You will learn to:

• Identify risks factors associated with colic
• Understand different types of colic
• Detect early signs and symptoms of colic
• Assess your management plan
• Develop preventative strategies
• Implement practical ways to reduce your colic risk

Assignment (not graded, but recommended for personal achievement and required for certificate of completion)

Time Commitment:

• Occurs over a 2-week period
• 5-10 hour/week time commitment is required during this period
• No set times to be online each week
• Recommended you visit the course site at least 5 times a week, preferably once or more each day
• Course is entirely online, so travel to the University of Guelph is NOT required

Materials

• All materials are provided online within course site

Prerequisites

• 16 years of age or older

For more information, please contact Susan Raymond Phone: 519 824-4120, ext. 54230 Email: [email protected]

Certificate of Completion

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from Equine Guelph – the horse owner’s Centre at the University of Guelph.

Continuing Education Credits/Professional Development:

• Equestrian Canada recognizes Equine Guelph short-training online courses as qualifying for points on the NCCP Coach/Instructor Professional Development Activities Updating hours (3 points)
• The Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians recognizes this short online course as qualifying for five credits within Category 3. 
• 

Course Instructor

Dr. Nicole Weidner completed an MSc and PhD in animal nutrition at the Ontario Veterinary College. Her research examined links between nutrition and disease in animals, with a focus on vitamin D. She’s worked as a guest lecturer and instructor in courses offered through the University of Guelph and has also been involved in the development of courses and educational tools. She’s interested in scientific outreach and communication, especially when it’s related to horse nutrition, health and/or welfare.

Guest Expert
Dr. Luis Arroyo grew up on a rural farm along the pacific coast of Costa Rica. At the Universidad Nacional-Heredia, he trained as a veterinarian until he received his Lic. Med. Vet. in 1994. For the next few years, he practiced mixed animal medicine in rural Costa Rica. After gaining years of clinical experience, Dr. Arroyo decided to attend the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in Guelph, ON where he completed the large animal medicine Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) program in the Department of Clinical Studies. Following his completion, he furthered his education by working towards a PhD in the Department of Pathobiology at OVC.

Dr. Arroyo is now board certified in large animal medicine with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and has been a faculty member in the Department of Clinical studies since 2009. His research interest is in large animal gastrointestinal disorders but, more recently, he has grown fond of equine vascular diseases with a focus on arteriosclerosis of the pulmonary artery of racehorses.

Ruleen Lilley

I started working with Standardbred horses 40 years ago at Mac Lilley Farms.  In the 1980’s it was not considered lady-like to be present in the barn when horse breeding was taking place.  Boy, have we women come a long way! Now we have women handling the stallions, training, driving, and owning these marvelous animals. I’m married to a fulltime, lifelong Standardbred horseman, Jeff. We have two sons, Alex and Gerald. You would think after dragging them to every racetrack as children, they might have turned off the sport, but both are fulltime horsemen too. I guess we have all caught the horse bug. My favorite time of the year is Springtime, witnessing the miracle of birth.

In 2022 we celebrated Mac Lilley Farm’s 50th year of breeding Standardbreds. In those years we have stood over 50 stallions, and bred more than 12,000 mares. We have raced at tracks from PEI to Edmonton and many tracks across the USA. This life has shown us: struggles, and thrills, and I wouldn’t have chosen any different path. I look forward to being your Standardbred Ambassador and learning even more about the horses we are privileged to work with each day.

Renée Kierans

My involvement in the horse racing industry has spanned close to 40 years, and covers many facets of the industry. My involvement with horses in general has been life long.

Jobs throughout the years have been those of an exercise rider, pony rider, outrider, starting gate crew, trainer and owner. I worked for 12 years doing on air broadcasting and handicapping for Woodbine and Mohawk, covering both thoroughbred and standardbred racing. I have also been an instructor for the Woodbine presented groom school on several occasion.

Aside from working with race horses, I love the time I get to spend working with show hunters and, when my schedule allows, competing in a few horse shows throughout the season.  My partner is a Hall of Fame standardbred trainer, so racing, and horses in general, are really my life not just my job, and I wouldn’t change a thing.