UF Vet Med hosts 18th annual “Healthy Horses” conference, spotlighting research and threats like New World screwworm

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - For the 18th year, the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine is bringing the equine community together for its “Healthy Horses” conference, an event focused on the latest research and practical guidance for horse owners and industry professionals.

Organizers say North Central Florida is home to one of the most active equine industries in the country, making the region a natural hub for education and collaboration. The annual conference is designed to unite people with a shared goal: keeping horses healthy.

This year’s sessions are centered on what prospective owners should know before buying a horse, including why a pre-purchase exam matters and how to safely integrate a new horse into an existing farm.

Many attendees come to stay current on best practices—whether they work directly in the industry or simply want to be better caretakers. Volunteer Sydney Lemmerman, who helps at Retirement Home for Horses, Inc. in Alachua, said the conference is an opportunity to learn how to recognize early warning signs of illness and take action sooner.

“I’m hoping to learn more about how I can help care for horses, look for early signs of disease, or if something looks like it’s not going right, to be able to kind of identify that and let the right person know so that the horse can be cared for properly,” Lemmerman said.

Another key topic on this year’s agenda is the New World screwworm—an insect parasite now reported in Texas that could pose a threat to Florida. A lecture at the conference focuses on what horse owners need to know and steps farms can take to protect animals.

UF Equine Veterinary Extension Specialist and conference coordinator Dr. Sally DeNotta said the strength of Florida’s horse community is exactly why the event matters.

“Central Florida has one of the most robust equine industries in the country if not the world,” DeNotta said. “Bringing people together with a common interest of keeping their horses healthy is always a good thing… so that they can meet each other and if they learn some helpful information that they can take back to their barns and their equine communities then we’ve done our job.”

Tickets for this year’s conference sold out in about 48 hours, but organizers say the event will return next year to continue spreading the “Healthy Horses” message.

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