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Discipline-Specific Performance Challenges Series: 4. Western Performance Horses

Tue, 24 February, 2026 01:00 pm - 03:00 pm (Your Local Time Zone)

Species

Equine

Contact Hours

2 Hours - RACE Approval Pending

Early Booking Deadline

Fri, 12 July, 2024

Registration Deadline

Wed, 31 July, 2024

Language

English

Discipline

Sports Medicine

Veterinary Partners

Global

Time: London 6PM / Paris 7PM / New York 1PM / Sydney 5:00AM (+1)
                                                   

Panelists:

Chris Bell   BSc., DVM, MVetSc., DACVS - Elder's Equine Veterinary Services, Canada
Sherry Johnson   DVM, PhD, DACVSMR - Equine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation (ESMR), USA
Shem Oliver   DVM, DACVS(LA) - Performance Equine Associates, USA

Moderator:

Weston Warnock   DVM, DACVS(LA) - Brazos Valley Equine Hospitals , USA

CONTENT DESCRIPTION

This exciting panel brings together leading specialists to examine the unique performance challenges faced by Western performance horses, from orthopaedic to respiratory conditions. The international group of experts will explore the musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and training-related issues most relevant to these athletes, offering insights into prevention and management from decades of combined experience at the top levels. Through case discussions and open debate, the panel will highlight practical strategies to optimize performance and welfare in this demanding discipline.

Dr. Bell is originally from Airdrie, Alberta where he grew up on a horse farm. He attended the University of Saskatchewan where he obtained a B.Sc with high honours in Microbiology and Immunology. Dr. Bell proceeded to attain a DVM with Distinction from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Following his DVM, he completed a 1 year clinical internship at Arizona Equine Medical and Surgical Center and then completed a 3 year surgical residency program at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Bell also completed a Master's of Veterinary Science during his residency program. Dr. Bell is a board certified equine surgeon and Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (DACVS). Dr. Bell is an Adjunct Professor of equine surgery and sports medicine with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Elders Equine is a host hospital and participates in senior veterinary student, veterinary intern and surgical residency training through this distributed learning program. Dr. Bell has owned Elders Equine Veterinary Service since 2012.

When he is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, two daughters and his horse or fishing at the lake. Dr. Bell's main areas of focus are equine surgery and sports medicine (lameness diagnosis, imaging and treatment) in addition to the routine equine health needs of our clients. Dr. Bell was President of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association 2022-2023.

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Dr. Sherry Johnson attended veterinary school at Iowa State University, completed an equine internship at Equine Medical Center of Ocala and then completed a one-year equine diagnostic imaging fellowship at Colorado State University. She then transitioned into the collaborative Equine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation residency program through Colorado State University and Equine Sports Medicine, LLC. Following her residency training, she became a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (DACVSMR) in 2019. She then completed a PhD program at Colorado State University with specific research focus on orthopedic rehabilitation, specifically tendon healing and blood flow restriction training (2022). She is a senior partner & managing rehabilitation veterinarian of Equine Sports Medicine, LLC (ESM) for which she oversees rehabilitation centers located in both Whitesboro, TX and Scottsdale, AZ. She is also an affiliate faculty member for the Department of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University in addition to serving as AQHA’s Official World Show Veterinarian since 2015. 

Dr. Johnson is the recipient of the American Quarter Horse Foundation Young Investigator Award (2018), named the EQUUS Foundation Research Fellow (2019), and was most recently granted the Storm Cat Career Development Award (2020), Iowa State University’s 2020 Young Alumni Award and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP’s) President Award (2020). She is honored to have served as the Program Chair of AAEP’s Performance Horse Committee and was a 4-time Kester News Hour moderator. She also serves on the equine advisory board for Pulse Vet Technologies, LLC, as a key opinion leader (KOL) for American Regent Animal Health, on the external advisory committee for Texas A&M Institute for Equine Sciences and on Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine strategic advisory board.

Through the academic rigor and translational components of her specialty training, she brings unique credentials (board-certified with a PhD) to the private sector of equine sports medicine and rehabilitation. Her continued academic and industry affiliations alongside high-volume private practice caseload positions her to continue to advance the field.

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Dr. Oliver grew up on a large cattle ranch in Eastern New Mexico. Using horses to work cattle and learning to break colts at a young age spurred his interest in horses. He worked for many neighboring ranches including working for legendary cutting horse trainer Larry Reeder. He graduated high school from Fort Sumner, NM and attended Oklahoma State University as an animal science major. Graduating he entered Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, Dr. Oliver found his love of surgery and sports medicine during his internship at Oakridge Equine Hospital under the tutelage of Drs. Mike Major and Brent Hague. Following his internship, he was accepted for a large animal surgical residence at Texas A&M University. During his time at Texas A&M, he was fortunate enough to learn surgical skills under skilled surgeons Drs. Jeff Watkins, Joanne Hardy, and Peter Rakestraw. Dr. Oliver accepted an associate position at Performance Equine Associates in Thackerville, OK. Where he has been since 2014 as a surgeon. Dr. Oliver’s professional interests include orthopedic surgery, soft tissue surgery, and diagnostic imaging. He enjoys being teamed up with western performance horse trainers in their pursuits on the show circuit. He also serves on the Texas Equine Veterinary Association board of directors and as the vice president-elect of the association. He enjoys the interactions with students and other practitioners through the association.

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Weston Warnock was raised in Bastrop, Texas on a small, family owned feedyard, attended Texas A&M University in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Animal Science, and obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M University in 2012. Following graduation, he completed a year-long rotating internship in Salinas, California at Steinbeck Country Equine Clinic. From there, he went on to a 3-year equine surgical residency program at Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery in Weatherford, Texas, with a predominant caseload in cutting horses, western performance horses, and racing Quarter horses. Dr. Warnock became board-certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons- Large Animal in 2020. 

Professionally his interests are focused on lameness and poor performance of the equine athlete, orthopedic surgery, and surgery of the equine spine. His practice consists of predominantly barrel racing horses, other disciplines of western performance horses, racing Quarter horses, and sport horses. When not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Dr. Ricci Karkula-Warnock, who is also an equine veterinarian and avid barrel racer, and their two children. The Drs. Warnock have raised, and have in training, several barrel racing futurity prospects, allowing an owner's perspective to the western performance horse discipline as well.

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Online Panel Discussion

USD 95.00

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Online Panel Discussion

USD 70.00

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Online Panel Discussion

USD 70.00

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Online Panel Discussion

USD 20.00

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