Fairfield Equine Associates

09/20/2024

Happy 75th Birthday to Dr. Rick Mitchell!

09/18/2024

STILL AVAILABLE!

This is an amazing opportunity to work with and learn from one of the most talented veterinarians in the country!

09/16/2024

Now is the time to schedule Fall preventative care! Vaccines, deworming, and routine dental floats are all essential aspects of your horse’s healthcare.

"F" IS FOR FALL-CHECKLIST! 🍂🍁

As the cooler weather moves in, now is the time to crack down on housing, nutrition, and preventative health strategies suitable for the arrival of winter.

Check out this list of essential items on the horse owner's fall to-do list, but there is much more that needs to be done—like having your horse's blankets repaired and waterproofed, securing and storing hay properly, assessing your shelters for safety and soundness, etc.

Note that your equine veterinarian is one of your greatest allies this season, so be sure to consult them and discuss vaccination and deworming protocols appropriate for your horse’s situation. This is also a great opportunity to chat about recommended changes in nutrition and exercise programs as well!

09/12/2024

Dr. Rick Mitchell is the FEI delegate at Old Salem Farm for this week's exciting CSI4* and CSI2* competition!

09/11/2024

SIGN ON BONUS AVAILABLE!

Fairfield Equine is currently recruiting for an ambulatory/surgery technician based in Newtown, CT. We seek a highly qualified, energetic, go-getter to join our Equine Ambulatory Technician team.

Candidates must have 5+ years experience working with horses and ideally, have worked in a veterinary setting.

This individual will work alongside one of our incredibly talented veterinary surgeons, seeing sports medicine cases on the road and in-hospital, as well as assisting in surgeries.

Please email your resume to Stephanie at [email protected]. If you have any questions please call the office at 203.270.3600.

09/05/2024

UNDERSTANDING PROUD FLESH ✍️

Wounds on the bodies and limbs of our equine companions are exceptionally common. In particular, wounds on lower limbs can be especially difficult to manage. There is little extra skin in these areas, making large wounds difficult to close via suturing.

In addition, wounds on the lower legs are contaminated easily with bacteria since they are closer to the ground, bedding, and manure. The constant movement of an animal's legs as it walks, turns, and bears weight can also greatly impair healing, especially if the wound occurs over a joint. All of these factors can often halt the normal progression of the healing process and result in a chronic wound.

Persistent inflammation, along with infection, is a major contributor to exuberant granulation tissue (or proud flesh) formation in a wound. Proud flesh is not conducive to wound healing as it prevents the wound from epithelializing (the process of the skin cells covering the wound), and sometimes it can become so large that it appears to be a tumor, usually obliterating the original wound.

Prevention of proud flesh involves good wound management. For the best healing, wounds should be identified and treated quickly and properly — especially on the lower limbs. Consult your veterinarian about any wounds that appear deep or extensive, that lie over important structures (like joints and tendons), or that already show signs of proud flesh development. Rather than waste time and money in trials and errors that could delay your equid's healing, ask your veterinarian what products are best for your situation.

09/04/2024

POSITION FILLED

Fairfield Equine is currently recruiting for a Lead Hospital Technician in Newtown, CT.

This individual will act as leader for our hospital team, focusing on organization and problem solving. Responsibilities of this position include: scheduling MRIs/bone scans, scheduling in-hospital appointments and surgeries, tracking in-patient billing, organization of on-call technician schedules, and training new hospital staff.

We are looking for a highly qualified, energetic, go-getter to join our Equine Hospital Technician team. The ideal candidate must have experience working with horses in a veterinary setting with leadership experience.

Please contact Stephanie at [email protected] or 203-270-3600 for more details

08/28/2024

An FEI check-in involves reviewing the competing horses’ passports, vaccine records, and taking temperatures. Thank you to our friends at Zoetis Equine for our brand new thermometers to make FEI check-ins fast and successful.

Drs. Stacy, Mitchell, and Gaeta are at the The Hampton Classic Horse Show this week. Come say hi or contact 203-270-3600 to reach a veterinarian at the horse show!

08/26/2024

Drs. Al-Basha and Edwards will be representing FEA at this year’s OEPS in Lexington, Kentucky, August 30th- September 1st!

Opportunities in Equine Practice Seminar (OEPS) is the leading student forum in equine veterinary medicine. The seminar’s career management format offers practice and financial management information for students, as well as opportunities for practitioners to establish long-term mentoring relationships with the approximately 200 -225 veterinary students attending.

To learn more, check out their website https://oeps.com/

08/19/2024

Most equine owners know that a negative Coggins test is a document required to be able to transport their animal across state lines, enter them in a competitive event, or board at someone's barn. But what does the phrase "negative Coggins test" actually mean?

