May 2022 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN May 2022 Page 13 By Lois Szymanski Good things happen when good people come together. On March 26, that’s just what happened at the Maryland Horse Rescue. It all started with one blind horse in need of dental help, but it has become something much bigger, with hundreds of horses benefitting over the years. Trucks and cars rolled into the Maryland Horse Rescue - 10 equine dentists, two equine veterinari- ans and dozens of volunteers had arrived. They would be doing free dental checks and treatment for 35 horses at the rescue. It was also a day of learning, and all of it for free. Myles Hopton of Pegasus Equine Services started these free dental days at the Maryland Horse Rescue in 2016. Over the years, it morphed into something much bigger, touching other rescues along the way. “When I was becoming a den- tist, there wasn’t anything like this, [with hands on work] available for the industry,” he said. “This gives [equine dentists] an opportunity to get free criticism and free help with their work, the horses are treated, and it doesn’t cost anybody any money. Now we go from rescue to rescue doing the same thing, but it all started with this rescue and one blind horse named Tucker.” Melanie Biemiller, Board President of the Maryland Horse Rescue in Westminster, MD, shared Tucker’s story - a blind horse who was so filthy when they rescued him that she could actually smell him as he came off the trailer. He was thin and bony, one of several equines deserted on a farm that had been sold. She posted about him on Facebook. “At that time we weren't looking at dental right away,” Biemiller said. “We were just figuring out how to clean him up and start a feed program and get an initial vet evaluation.” That's when Hopton saw the post and phoned her to tell her he would treat Tucker for free. Equine Dentists, Vets Gather in Maryland to Treat 35 Rescue Horses True to his word, Hopton paid the farm a visit. He removed some loose molars and floated Tucker’s teeth. Now the gelding was able to chew and he started gaining weight. “He was old, blind and neglected, but such a sweet soul,” Biemiller said of the white geld- ing who started it all. Hopton told Melanie he was going to put something together to help her with all the horses and he’d give her a call back. Once again true to his word, the first dental rescue day took place in 2016 with a handful of equine dentists joining Hopton at the rescue. For seven years, he has continued the annual tradition, adding vets to the lineup. Austin Cohn from the Equine Dental Providers of America (EDPA) was there, all the way from the Hamptons in New York. “The EDPA is where you go to get education and certification to become an equine dentist,” he explained, stationing himself in the center of the barn, checking in all the equine dentists and vets so they could get EDPA credits. Farm volunteers turned out too, with runners, going up and down the hill to retrieve or return horses to their pastures, and others holding horses for examinations. Patients rotated in and out of six stalls with at least one dentist, one holder and one horse inside each stall. Still more volunteers held sedated horses outside the barn, waiting for sedation to wear off so they could be turned out. Equine dentist, Gary Bigger- staff came from South Carolina hoping to learn more about new power tools in equine dentistry. “It’s an opportunity to be here, to see a lot of different people work, and to help some rescue horses,” he said. “I’ve always worked on therapy horses for free, and this reminds me why I got into the business.” Headlamp shining, veterinar- ian Jennifer Barnhard fromWash- ington, DC looked into the mouth of a large gray horse. She’d come to learn more about dentistry. “Vets don’t always get an op- portunity to learn equine dentistry hands on,” she said. “This is not only a great opportunity to learn, but also to help rescue horses.” Kira Topeka chronicled the day, taking photographs and notes. She’s Hopton’s social media guru and she’s been with him since be- fore he started dental rescue days. “It all started with Tucker, but it has evolved into what it is today -- a fantastic educational (Continued on page 29) Equine dentist Myles Hopton and vet student Jennifer Barnhard ex- amine a horse while offering advice on an equine dental day that not only benefits horses at the Maryland Horse Rescue, but also those in the industry looking for more hands-on experience and learning.