Equine Medicine
North Carolina is unique in that it is the only state without horse racing that is listed in the top 10 for the number of resident horses. Propelled by more than 53,000 equine-owning households or operations and some 306,000 horses, North Carolina’s equine community has a long and rich tradition and is a major contributor to the U.S. horse industry.
A report by the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center estimates the annual economic impact of the equine industry at $1.9 billion. In supporting this significant resource, the CVM Equine Health Program has developed into one of the most respected in the country. For example, the program has received acclaim for its leadership in equine laser treatment; nuclear scintigraphy, ultrasound and magnetic imaging; gastrointestinal research; surgery and ophthalmology.
The Equine Health Center at Southern Pines (EHS-SP), a satellite facility that complements the equine health clinic within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Raleigh, offers podiatry, reproduction, and ophthalmology services along with providing one of a few USDA-certified Contagious Equine Metritis quarantine sites on the East Coast.
Preparing tomorrow’s practitioners and specialists is a key mandate of the Equine Health Program and students benefit from a strong curriculum, vital hands-on training, and exposure to research efforts that seek to resolve medical and performance problems in horses that are referred for treatment.