Over the past twenty years the number of older horses has increased exponentially as a result of significant advances in equine medicine and horses having increasingly become companion animals. This has led to a plethora of new medical and husbandry challenges for veterinarians dealing with an aging equine population.

Aimed at general practitioners, the lectures and wetlabs of this course cover the most important areas affecting older horses, such as weight-loss, dental challenges, Cushings, OA, laminitis, shoeing techniques, cardiopulmonary conditions, neoplasia and how to keep the senior sports horse competing etc.

In the mornings the following topics will be covered by the world-renowned and highly experienced clinicians through well-illustrated lectures and case presentations:

How to keep the Senior Sports Horse Competing
How to work up the horse with weight-loss
Diagnosing Prevalent Dental Problems of the Senior Horse
Diagnostic Strategies for Orthopedic Conditions in older Horses
PPID / Metabolic Syndrome – Diagnostics, Therapies & Management
Shoeing Strategies for Older Athletes
The geriatric Metabolism – Sedation, Anesthesia & Devising appropriate treatment protocols
Making the most of the hematology & biochemistry
Feeding & Management of the Elderly Horse
Cardiopulmonary Disease in the older Horse
Dental Therapies in Elderly Horses
Colic and its Treatment in Senior Horses

In the afternoons, 7 hours of practical and case-based sessions will give attendees ample opportunity to update and develop new skills on live horses and equine specimens and to ask questions in small groups (2 – 4 attendees / ultrasound machine), all under the supervision of the instructors. Each attendee will rotate through the following practical and case-based sessions:

Senior Dental Exam & Diagnostic Techniques
Abdominal & Cardiothoracic Ultrasound
Dental Therapeutic Techniques for Elderly Horses
Endocrine PowerPoint Case-Discussions
Pre-Purchase Exam of the older Sports Horse – Tips & Tricks
Radiography Wetlab – Regions chosen by each Groups

The course fee includes lunches at a restaurant, coffee/tea breaks, a wine & cheese reception, extensive electronic course notes and a certificate of attendance. Attendees can choose to only attend the lectures (= Lectures-Only) on this course or can register for the entire course (= Lectures & Practical Sessions). Early course registration is recommended as there are only a limited number of places available due to the highly practical nature of this course.