Lexington, Kentucky, is the pinnacle of the Thoroughbred world. A place where equine enthusiasts breed, raise, sell and race horses — and demand outstanding veterinary care. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) alumni are there to meet that need. Many CVM-trained veterinarians hold influential roles in Lexington’s equine industry and are shaping the standard of care in the region.

A key strategy for reducing antibiotic use in equine practice is to limit prophylactic administration and only treat horses with evidence of infection. “Every time we prescribe an antibiotic, we are creating a potential risk of resistance, both the pathogen causing the disease and the natural flora of the patient,” said Pamela Velarde, DVM, a resident in large animal medicine at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Clinical Sciences.