EQUINE | YMG Report
others’ notes.
Amongst the purely veterinary lectures we had guest speakers as well as trade sessions which allowed us to see
beyond our veterinary blinkers. Being able to see what new products companies are about to release or getting
updates on the federations really brought value to our understanding of the profession.
During tea and lunch sessions, our concentration was rewarded with hot beverages and divine snacks. It also
allowed the students to chat more with professionals, either at the trade stands or with the vets. All of the presenters
were happy to field any questions and help with understanding any concepts that we were yet to learn at OP. The
presentation sessions ran from 07:30 till 17:30 most days – making it a very intense learning experience.
Several years ago, the mentor / mentee program was initiated with the premise of pairing students with equine vets
in order to give them support moving forward with a carreer in the profession. As with any fledgling idea, there had
been a couple bumps in the road. But this year Dr Casey and Zoetis developed a fantastic idea. The dedication of one
night solely to potential mentors and mentees. Zoeetis sponsored the function at a local restaurant and it allowed
all the students and vets who would like to be mentors to socialise and share stories. It was a fantastic evening and i
believe that the relationships that were made that night will forever have that foundation. We look forward to seeing
the impact of these kind of events in the future.
The obvious highlight of Congress is the Gala evening where everyone dresses up in formal attire and enjoys an
evening of splendour. We got to celebrate another successful congress as well as congratulate Dr Johan Marais for
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• Equine Health Update •