6 Takeaways from the 3rd Equine Sports Medicine Symposium

Dave Gilliam, owner of EquiSport Hoof Care, specializes in performance sport horses, mainly hunters and jumpers, with a concentrated focus on podiatry/lameness cases. He has been a professional farrier for over 23 years. His business is based in Florida, but Dave works throughout the United States. Early in his career, Dave developed an interest in lameness and shoeing strategies to prevent and manage lameness issues. He has worked with several Pan American teams, past and present Olympic horses and riders, World Equestrian Games (WEG), and bi-coastal top circuit riders to keep their show strings in top performance condition. Dave’s strategy has always been to recognize an issue before it becomes one, and to be proactive instead of reactive in addressing those issues. Dave recently graduated from the Royal Veterinary College's Equine Locomotor Research program, a prestigious graduate-level course that concluded with a scientific research project and thesis. He is also the founder and president of Equine Soundness Professionals, an organization for veterinarians and farriers that focus on lower limb lameness. 

Dr. Sherry Johnson attended veterinary school at Iowa State University, completed an equine internship at Equine Medical Center of Ocala and then completed a one-year equine diagnostic imaging fellowship at Colorado State University. She then transitioned into the collaborative Equine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation residency program

through Colorado State University and Equine Sports Medicine, LLC. Following her residency training, she became a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (DACVSMR) in 2019. She then transitioned into a PhD

program at Colorado State University with specific research focus on novel rehabilitation modalities related to tendon healing. Dr. Johnson is the recipient of the AmericanQuarter Horse Foundation Young Investigator Award (2018), named the EQUUS

Foundation Research Fellow (2019), and was most recently granted the Storm Cat Career Development Award (2020), Iowa State University’s 2020 Young Alumni Award and AAEP’s President Award (2020). Additionally, she is a co-founder of Equine CORE, Inc. (eCORE, specialist equine telerehabilitation) and a partner & managing rehabilitation veterinarian of Equine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, LLC (ESMR).

Dr. Mark Revenaugh is the owner of Northwest Equine Performance in Mulino, Oregon a veterinary practice dedicated exclusively to equine performance issues, lameness, and diagnostic imaging.  The clinic was founded in 2002 and quickly grew into one of the premier equine sports medicine practices in the Western United States, reflecting Dr. Revenaugh’ s investment in advanced technologies, imaging modalities, and leading-edge therapies. He is renowned in the diagnosis and treatment of lameness and performance issues. His passion has always been focused on helping owners and horses maximize their athletic performance potential.

Prior to graduation from University of Illinois Veterinary School, Dr. Revenaugh worked as a medical graduate student researching and publishing on myocardial efficiency on humans at the (University of Frieberg, Germany 1986-1987). Then, after deciding to pursue vet medicine, he spent summers training and competing horses with Eventing icon Bruce Davison. These experiences were formative in the athletic-centered philosophy of treating and managing the equine athletic. 

Dr. Revenaugh was trained under renown equine veterinarians, Dr. Kent Allen, Dr. Haines Stevens and Dr. Brenden Furlong. He has worked as an official US team vet for the Driving, Eventing and Jumping disciples beginning in 1997. Most recently, Dr. Revenaugh was lead veterinarian of the USEF Eventing squad at the 2014 equestrian games in Normandy. Dr. Revenaugh is also the founder of the USEF High Performance Sports Medicine Group, which brings together veterinary and human medical professionals to continue to improve equine athletic health. This group has investigated the most current techniques in physical therapy, regenerative medical training and conditioning, Biotech innovations and injury prevention. He has been a public speaker nationally and internationally on the topics of equine sports medicine. He contributes to the American Association of Equine Practitioners Ethics and Performance Task Committees. Has also been on the USEF Veterinary Advisory Board, as well as the USEF Drugs and Medication committee.  

  Doug might be best known in the discipline of Eventing where he was a member of the 2019 Pan American Games Eventing Gold Medal Team and 4th individually. He has countless wins and top placings at all levels including a reserve national championship at the Kentucky CCI*****. 

In the Hunter and Jumper disciplines, he has multiple top placings at all levels National and FEI Grand Prix’s including the $100,000 Hits Grand Prix title was well as numerous top placings at National Hunter Derbies. In Dressage he has had success through FEI Intermediaire I and a USDF Silver Medal. He has been profiled in and contributed to countless national publications and media outlets. Along with Jim Wofford, Doug produced the acclaimed 'the Rider's Eye' instructional DVD. In 2014 he published 'The Problem Horse Repair Manual'. The book has received critical acclaim and a 5 star rating from Amazon. Officially Doug held USEF Judge, Technical Delegate and USEA ICP certifications for 10 years before relinquishing due to his extensive competition schedule. He was a graduate ‘A’ pony clubber from Somerset Hills Pony Club. Outside of horses Doug holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and is also an instrument rated Pilot.

