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From Journalism to Racetracks: Dr. Ashley Hamilton’s Unfiltered Equine Vet Stories
Hosts Dr. Chelsea and vet tech Trish welcome equine racetrack veterinarian Dr. Ashley Hamilton, an old internship friend, who now works with a large practice across Florida, New York (Saratoga), and Kentucky. Ashley explains she didn’t initially plan on veterinary medicine, starting college in journalism, majoring in Spanish, and nearly deferring vet school to consider law/politics before committing to horses. She describes training at Rood & Riddle and in Northern Virginia, then the major shift to rural South Carolina practice with limited budgets, frequent down-horse calls, and safety concerns during late-night farm visits. Stories include owners pouring Gatorade into a dead horse’s mouth, improvised treatments, a difficult rectal abscess diagnosis, challenging euthanasias (including sheep and cats), and encountering intoxicated clients with an injured yearling. The conversation highlights rural veterinary shortages, economic realities, and emotional toll.
00:00 Show Cold Open
0:24 Meet Dr Ashley Hamilton
01:25 From Journalism to Vet School
04:25 Internships and Early Career Turns
04:59 Rural Practice Reality Check
05:55 Racetrack Medicine Life
06:28 Weird Eye Cases and Consults
08:39 Favorite Cases Lameness and Airway
09:43 South Carolina Farm Call Stories
11:20 Down Horse and Gatorade Shock
14:42 DIY Treatments Gone Wrong
16:28 Rectal Fluids Colic Debate
17:52 Sponsor Break VetCS
18:26 The Rectal Abscess Nightmare
21:07 On Call Safety and Dorm Syringe
23:56 Sketchy Farm Call
24:16 Horse Sling Nightmare
25:29 When Clients Won’t Pay
26:51 Low Fees Rural Reality
28:09 Horses Tied to Trees
28:49 Rural Vet Shortage
29:39 Snakebite No Resources
31:02 Euthanasia Toll
33:11 Fancy Sheep Euthanasia
35:34 Cat Veins and Workarounds
37:41 Mud Hill Midnight Call
41:46 Better Place Now
42:38 Closing Thanks
By Chelsea Luedke DVM, MS5
88 ratings
From Journalism to Racetracks: Dr. Ashley Hamilton’s Unfiltered Equine Vet Stories
Hosts Dr. Chelsea and vet tech Trish welcome equine racetrack veterinarian Dr. Ashley Hamilton, an old internship friend, who now works with a large practice across Florida, New York (Saratoga), and Kentucky. Ashley explains she didn’t initially plan on veterinary medicine, starting college in journalism, majoring in Spanish, and nearly deferring vet school to consider law/politics before committing to horses. She describes training at Rood & Riddle and in Northern Virginia, then the major shift to rural South Carolina practice with limited budgets, frequent down-horse calls, and safety concerns during late-night farm visits. Stories include owners pouring Gatorade into a dead horse’s mouth, improvised treatments, a difficult rectal abscess diagnosis, challenging euthanasias (including sheep and cats), and encountering intoxicated clients with an injured yearling. The conversation highlights rural veterinary shortages, economic realities, and emotional toll.
00:00 Show Cold Open
0:24 Meet Dr Ashley Hamilton
01:25 From Journalism to Vet School
04:25 Internships and Early Career Turns
04:59 Rural Practice Reality Check
05:55 Racetrack Medicine Life
06:28 Weird Eye Cases and Consults
08:39 Favorite Cases Lameness and Airway
09:43 South Carolina Farm Call Stories
11:20 Down Horse and Gatorade Shock
14:42 DIY Treatments Gone Wrong
16:28 Rectal Fluids Colic Debate
17:52 Sponsor Break VetCS
18:26 The Rectal Abscess Nightmare
21:07 On Call Safety and Dorm Syringe
23:56 Sketchy Farm Call
24:16 Horse Sling Nightmare
25:29 When Clients Won’t Pay
26:51 Low Fees Rural Reality
28:09 Horses Tied to Trees
28:49 Rural Vet Shortage
29:39 Snakebite No Resources
31:02 Euthanasia Toll
33:11 Fancy Sheep Euthanasia
35:34 Cat Veins and Workarounds
37:41 Mud Hill Midnight Call
41:46 Better Place Now
42:38 Closing Thanks