What it means to be a full-service client

March 28, 2026

With Spring just arriving, we are prepared for a busy wellness season and wanted to take a moment to clarify what being a full-service client means to our practice.

When we vaccinate and perform annual wellness care for your horse, we are also committing to providing emergency coverage for that patient for the following year. This is why a yearly wellness exam is required. It allows us to establish a baseline for your horse’s health, identify any changes early, and ensure we are familiar with your horse should an emergency arise.

In order to provide timely emergency care, we intentionally limit our full-service area and we will always prioritize emergency calls for full-service clients.This allows the doctor on call to reach patients as quickly as possible when urgent situations occur.

For patients who are not current on annual wellness care, use another practice for wellness (even if we regularly see your horse for some procedures), or are outside our full-service area, we cannot guarantee a doctor will be available for emergency calls. If a doctor is available, the emergency fees for these calls are higher as it may require diverting the on-call doctor away from scheduled patients or established full-service clients.

Annual wellness visits are not just preventative; they establish the groundwork that allows us to provide consistent, responsive care when your horse needs it most.

FAQ: What vaccines does my horse need? 

Every horse should receive the AAEP's recommended core vaccinations annually, in conjuction with a wellness exam:

·        Rabies

·        Tetanus

·        Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis

·        West Nile Virus

Risk-based vaccines determined by your horse’s lifestyle may include:

·        Flu/Rhino EIV/EHV

·        Lyme

·        Botulism

·        Potomac Horse Fever

·        Strangles

Your annual exam is also a great time for:

·        Annual lab work for general health and PPID status (aka Cushing's)

·        Performance exam under saddle to assess your horse's comfort

·        Coggins certificate

·        Parasite control

Your horse’s annual wellness exam is also your time to discuss any changes you’ve noticed in your horse since the last exam and discuss any other questions you may have. To schedule, call (203) 733-0789.