 Sue Dyson qualified from the University of Cambridge in 1980. Following award of a Thouron Scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, she completed an Internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at New Bolton Centre. She then spent a year in private equine practice in Pennsylvania, before returning to Great Britain to take a position in clinical orthopaedics in the Centre for Equine Studies of the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket. Sue ran a clinical referral service for lameness and poor performance, attracting clients from all over the United Kingdom, Ireland and continental Europe for 37 years. From 2019 she has worked as an independent consultant.

Sue was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for a thesis entitled ‘The Differential Diagnosis of Shoulder Lameness in the Horse’ and the RCVS Diploma in Equine Orthopaedics by examination. She was awarded a PhD by the University of Helsinki and is recognised as a ‘Specialist in Equine Orthopaedics’ by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Sue is an Associate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging and a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Sue is co-editor, with Mike Ross, of Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse and co-author of Clinical Radiology of the Horse and  Equine Scintigraphy. She has published more than 300 papers in peer reviewed journals concerning lameness and diagnostic imaging and has lectured worldwide. Sue is a former President of the British Equine Veterinary Association and is currently veterinary advisor to the Saddle Research Trust. Sue is also a rider, and has produced horses to top national level in both eventing and show jumping. Sue holds the Instructors and Stable Managers Certificates of the British Horse Society (BHSI).

 An equestrian amateur all her life Dr. Coren has combined her love of horses with healthcare, fitness, and performance practices.

Following a degree in biology from Franklin and Marshall College, Coren received her Doctor of Chiropractic from New York Chiropractic College in 1980. She is certified in multiple animal methodologies including certifications form the AVCA (American Veterinary Chiropractic), IVCA (International Veterinary Chiropractic Association), and VOM. She is a regular instructor in kinesiology taping and instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) as a means to improving structure and function for canine and equine populations.   

Currently residing in Florida, Dr. Coren travels the world teaching, coaching, learning, and aligning equestrian and canine athletes. 

When not working, she can be found riding her own horses or romping with dogs at the beach. Married to her partner in work and life Dr David Lundquist. She is the mother of two accomplished professionals Dustin Coren, DVM and Casey Coren, MA.

Richard A. Mansmann, VMD, PhD, hon. DACVIM-LA as a 4th generation horseman has worked at riding, training, teaching, and learning about horses as well as diagnosing and treating them for a long time. He has worked at 4 veterinary schools and had equine practices in CA & NC that have always had educational programs for veterinarians, farriers and horse owners. Along the way he has been willing to publish some of his observations about various horse diseases and gaiting problems. Currently he teaches in the equine podiatry labs and lectures at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine and has a sports medicine/podiatry consultation practice in Chapel Hill, NC.

Dr. Lauren Schnabel is an Associate Professor of Equine Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation at NC State University and is also an Associate Director of the Comparative Medicine Institute at NC State University. Dr. Schnabel completed her DVM at Cornell University and her internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.  She then returned to Cornell as a postdoctoral fellow in the Orthopedic Laboratories of Dr. Lisa Fortier and Dr. Alan Nixon where she performed research on tendon and ligament repair. Dr. Schnabel completed her surgical residency at Cornell from 2006-2009 and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons  in 2010.  She then completed her Ph.D. with Dr. Fortier on the immunologic properties of stem cells. Dr. Schnabel moved to NC State University in 2013 to both work in the equine hospital and build her own independent research laboratory. Both her clinical and research work are focused on the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and advancing equine rehabilitation protocols. In 2015, Dr. Schnabel became a Diplomate of the American College of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and also started a new ACVSMR Residency Program at NC State, which she is the director of. In 2019, Dr. Schnabel was named an NC State University Faculty Scholar for her success in clinical work, research, teaching, mentorship, and community outreach efforts. She was also recently awarded the Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence.

 Liz Treece currently is a rising third year veterinary student at NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine focusing in equine medicine with interests in podiatry, lameness, sports medicine and rehabilitation. She grew up in Southwest Connecticut and equestrian career started at a local barn with classical German dressage instruction, riding anything from Quarter Horses to Friesians. An injury to her rescue mare's tarsus is what initially inspired Liz to pursue veterinary medicine. She moved to North Carolina in 2013 to attend NC State for her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science where she competed on the Equestrian Dressage Club team all four years. After graduating in 2017 she moved to Papakaio, New Zealand where she spent time working on a large dairy operation raising calves and milking cows. 

