Ruffian Equine Medical Center Opens

The new equine medical center that opened earlier this week opposite the Belmont backstretch is named after an equine hero, Ruffian, who did not fit the criteria of my thesis because she, sadly, did not survive her injuries. It is fitting, however, that a state of the art facility, so sorely needed on Long Island, is named after the great and glorious filly who lived to run. Equally fitting is the fact that one of its chief veterinarians is female: Dr. Patricia Hogan, famous for saving Smarty Jones' eye.

The new center, of which IEAH (of Big Brown fame) is the landlord and major contributor, is not intended to be an ambulatory clinic--rather a referral center where outside veterinarians could travel to perform procedures for the horse. The Center will also provide certain emergency orthopedic surgeries but is not intended as a primary care center.

The new facility takes up over 22,000 square feet of space and includes two surgery suites, three recovery stalls, a high speed treadmill and state of the art diagnostic equipment. There is also an outdoor lunging ring, a full service laboratory and 26 stalls in an outside barn with three indoor climate controlled ones.

It is, according to Hogan, all about the horse. "The equine center is a great showplace for the veterinary community," she said. "It is my hope that the facility will be able to provide the best care possible for these horses. This will include an 'open door' policy that will welcome outside surgeons and/or specialists if their assistance is requested or required on a specific case."

The general idea is to minimize trauma to an injured horse by eliminating the need to travel long distances to a well-equipped facility. Let's hope the veterinary community does not have to use this center for too many emergencies but let's also hope that when they do, they find everything they need already in place.

As for IEAH, rest assured, they see this as a valuable investment not only in the industry but also in their own assets.