Horses

“Case of the Month” – May 2025

In late February, Amanda Johnson awoke to find a frightening scene in her barn. The jaw of her 5-day-old foal Quincy was bloody and hanging out of place, appearing broken on both sides. She immediately called her veterinarian.

“She was out of town but took the time to discuss the situation with me,” said Johnson. “She suggested I take Quincy to UC Davis. They would have the latest techniques to fix the jaw and give Quincy the best outlook for her future as a performance horse.”

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to welcome Dr. Heidi Reesink as a Professor of Veterinary Orthopedics. A board-certified surgeon, Dr. Reesink will have a clinical appointment with the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital’s (VMTH) Equine Surgery and Lameness Service, as well as a research laboratory within the school’s J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Laboratory.

The Equine Surgical Emergency and Critical Care Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital recently welcomed Dr. Sandra Valdez as a Clinical Professor. Dr. Valdez brings a wealth of experience from around the world as an equine veterinarian and surgeon for the past 30 years.

Dr. Carter Judy has joined the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital’s Equine Surgery and Lameness Service as a Clinical Professor. A renowned and well-respected equine surgeon, Dr. Judy has spent the past 22 years as a surgeon at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California. 

The nearly 200 participants at the UC Davis Equine Health Symposium clearly agreed on one thing – they learned a lot. For the second year, the event featured tracks in English and Spanish covering topics ranging from equine reproduction to preventive care. It brought equine enthusiasts representing a wide range of age groups and experience levels together for lectures and hands-on learning opportunities.

Los casi 200 participantes en el Simposio de Salud Equina de UC Davis coincidieron claramente en una cosa: aprendieron mucho. Por segundo año, el evento contó con charlas en inglés y en español que abarcaron temas variados desde la reproducción equina hasta el cuidado preventivo. Reunió a entusiastas equinos que representaban grupos diverso de diferentes edades y niveles de experiencia. Este Simposio contó con charlas y demostraciones prácticas interactivas.

Lance Yohe, CJF, is the new farrier for the UC Davis veterinary hospital’s Large Animal Clinic. Yohe has been a farrier for more than 30 years. He completed his farrier education at the Eastern School of Farriery in 1993 and became a Certified Farrier (2014) and a Certified Journeyman Farrier (2015) through the American Farrier’s Association (AFA).

An active member of AFA since 2008, Yohe served as the regional director from 2017-23 and on the executive board from 2017-22. He also served as director and vice president of the Western States Farrier Association from 2008-16.

Matsi the mare is safe and sound after an incredible rescue effort involving UC Davis veterinary experts, emergency responders, and animal rescue organizations from Northern California.

On December 9, 2024, Matsi, an 8-year-old American Quarter Horse-Quarter Draft cross, found herself stuck in an underground space beneath an empty rice silo.

Researchers at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine marked a milestone in equine assisted reproductive technologies with the first successful use of frozen-thawed sperm for in vitro fertilization (IVF) production of equine embryos. These promising results, just published in Theriogenology, have the potential for broader clinical applications, as well as valuable opportunities to study fertilization and embryo development.

Equine and livestock specialists at the UC Davis veterinary hospital’s Large Animal Clinic constantly seek to optimize standard of care. With advancements in research, collaborative treatments, and innovative procedures, they continue to raise the bar.

Read full article in Synergy magazine