She is thankful for her mentorship from Drs. Horne, Schnabel, Mansmann & Cardenas. She is especially thankful for the opportunity to dive into her sports medicine and rehabilitation data mining project thanks to a stipend from the Equine Podiatry Education Foundation. Liz hopes to center her career around preventing injuries in horses of all disciplines and levels while educating owners and trainers about good practices! 

When she's not in school you can find her running with her dogs around Dorothea Dix Park or hanging out with her mare, Bowtie, now retired after 12 years and thousands of trail miles. 

DVM, PhD, DACVs, DACVSMR

Dr. Andris (“Andy”) Kaneps of Kaneps Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery in Beverly, MA, USA offers over 40 years of experience in equine surgery and sports medicine as a veterinarian, horse owner, and competitor. Dr. Kaneps specializes in lameness diagnosis and treatment, sport horse rehabilitation and athletic performance issues. A graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Kaneps completed his

internship at Colorado State University and surgical residency at The Ohio State University. He completed his doctoral research at the J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, University of California-Davis with investigation of palmar process fractures in foals. He is a prior

president of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Kaneps has authored and co-authored multiple published scientific research articles and texts. He has also co-developed the curriculum and collaborates in teaching the equine rehabilitation therapy certification program at the University of Tennessee.

MS, PhD

Dr. Schils’ education includes a Ph.D. in Biomechanics/Kinesiology and a Masters in Equine Nutrition. She was a Professor of Equine Science at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where she taught for 20 years. Currently Dr. Schils has developed a clinical practice focusing on the evaluation of human biomechanics and rehabilitation techniques and how those may be applicable to advance the science of equine rehabilitation. Dr. Schils specializes in the use of functional electrical stimulation (FES) for muscle evaluation and treatment. Her associated commitment to riding has led to 2 recent placements in the top 20 horses in the United States Dressage Finals at Intermediare 1.

PT, PhD, CSCS, CCRT, CERP

Dr. Kirk Peck is past President of the Animal Physical Therapy Special Interest Group of the APTA Orthopedic Academy of Physical Therapists (2013-19), and current SIG liaison to the World Physiotherapy Animal PT Network. He is a core instructor in the University of Tennessee Certification Program in Equine Rehabilitation and collaborates with veterinarians to rehabilitate canine clients. In addition, he offers PT services for Native Americans at an outpatient medical facility governed by the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. Dr. Peck is current Chair of the Department of Physical therapy at Creighton University, Omaha, NE, where he teaches clinical exercise physiology and political advocacy.

Diploma Worshipful Company of Farriers, BSc Hons

Founder of The Equine Documentalist and Equine Education Hub, a higher qualified farrier, with a Bsc (hons) in farriery science.
The Equine Documentalist is an educational platform where I write articles and demystify the confusing and contradictory world of farriery and equine science. Hold Webinars with world experts and generally bring equine education to the equestrian community.
My focus is on holistic care and understanding that the relationship between the hoof and the horse is fluid and therefore having direct bearing on each other. Evidence based practice is the recurring theme as I brings the new and emerging farriery related research in a palatable way to the equine industry. This platform and my passion for education has meant he has been invited to teach and lecture for many institutes around the world.

Professor Natalie (Nat) Waran BSc (Hons), PhD (Cantab)

Natalie (Nat) is an internationally recognised equine behaviour and welfare scientist. She was Professor of Animal Welfare, International Animal Welfare Centre Director and International Dean at Edinburgh University’s Veterinary School, before she moved back to NZ in 2016 to take up the role of Professor of One Welfare and Executive Dean at EIT/Te Pūkenga. Over the past 30+ years, she has researched and published across a range of areas including; horse transport, indicators of equine stress and pain, equine problem behaviour and equine quality of life and welfare assessment. Her most recent research

funded through the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s new Welfare Foundation, and in collaboration with an international team is to develop methods for assessing positive emotion in horses.

She has been a trustee for a number of international equine charities such as The Brooke and International Fund for Animal Welfare, and worked closely with others such as World Horse Welfare. A co-founder of the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES), she is now Honorary Fellow and Trustee for the organisation. In 2024 she will chair the local organising committee for the ISES conference to be held in NZ with the theme of ‘A Good Life for all Horses’. As the invited chairperson of the new FEI Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, she has recently returned from Switzerland where she presented the FEI Sports Forum with a proposed new ‘Good Life’ Vision, Charter and 30 Recommendations to ensure equine welfare in sport is prioritised and to maintain equestrian sport’s social

licence. When at home in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, and when not doing her ‘day job’, Nat enjoys coaching riders, as well as training and riding her own horses.