A "Coggins" is a blood test that can only be performed by USDA-approved laboratories and checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) antibodies in the blood. EIA is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease that is primarily transmitted by biting flies, particularly horseflies—which means that your animals are at risk even if they never travel or live in a closed herd.

The clinical signs of disease can vary dramatically from an acute infection to an inapparent form, but what is important to know is that it produces a persistent infection. Once an animal tests positive for EIA it becomes a lifelong source of disease transmission, so the owner can only choose between quarantine for life or humane euthanasia to ensure that large outbreaks of the disease don’t occur. There is no vaccine and no treatment for EIA.

Take-home message: While a Coggins test is a necessary travel document, don’t forget that it's also first and foremost a way to identify and remove EIA carriers to keep the disease under control.

To learn more about EIA, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/guidelines-resources/resource-library/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEwR-1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZp1fQwBC7LYpAzA3W2a5XUaYAd6gDO2mEtuHOjAAGJ_f4rvTxFRfg2_Lg_aem_Hacd9FBStUOI0FJdJHLmXA&_search=EIA

08/17/2024

Have you ever been told to not allow a hot, sweaty horse to drink cold water because it could lead to colic, founder or tie up?

This notion is actually a myth, and a dangerous one too, because it could lead to dehydration and very serious (and real) consequences. A sweaty, hardworking horse needs to be rehydrated without delay (i.e. don’t wait for the horse to cool down first).

The key, however, is to know how much water to allow at one time — because of the equine stomach’s relatively small capacity, offer small amounts of water every 20 minutes until the horse drinks his fill rather than letting the animal drink it all at once.

Remember that water is the most vital nutrient for a horse. A horse’s daily water requirements are influenced by many factors, but the average idle 1,100-pound horse in a cool environment will drink 6 to 10 gallons of water per day. That amount may easily double or triple in a hot environment! Therefore, it goes without saying that providing cool, clean water to your horses at all times is of paramount importance.

Source: Equus Magazine and AAEP member Dr. Anthony Blikslager. More information about offering a horse water can be found at https://equusmagazine.com/.../offering-a-horse-water...

08/11/2024

THANK YOU to all of our wonderful sponsors, staff who made it possible, and all our referring veterinarians who participated in our CE event yesterday. We enjoyed lectures in sports medicine, radiology, ophthalmology, internal medicine, and a lab in mastering the art of cervical spine radiographs. It was a beautiful day with great lectures, food, and friendship! Looking forward to more of these events in the future!

08/02/2024

🚨 We have exciting news!

It is our pleasure to welcome the Dunbarton Equine clients, patients, and staff into Fairfield Equine Associates! We are joining forces with Dr. Ron Gaeta to continue providing high quality, compassionate care for every horse and owner. Over the past 2 decades, our practices have developed a strong cooperative relationship, sharing a passion for the highest standard of care for both sport and pleasure horses. A dedicated equine veterinarian, Dr. Gaeta brings extensive experience and expertise.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Dr. Gaeta, his office manager Michele Dion, and technicians Clarisse Stradtman and Allison Hamilton. We are thrilled to have them join our team at Fairfield Equine!

Should you have any questions about the transition or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (203) 270-3600 or visit the Fairfield Equine website at www.fairfieldequine.com

08/01/2024

Congratulations are in order for our lead ambulatory technician, Elyse Scott, who passed her Veterinary Technician National Examination! We are so proud of you and appreciate of all you do for FEA!

07/25/2024

We are just about 2 weeks away from our 1 day CE event, hosted by Hilltop Bio! For those veterinarians registered, but unable to attend in-person, the presentation materials will be available to you after the event! We hope to see you there!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fairfield-equine-continuing-education-event-tickets-926185163757

07/15/2024

As part of our physical therapy program, FEA offers MagnaWave services to keep our equine athletes looking and performing their best.

MagnaWave sends a pulsating electromagnetic charge through tissues to promote oxygenation and increase cellular metabolism. Pe*******on of the charge provides energy to large focal areas such as joints and major muscle groups.

Call 203-270-3600 to schedule an appointment!

07/12/2024

07/06/2024

Mark your calendars!!🗓️

Fairfield Equine is proud to host this continuing education event open to all equine veterinarians!
🤓🐎🩺

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fairfield-equine-continuing-education-event-tickets-926185163757

07/01/2024

FEA welcomes our 2024-2025 intern class!

From left to right:

Dr. Denise Grohn (THE Ohio State University)
Dr. Grace Simpson-Stover (Colorado State University)
Dr. Jackie Guezille (Tufts University)
Dr. Myriam Verge Delisle (University of Saint Hyacinthe-Montreal)

06/28/2024

Fairfield Equine is currently recruiting for 2 Ambulatory Technicians based in Newtown, Connecticut!

