AAEP Foundation Ambassador Update -- Spring 2016

Bailey McCallum joins staff to help new Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC)

Working in cooperation with the equine industry, USDA, state animal health officials & veterinarians, the goal of this new communications system is to mitigate and prevent the spread of diseases by educating and alerting the horse industry of the risks of endemic and foreign diseases. The EDCC is made possible by generous donations from equine organizations, industry partners, horse owners and USDA. A subcommittee of the Foundation Advisory Council has been appointed to provide oversight.

You can visit the new EDCC website at www.equinediseasecc.org or call the AAEP office for more information or email Ms. McCallum at bmccallum@aaep.org. Bailey is working directly with Dr. Nat White, EDCC Veterinarian Consultant on this effort.

Outreach from Ambassadors helps raise awareness

Ambassadors can assist in many ways. Your outreach to associates, friends and clients provides opportunities for easy endorsements for the Foundation. Whether you are on the road, in the office or ‘online’, we can provide you with tools to help spread the word about the good work supported by the AAEP Foundation.

Ambassadors engage in a variety of easy yet effective tasks, which can include speaking with clients and fellow veterinarians about the how the Foundation improves the lives of horses; making the Foundation the beneficiary of a charitable event; including the Foundation’s memorial or calendar program into practice protocols; or adding a link to the Foundation on the practice website and material about the Foundation in the clinic newsletter.

An Ambassador “Tool Kit” will help you proactively raise awareness of the Foundation in your practice. The kit contains a Foundation poster, brochures, a display stand to showcase the brochures, pocket-size brochures for the ambulatory practice and more.

If you would like a free tool kit sent to your practice or farm, or if you wish to become an ambassador, contact Jodie Bingham at jbingham@aaep.org or (859) 233-0147.

Save the date: 2016 AAEP Annual Conference: December 4-7, 2016 - Orlando FL

Mission of the AAEP Foundation - to serve as the charitable arm of the AAEP to improve the welfare of the horse. Phone: 859-233-0147 or 800-443-0177 (inside the US) - Email: jbingham@aaep.org

Heartfelt “Thank You” from recipients of Foundation Grant

Funding from the Foundation provided two scholarships to the Equitarian Initiative Workshop of 2016

From: Elizabeth Routh“Thanks to the generosity of the AAEP Foundation, I was one of two lucky

individuals that were selected for a scholarship that funded my attendance to this year’s Equitarian Initiative Workshop in Costa Rica. Although it is difficult to put into words all of the things learned over the course of six days, one thing is very clear; this trip has had a large impact on both my personal and professional life…

After having the chance to work with so many talented veterinarians and other team members, I realize how invaluable of an opportunity a trip like this is to a student like myself. Outside of having the chance to improve my clinical skills, learn more about the cultural importance of working equids in Costa Rica, and further develop my communication and problem solving skills, I now have gained a passion for the working equid abroad.

Over the next few years of my life, as I work towards building my own veterinary career, I will also be looking forward to the next Equitarian Initiative project that I can attend. By providing this scholarship to other students like myself in the upcoming years, I believe that the future of this wonderful organization as well as the working equids it aims to support will be in exceptionally good hands.”

From: Craig S. Lesser“… This past January, I was fortunate enough to be awarded an AAEP

Foundation scholarship to attend the Equitarian Initiative trip to Costa Rica. It was an incredible and truly eye-opening experience that showed me the serious scarcity of equine veterinary medicine in certain regions of the world. I also realized how much I take for granted every day in both my personal and professional life. Costa Rica is a country, which I have never been to, with a language I poorly understand, however the people and horses I met along the way, made it an unforgettable experience.

…In the United States horses are often pets or hobbies but in other areas of the world horses are so much more. Having a horse increases the livelihood of the people of Costa Rica, and without a horse some people would not be able to fetch clean water, farm, or put food on their family’s table.

As the trip came to an end we stopped riding around in cattle trucks and once again loaded into the bus for a much quieter ride north. People were taking time to reflect on our incredible experience. Not only did we learn a lot about working equids, but we also learned a lot about ourselves. Heading home I realized that we had truly made a difference in these horses’ and owners’ lives. Without the help of the AAEP Foundation and the AAEP members that support the foundation I would have never had this opportunity. I am truly grateful for this.”

Support the Foundation on 2016 Dues Renewal form

Adding a voluntary donation for the Foundation to your AAEP membership renewal is an option available this time of year. It is a quick, convenient and cost effective way to make sure you are counted among this year’s donors. We appreciate your support and please know that every gift helps in our mission to help horses!