatomy of a horse’s respiratory system and finish the course with an understanding of how these obligate nose-breathers differ from yourself.
“Respiratory issues are ranked the number one health issue in the Ontario racing industry and we are pleased to fund the tuition of trainers and grooms keen on learning about how to reduce the risk through management,” said Gordon Thain, Executive Director. “Ontario Racing is committed to keeping the racing industry up-to-date on the latest information and education in regard to equine welfare, safety and performance.”
Ontario trainers, grooms and owners can sign up now for the free "Racehorse Respiratory Health Course" starting January 24. For those who have never taken an online course before, no prior online learning experience is required. Limited registrations available.
(With files from Equine Guelph)