We are looking for a highly qualified, energetic, go-getter to join our Equine Ambulatory Technician team. We offer excellent compensation and benefits. Wages are DOQ.

Qualifications:
- Passion for veterinary medicine
- Prior equine vet tech experience a plus but not required.
- Licensed Veterinary Technician a plus.
- Excellent horse-handling, communication, customer service, and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage horses of different disciplines.
- Ability to carry up to 70 pounds for a short distance and jog horses for lameness exams.
- Self-motivated, positive attitude with strong work ethic and good time management skills.
- Efficiently multi-task in a fast-paced environment.

SIGN ON BONUS AVAILABLE! Contact Stephanie at 203-270-3600 or [email protected]

Learn more about us at

Receiving international and national media recognition for excellence in the care and treatment of the sport horse, Fairfield Equine has been proud to serve the United States Equestrian Team at multiple Olympic games and many other international events for over 30 years.

06/27/2024

FEA had a great week as the official horse show veterinarian and sponsor of the 100th annual Fairfield County Hunt Club June Horse Show!

We will see you all again in August!

06/19/2024

Join us for this FREE family friendly event at the 100th annual Fairfield County Hunt Club horse show tomorrow, June 20th, from 4-6PM!

06/17/2024

Still searching for the perfect fit!

Call 203-270-3600 or email at [email protected]

06/14/2024

Fairfield Equine is currently recruiting for a Part-Time Equine Therapy Technician based in Newtown, Connecticut!

We are looking for a team member that would be available on Mondays or Fridays from 9am to 3pm.

Our Therapy Team Offers:
• FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation)
• Phovia Light
• Magna Wave
• Class IV Laser

We are looking for a highly qualified, energetic, go-getter to join our Equine Therapy Technician team. We offer excellent compensation. Wages are DOE.

Qualifications:
- Passion for veterinary medicine
- Prior equine vet tech experience a plus but not required.
- Licensed Veterinary Technician a plus.
- Excellent horse-handling, communication, customer service, and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage horses in different disciplines.
- Ability to carry up to 50 pounds for a short distance.
- Self-motivated, positive attitude with strong work ethic and good time management skills.
- Efficiently multi-task in a fast-paced environment.

Contact Stephanie at 203-270-3600 or [email protected]

06/13/2024

Our least favorite part of every June is saying goodbye to our wonderful intern veterinarian team who is wrapping up their year with us.

Dr. Liz Treece will start an internal medicine residency at NC State University.

Dr. Sam Prusak will be starting an associate position at an equine private practice in the north east.

Dr. Taylor Masters will start an anesthesia residency at the University of Florida.

Dr. Caroline Freeman will start a diagnostic imaging residency at THE Ohio State University.

We love watching you grow and are so thankful for all the amazing work you do to keep our practice running. Congrats on joining the long list of talented FEA alumni.

We’re not crying, you’re crying. 💕💕💕💕

06/11/2024

FEA had a blast at the annual Catherine Hubbard Butterfly Party at the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary. It was a beautiful day with over 15,000 attendees and 100+ pet adoptions 🦋💙

06/10/2024

Florida show season may be over, but Fairfield Equine offers year round services in our Wellington, FL location with trips to Ocala and surrounding areas as needed.

Dr. Zena Hemmen and Dr. Becca Skirmont are available for sports medicine, general wellness care, acupuncture/chiropractic services, and emergency medicine.

Additionally, we have year round FES, laser, and Phovia therapy options for clients who stay and brave the Florida summer heat!

Call +1 561 631 8089 to schedule an appointment

05/30/2024

Thank you to all who came out to our Exhibititor’s Party at Old Salem Farm! We will see you at the Fairfield County Hunt Club on June 20th. Stay tuned for details!

EQUUS Foundation: Protecting America's Horses and Strengthening the Horse-Human Bond

05/28/2024

Fairfield Equine is currently recruiting for an Ambulatory Technician based in Newtown, Connecticut!

We are looking for a highly qualified, energetic, go-getter to join our Equine Ambulatory Technician team. We offer excellent compensation and benefits. Wages are DOQ.

Qualifications:
- Passion for veterinary medicine
- Prior equine vet tech experience a plus but not required.
- Licensed Veterinary Technician a plus.
- Excellent horse-handling, communication, customer service, and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage horses of different disciplines.
- Ability to carry up to 70 pounds for a short distance and jog horses for lameness exams.
- Self-motivated, positive attitude with strong work ethic and good time management skills.
- Efficiently multi-task in a fast-paced environment.

SIGN ON BONUS AVAILABLE! Contact Stephanie at 203-270-3600 or [email protected]

Learn more about us at https://fairfieldequine.com