Practice-Based Equine Clerkship

The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Practice-Based Equine Clerkship was developed to provide our students with real world experiences in quality equine practices.


Hands on Experience

Practice-Based Equine Clerkship

The purpose of this course is to provide students with on-farm, primary care experiences with horses in physical examinations, diagnosis, treatment, heard health, routine surgery and practice management.

A DVM student performs a procedure on an equine patient

Students will be assigned to a participating veterinary practice and spend the majority of their time with the supervising veterinarian(s) on farm calls or performing laboratory or office duties directly related to those calls. The students will be expected to participate on farm calls Monday through Friday, from 8am until 5pm or whenever the practitioner’s day is completed. It is expected that students may participate in emergency calls received out of regular business hours, i.e., nights and weekends. During such activities, the participating veterinarian is expected to: 

  1. Involve students in as many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as possible;
  2. Discuss diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic considerations with students;
  3. Take time in the practice vehicle to discuss and assess farm management, current disease problems, and application of disease prevention techniques wherever possible.

To the extent possible, as limited by the case load, this equine educational experience will include: clinical examination (physical exam and history taking), restraint, diagnosis, administration of medications, regulatory medicine, anesthesia techniques, reproductive management, vaccination programs, parasite control, dispensing medication, writing bills, practice management, laceration repair, bandaging, veterinary ethics, client communications, elective surgery and emergency procedures. Students will receive as much hands-on experience as feasible with the constraints of normal practice activity.

It is expected that students will spend approximately 10% of their time learning about the business management procedures used in the practice. The goal of this aspect of the clerkship is to expose student to the basics of veterinary practice management, including personnel management, inventory control, ordering procedures, client billing and finances. Students should be given time to discuss theses issues with the responsible persons in the practice. The supervising veterinarian is expected to explain to the student the basis of client fees and how fees are reviewed.


Student Expectations

  1. Students will view a Pre-clerkship PowerPoint presentation which they will access from the PBEC Canvas site at least two-three weeks before their rotation begins. After completion of the presentation the students will contact their Faculty Liaison, which was emailed to you by the program assistant.
  2. Students are required to keep a daily case log of each individual animal health or management problem encountered during the rotation.
  3. Students are required to complete a written assignment to evaluate the clinical practice and the business management in the practice, including personnel management, staffing, inventory, billing, procedures, etc.
  4. Students are required to complete an Evaluation of the Practice and Practitioners through Curriculum Map. 
  1. Students are required to wear the provided radiation dosimeter when participating in any radiographic procedures.
  2. Items to be submitted through Curriculum Map no later than the first Monday after the completion of the rotation include – Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) and Evaluation of the Practice and Practitioner.
  3. All Student Learning Objectives must be initialed by the practitioner before turning them into the PBEC Program Assistant. (accepted forms – email or paper SLO’s signed off)
  4. Students will receive an email from the Program Assistant to contact their assigned Faculty Liaison upon completion of the rotation to complete the post clerkship meeting. 

Meet the Team

Sally Anne L DeNotta
Department: Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Sally Anne L DeNotta DVM, PhD, DACVIM

CLIN AST PROF
Phone: (352) 392-2229
Jenifer M Seagraves
Department: Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Jenifer M Seagraves

Program Assistant
Phone: (352) 294-4308