PDT Staff Writer

Shawnee Animal Clinic hosted an equine meeting Tuesday at Damon's Grill in the Ramada Inn on Second Street, to discuss health care and reproduction with area horse owners.

Dr. Phil Prater, from Morehead University, was the featured speaker, covering issues such as equine reproduction and colic. In addition, visitors heard discussions on nutrition, vaccinations and general health care.

The meeting also offered a dinner, door prizes, and a question and answer period.

“They used to do this every so often, and they've kind of gotten away from it. We had a cattlemen meeting on calving earlier in the spring, and didn't even really try to do as many as we're doing for this and had a really good turn out, said Debbie Widdig of Shawnee Animal Clinic. “I thought, ‘We had this good a turn out without even trying, let's get back into the swing of it and have one for the equine.'”

Widdig said the clinic began by notifying clients of the meeting, and word quickly got out from there. Early Tuesday, she said she was expecting more than 140 of their clients to attend.

“It's like an appreciation type for our clients,” said the clinic's co-owner, Tim Wells. “It's an extended outreach on things like viruses and different reproductive techniques.”

Wells said the clinic sent out nearly 300 invitations and received nearly 100 back in a week.

Don Osborne, of South Shore, Ky., says he has been raising horses for 30 years. He came to hear the latest in equine health issues.

“Vaccines and what to feed them (are most important), and the quality of the feed and water,” said Osborne.

When asked if he would consider coming back to another meeting, he replied, “Sure, if they were close and I didn't have to drive a long way.”

Whether or not there will be another meeting is yet to be seen.

“If this one goes over really well this year, we're going to try to have this at least once a year,” Widdig said.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235.