Before entering veterinary school at U.C. Davis, I was told by everyone that I would never have time to ride again. That was a bit discouraging to hear as riding had been at the center of my life thus far. I began riding when I was 5 years old and rode my thoroughbred in hunter/jumpers from age 8 until I was 21. In 2004 I began riding in endurance and have come to love this sport to its entirety.

But with vet school approaching soon, I knew that this would become my priority and riding would have to be pushed to the side. I had already experienced the most amazing moments in endurance aboard Phoenix Affair, a horse I saw being born when I was only 4. Together, we took Top Ten in the Tevis Cup in 2006 and competed in the North American Endurance Championships for the Pacific North Endurance Squad in 2005. I felt like I had fulfilled so much in such a short time that maybe it would be okay to focus solely on vet school and pick up riding again sometime in the future.

Somehow that thought didn't last too long. I continued to do my own training and was able to fit in several rides every season. This wasn't easy, however.

The first two years of vet school I kept my horse in Davis so that I could work with him during the weekdays. Being that Davis had absolutely no hills, I had to spend four or five hours every weekend trailering my horse to places that had some good climbs. It was a lot of running around and all my friends thought I was crazy, but it was completely worth it to me. In the midst of all the class work and exams, once I got on my horse the stress seemed to immediately disappear.

There have been many perks about being in vet school and competing in endurance. In school, I learned how to perform all the veterinary criteria needed for your horse to pass the veterinary exam -- heart and respiratory rate, hydration parameters, gut sounds and so on. I use this knowledge out on the trail to help assess the fitness and health of my horse to the best of my ability.

There have also been many hot topics in class that are extremely relevant to the endurance horse such as the use of electrolytes. I have learned which electrolytes are depleted the most in sweat, such as chloride, and how these losses can affect the acid-base status of your horse. This can be very important in preventing problems such as muscle cramps, thumps, colic or tie-ups.

As an endurance rider, I have learned that the use of electrolytes varies among horses and that although they are generally beneficial, they can also cause problems if used improperly. For those that are interested in checking their horses' electrolyte levels, an i-STAT can be used.

Another very important aspect of endurance that has been covered quite thoroughly in vet school are tendon and ligament injuries. It is most common to see lameness in the front end of your horse versus the hind as the horse carries more weight on the front legs.

In my experience as an endurance rider, I see more suspensory ligament injuries than any other. The suspensory ligament runs deep to the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons and can be palpated easiest when the limb is held in a flexed position. This appears to be a common injury in endurance horses as these horses face miles of tendon and ligament wear and tear as well as weakening of supporting structures.

This is why it is very important that your horse gets enough rest in between competitions. The intensity of the ride also plays a factor on how much rest is adequate enough for your horse. Luckily, I have not had a horse succumb to any soft tissue injury but I know that it could happen to anyone's horse, even with the proper rest.

I am also a firm believer in ice or cold hose therapy followed by wrapped legs with poultice after every competition and intense training ride. I tend to err on the conservative side and do many things as preventative measures.

To sum everything up, I have gained much knowledge in vet school that has helped me in the world of endurance. I am still a veterinary student, so I always respect the advice of the ride veterinarians. I just use my own knowledge to help ensure that my horse is healthy and can perform the best that he can.

It has been a bit of a challenge juggling this sport and school, but I have managed to do so by being very organized and not procrastinating. I have proved all of those people wrong who told me I could never do both.

For all of you who are interested in applying to veterinary school, it has been a great experience. I have met amazing people and I still have plenty of time to travel down many trails with my horse.

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