Cornell Reception Unites Veterinarians and Horse Owners to Improve Equine Anesthesia Complication Rates

Wellington, Fla. - April 4, 2015 - Esteemed Cornell University faculty, equine veterinary practitioners, specialists, and horse owners alike gathered at the Palm Beach Equestrian Center's Wellington Club on Thursday evening to explore the complications associated with equine anesthesia and hypothesize innovative ways to reduce the risk of serious injury or death from general anesthesia recovery in horses.

The primary function of this reception was to educate participants of the high-risk complications associated with equine anesthesia as well as allowing veterinarians, technicians, owners, riders and trainers alike to come together and voice their opinions, concerns and potential solutions.

The event, sponsored in part by Richard Schechter and Bainbridge Farm, the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Hospital for Animals, and by Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists, facilitated an environment where the general public was able to speak freely with some of the top veterinarians in the country not only from Cornell's prestigious equine vet medicine program but also representatives from Reid and Associates, Rood & Riddle and Wellington Equine. Guests learned about what is being done and can be done in the field to improve the outcomes of equine anesthesia.

In small groups, vets from different practices discussed potential solutions to the issue as well as contributed their personal experiences. One hundred percent of the vets in attendance responded 'yes' when asked whether they had experienced complications following equine anesthesia.

Some of the alternatives and topics discussed whether it was more beneficial to research the way in which horses physically come out of anesthesia while others described the reaction to the environment as a more-pressing leading factor in injury or death. Horse owners in attendance were given the opportunity to weigh in on these options and voice their perspectives on potential solutions.