American Association of Equine Practitioners

06/18/2026

Teamwork makes the dream work! 👏

Thanks to the incredible collaboration between MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Center, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Hospital, and Purdue Engineering, Sassy the Quarter Horse was able to receive the care she needed after sustaining serious head trauma during an extreme storm. Purdue's engineering team designed and 3D printed a custom protective helmet to support healing and help protect her eye.

Sassy is now home and healing! 💕 Read her full story here: https://vet.purdue.edu/news/purdue-equine-hospital-team-comes-to-aid-of-horse-injured-in-severe-storm-in-michigan.php?fbclid=IwY2xjawSg79pleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFwNW55aWFRNUlkYVJKRzFJc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHm83WSaI9DlX1uhh0n4IaF3fjH4PapdNBA0uoj23FMvaZ9uYQYA84RcPF1Aj_aem_8KYQfG3RsnH3eeCakTrKkg&clid=eyJpIjoiUG43NExmdVJJVkdCckZ4LW1WbllTIiwiaCI6IiIsInAiOiIvc2Fzc3kiLCJ0IjoxNzgxNzk3MDAyfQ.JplGsBwf804ew7ar1d9kCcqIguvy-LCtTBqyNOxrTWg

06/18/2026

It's ! Help us celebrate all the veterinary professionals that help our animals (especially our equine friends) thrive and live long, happy lives!

If you are looking for ways to say “thank you” to your veterinary team, there are plenty of options. However, it’s very possible that the best way to thank your horse doctors and equine vet techs and assistants is to make their job easier.

Some small things can make the biggest difference; check out this graphic for a few simple ways you can ease the strain on your veterinarians and show them your appreciation. No matter how you choose to say thank you today, there is no doubt you will brighten your vet team’s day!

Lastly, show some love for your veterinarian in the comments below and tag them, some words of encouragement and appreciation are sure to bring a smile to their face! ⬇️

06/16/2026

Many horse owners have at one point or another gone to pick out their horse's feet only to be met with a foul odor to the nose and the sight of black discharge. 🤢

This is an infection of the frog called thrush, most often associated with a compromised, recessed frog and conditions that let dirt, manure, urine, and moisture accumulate in the sulci.

It's commonly recognized by:
• Black discharge in the frog grooves
• Strong, foul odor
• A narrow, eroded, unhealthy-looking frog
• Sometimes a deep crack in the central sulcus
• Pain or lameness in more severe cases

Key Points:
• Wet, dirty footing and poor daily hoof care can contribute.
• Lack of exercise may also play a role.
• Cases often improve best when you address both the infection and the hoof mechanics/farriery behind the unhealthy frog.
• Simply applying products without improving the frog's health and hoof shape may have limited value.

Basic care include:
• Daily hoof cleaning
• Keeping the horse in a clean, dry environment
• Ongoing hoof care/farriery attention
• Veterinary/farrier involvement if the frog is painful, deeply fissured, bleeding, or the horse is lame

If you suspect your equine companion has thrush, reach out to your veterinarian and farrier.

06/16/2026

Dr. Marvin Beeman was a legend, not only because of his pioneering efforts in equine veterinary medicine but for how truly gracious and kind he was to each person he met. The AAEP is incredibly fortunate that he shared his generous spirit and love of the horse with us throughout his career. Dr. Beeman was a past president and a friend to many. We join the Littleton Equine Medical Center family in mourning his passing.

It is with very heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Dr. Marvin Beeman.

Our Littleton Equine family has been so lucky to have had three professional “fathers” who taught us how to care for both people and horses. Dr. Beeman lived and practiced with passion and wonder for the horse. His enthusiasm and joy were infectious and inspirational to all of us.

His decades of service, leadership and mentorship will leave a lasting impact on the horse industry and all of the lives that he touched. He will be missed as fiercely as he lived his life.

06/12/2026

New World Screwworm is here and its time to take action.‼️

🎥 Hear from US Equestrian’s Senior Veterinarian of Equine Health and Biosecurity, Dr. Katie Flynn, on how to be proactive and aware to keep your horses safe from screwworm.

Don’t miss the upcoming USEF and AAEP virtual webinar, “Screwworm in the U.S. - What Horse Owners Need to Know,” June 18 at 4 p.m. ET to learn more. Register here ➡️ usef.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uwgRdUs4Rx-gEHPiBfqvSQ #/registration

American Association of Equine Practitioners |

06/12/2026

Don't miss your chance to sign up for the second installment of NeuroXP! 📢

Join us Sept. 11-12 in Fort Collins, CO! Both morning lectures and afternoon wet labs will be held at Translational Medicine Institute at Colorado State University.

Acquire a gold standard diagnostic protocol while ramping up your ability to recognize the most common differential diagnoses and implement diagnostic and treatment plans in the field with intensive, hands-on training.

This series is geared toward practitioners with a foundational understanding of the topic and some experience seeing neuro cases in practice. The event is limited to just 20 participants and features a low participant-to-instructor ratio to energize learning and ensure plenty of individual engagement with the expert instructors.

Registration is on a first-come basis! The deadline to reserve a room at the Hilton Fort Collins is August 13. To learn more and register, visit https://aaep.org/events-education/events/neuro-xp-co/

Thank you to our sponsors: CareCredit, Sound Powered by ANTECH Diagnostics, and Zoetis Equine.

06/11/2026

🚨 WEBINAR ALERT!
📅 June 18 @ 4 PM ET

On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed New World Screwworm in the umbilical area of a calf in Zavala County, Texas. This expansion into the United States is alarming.

US Equestrian is partnering with the AAEP to bring you the information you need about the risk to horses and how you can keep your equine partners safe.

Dr. Katie Flynn, Senior Staff Veterinarian for Equine Health and Biosecurity at USEF, will be joined by Dr. Neil Gray, sport horse practitioner in California.

Webinar registration link: https://usef.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uwgRdUs4Rx-gEHPiBfqvSQ #/registration

06/11/2026

It's MYTHBUSTERS time! 📢

❌ MYTH: Sweet itch is just normal summer itching.

✅ FACT: Sweet itch is usually insect bite hypersensitivity - an allergic reaction to bites from Culicoides midges. The hallmark sign is intense itching.

Sweet itch is the common name for an allergic skin reaction to bites from tiny midges, most often Culicoides. The biggest red flag is intense itching. Horses may rub the mane, tail, and other areas enough to damage the skin.

In many horses, the problem is seasonal, so prevention focuses on limiting insect exposure: stable during peak feeding times at sunrise and sunset, use fans and fine screens, reduce exposure to standing water, and work with your veterinarian on repellants and treatment options.

If you suspect that your horse is suffering from sweet itch, contact your veterinarian.

📸 Dr. Melinda Freckleton

06/10/2026

The AAEP is fortunate to have a community of members who make working to serve their needs not only a joy but an honor. Members like you make this profession better, and your commitment to protecting the health and welfare of horses is both appreciated and admirable.

We hope you will allow us to support you in your career for years to come. Renew your membership by June 30 to continue to receive access to all of your AAEP benefits and resources.

Renew today: https://membership.aaep.org/AAEPPortal/Sign_In.aspx?LoginRedirect=true&returnurl=%2fAAEPPortal%2fMembership%2fRenewal_Regular.aspx