Experts on horse first aid to speak at UW-Madison

The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine Continuing Education program will host the 22nd annual seminar “First Aid for Horses: When to Call the Vet and What to do Before Help Arrives” on Saturday, Feb. 19.

The morning session will be held in the Ebling Symposium Auditorium located within the Microbial Sciences Building, 1550 Linden Drive, Madison. The afternoon demonstrations will be at the UW Stock Pavilion, 1675 Linden Drive, Madison.

Four equine veterinarians from the UW–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine will cover a wide range of injuries and infections that may affect a horse — from foot abscesses, grazes and minor wounds that a horse can tolerate without emergency care — to puncture wounds, lacerations and fractures that need immediate care.

They will show participants how to assess and deal with injuries until a veterinarian can examine the horse, including proper techniques for wound management and bandaging. They will also cover some of the techniques veterinarians use when treating infections of joints and tendon sheaths.

In the afternoon, natural horsemanship instructor Lori Wegner, will provide participants with some answers to the “whys” and “how-tos” relating to equine first aid treatment. There will be live demonstrations that show prevention and rehabilitation exercises. In addition, Libby Kiewsow, owner of Fluidity, will go over the benefits of massage, myofacial release and reiki in recovery as they pertain to rehabilitation and prevention of injuries.

Advance registration for this seminar is $45 per person (or $39 per person for groups of five or more) on or before Feb. 4. After that date, admission is $60 per person.

For more information contact Karl Olson at 608-265-5206 or Olsonk@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu, or visit http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/ce/horse_owner