FIRST AAEP EQUINE PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR

Business courses are not part of the normal curriculum of equine practitio- ners, but it is business savvy that keeps them practicing. That is the reasoning behind the 1993 Equine Practice Man- agement Seminar sponsored by the AAEP. The seminar, scheduled for July 30, 31 and August 1, in the relaxing atmosphere of Keystone, Colorado, ful- fills part of the organization's mission, to "further the professional development of its members."

"We anticipate a highly successful programbased upon the number of AAEP members who have expressed a need for assistance in improving the business side of their practices," said R. Reynolds Cowles, Jr., DVM, Chairman of the AAEP Practice Management Commit- tee. "We will be assisted by nationally- recognized business management pro- fessionals and equine practitioners who have studied the unique challenges asso- ciated with equine practices."

On Friday, July 30, the seminar will focus on "Personal and Professional De- velopment." As a key part of the pro- gram, Jerold Johnson, Senior Training Consultant at the Covey Leadership Cen- ter, will discuss "Personal Effectiveness through Time Management." Based on the national best-seller, TheSevenHabits of Highly Effective People, by Steven Covey, PhD, the session will address specific strategies for effectively balanc- ing the diverse roles equine practitioners must fulfill. Following the discussion, a panel of equine practitioners will share how they have used the Seven-Habits

philosophy in their personal and profes- sional lives.

On Saturday, July 31, the seminar will focus on "Financial and Inventory Management." Cynthia Wutchiett, CPA, will discuss financial statements, profit center management, and cash flow for the equine practice during the morning session. Following lunch, Pat Maykuth, PhD, Practice Management Consultant, will discuss inventory, receivables, and overhead that make or break equine prac- tice. David Catlin, DVM, MBA, will also discuss inventory control for the equine practitioner from a personal and practical perspective.

Finally, on Sunday morning, Au- gust 1, the seminar will focus on "Mar- keting Your Services." Dr. Maykuth will present "Marketing the Equine Practice - Everyone Must Generate Clients and Revenue." This presentation will pro- vide step-by-step methods for getting all employees involved in marketing the practice. The seminar will conclude with "Marketing Doesn't Have to be a Dirty Word," a panel of equine practitioners sharing practical ideas they have used to successfully market their services.

"We hope practitioners will take advantage of this opportunity to obtain professional advice which could greatly improve their veterinary practice and di- rectly affect their 'bottom line'!" said AAEP Executive Director Gary Carpen- ter. "In a time of sluggish economic con- ditions, challenges facing equine practi- tioners have neverbeen greater. The Prac- tice Management Seminar will address those challenges facing equine practitio- ners to profitably provide services in today's bleak market."

The AAEP intends to make the Equine Practice Management Seminar an annual event. All practitioners, busi-

ness managers and equine practice staff members will benefit from the program and are encouraged to attend. A total of 20 hours of continuing education credits in practice management will be available to equine practitioners. Registration in- formation is available from the AAEP office, 4075 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511; Phone (606) 233-0147.

AAEP ACROSS AMERICA

The AAEP was asked to provide assistance from member equine practi- tioners for each stop of a 6-horse Belgian hitch tour that is traveling across America, from Maine to California. AAEP veteri- narians are monitoring the horses' health all along the way to ensure their safety and welfare. This cross-country drive, which began in April, is sponsored by Reiman Publications, publishers of Coun- try, Country EXTRA, and Reminisce magazines. While no definite tour route has been scheduled, the magazines are offering a Hitch Hotline number, 1-900- 88Hitch, to update traveling information. Traveling 10 miles a day, the owners/ publishers intend to put the horses' wel- fare first by travelingwittralternate horses in a trailer. Local AAEP veterinarians are also taking part by being available at each stop of the hitch to verify the horses' good health.

USPC SHARES AAEP BUILDING

The AAEP welcomed the United States Pony Club (USPC) to the Ken- tucky Horse Park April 1, when it occu- pied a part of the AAEP Headquarters building. AAEP offices take up only about

318 JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE

The AAEP Headquarters Building at the Kentucky Horse Park.

half of the buildingwhich is ownedby the AAEP. The USPC joins fellow equine associations at the Park's National Horse Center, headquarters for AAEP and more than a dozen equine associations, com- missions, organizations, and services.

SUCCESS STORIES

The AAEP has developed a file of successful equine veterinary cases avail- able to the media to develop as story ideas. These cases serve to educate the public about the important role the veteri- narian plays in the recovery of the horse and the advancements in veterinary medi- cine. If you are interested in more details, please contact the AAEP office at (606) 233-0147. Following are some examples of "Success Stories" on file:

• An Arabian gelding wins state, regional and national endurance riding championships two years after he nearly died from kidney failure. Although virtu- ally all horses with such a severe condi- tion die, the attending equine practitioner was relentless, and as a result, successful in his efforts to save the horse's life. After a month of intensive treatments, the horse began to recover and began his training a year later.

• A 4-year-old Standardbred stal- lion, capturing the title of 1990 2-year-

old Pacer of the Year, experienced a major bout with enteritis, in the midst of his 3-year-old season. Found at 1:30 am with a high temperature, a pulse of 80 and watery diarrhea, the horse required im- mediate treatment. Following intense medical treatment and fluids throughout the day, the Standardbred's vitals were back to normal within 24 hours. Within 10 days, the horse returned to training with excellent health and a brilliant ca- reer.

SALE DISCLOSURE POSITION

At the AAEP Convention last De- cember, a special subcommittee met to study the feasability of an AAEP position statement on"disclosure" of defects when a horse is being sold. The committee made the recommendation: The Prob- lems Analysis Committe should submit for approval a position statement as fol- lows: "AAEP supports the position that when a horse is sold, any known invasive surgery, disease, injury, or congenital defect which is not apparent, should be disclosed to the intended buyer by the owner and/or agent."

No action has yet been taken, nor has such a position statement been officially adopted by the AAEP Board of Direc-

tors. The Board agreed that "the need for the information at the marketplace is apparent."

Related new business conducted by the special committee centered around diagnostic procedures for some of the common abnormalities seen in sale horses. Particularly, the criteria for deter- mining laryngeal function needs some clarification, according to the subcom- mittee. The subcommittee members are: Drs. Steve Conboy, Robert Copelan, Robert Jack, Jerry Johnson, Gary Lavin, Steve Murphy, DeWitt Owen, Robert Schwyzer, and Fred Arnold (Chair).

PURCHASE EXAMS

In October, 1992, the American Quarter Horse Association presented, in conjunction with several AAEP mem- bers, a 2-day seminar on the detection of altered tails in the Quarter Horse. The AQHA has agreed to furnish the scien- tific papers presented at this meeting to veterinarians upon request. Also, a com- prehensive video concerning altered tails is to be completed by November 1993, and is to be made available to veterinar- ians at a nominal cost. Many veterinar- ians are not familiar with AQHA policies concerning medications and surgical pro- cedures.

At the December AAEP Conven- tion, the Purchase Exam Committee rec- ommended that the AAEP encourage veterinarians dealing with Quarter Horses to become familiar with AQHA policies concerning medications and surgical pro- cedures. And to publicize the availability of AQHA information concerning al- tered tails-- scientific papers and video. The Board approved the recommendation.

In other business, the Committee recommended that AAEP compile a list of laboratories willing to test for drugs in conjunction with equine purchase exams.

Volume 13, Number 6, 1993 319