Director's Message - Spring 2022

Director's Message

Welcome to the Spring 2022 issue of the Horse Report!

While I know that we are all enjoying more sunshine and getting back to riding our horses in the daylight, spring also brings with it pollen, rain, and insects, all of which can cause problems for our horses’ skin. We teamed up with UC Davis veterinary dermatologist Dr. Stephen White, who has a long-standing interest in equine skin diseases, to bring you the latest on this topic and explain how skin health often extends beyond the surface.

As a horse owner myself, many of these conditions are all too familiar. Battling summer sores, scratches, hives, and other skin conditions is never fun, but identifying problems early and treating them appropriately is key to successful outcomes. Equine dermatology is a broad area, and while this issue focuses on several common equine skin conditions, we invite you to explore our online database of equine health topics for information on additional skin diseases. Our list of available topics is always growing, so be sure to check back often for new entries!

With the new year in full swing, we look forward to sharing many exciting plans with you – hopefully in person! At the end of 2021, we announced the Center for Equine Health’s expansion to Templeton Farms near Paso Robles, California. We are incredibly grateful to Gina Bornino Miller and Bill Miller for this generous donation and for their vision for creating a bright future for California’s horses. This spectacular property has a reputation for excellence and we are committed to providing top-quality services while enhancing our research and educational efforts to improve horse health and performance for many years to come.

Keep an eye on our website and social media accounts for the latest information and news from our Northern and Central California locations.

Thank you for your continued support as we look to the exciting future of equine health in California and beyond!

Carrie J. Finno, DVM, Ph.D., Diplomate ACVIM, CEH Director

Thanks to Our Collaborator

Dr. Stephen White is a professor in the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology and is the Chief of Service for the UC Davis veterinary hospital’s Dermatology 
Service. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology, he is a leading expert on dermatological conditions in multiple species. His esteemed career has included exceptional contributions to clinical practice, teaching, and research. In 2020, Dr. White was the recipient of the Frank Kral Award presented by the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology (AAVD) in recognition of outstanding achievements and dedicated service to the veterinary profession and the specialty of veterinary dermatology.

His research focus on equine dermatology has contributed to our understanding of a variety of equine skin conditions, including hereditary equine dermal asthenia (HERDA), alopecia areata, and cutaneous vasculitis, as well as equine allergy testing and further advances in diagnostics and therapeutics.