Nearly 6,300 veterinary professionals, guests and exhibitors attended the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) 50th Annual Convention in Denver, Co, breaking the meeting’s attendance record once again. The convention, held December 4-8, featured nearly 100 scientific presentations, a sold-out trade show and successful equine health seminar for horse owners.

"Once again, Dr. Scott Palmer and the Program Committee outdid themselves," said David Foley, AAEP Executive Director. "The Scientific Program was outstanding and Denver proved to be a very fitting location to commemorate our 50th Anniversary. The AAEP membership responded in record numbers."

Highlights from the 2004 convention include:
Installation of new officers and board members--The 2005 Executive Committee and new members of the board of directors took office on December 7. The members of the Executive Committee are: Scott Palmer, VMD, Clarksburg, NJ, president; Thomas D. Brokken, Cooper City, FL, president-elect; Doug Corey, DVM, Adams, OR, vice president; Larry R. Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, Lexington, KY, immediate past president; and John S. Mitchell, DVM, Boca Raton, FL, treasurer.

New members of the board of directors are: G. Kent Carter, DVM, MS, District VII; Scott Taylor, DVM, District VIII; Daniel G. Kenney, VMD, DACVIM, District X; Michelle LeBlanc, DVM, Director at Large.

Award winners--Several awards were presented at the President’s Luncheon on December 7. Honored were Robert M. Kenney, DVM, and Leon Scrutchfield, DVM, who both received the Distinguished Educator Award; Nathaniel White II, DVM, receiving the Distinguished Service Award; Herb and Ellen Moelis of the Thoroughbred Charities of America, who received the Lavin Cup, the AAEP Equine Welfare Award; and the Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation and its director, Mr. Gene Pranzo, who were awarded the George Stubbs Award.

Horseman’s Day--The fifth annual seminar for horse owners attracted a record 282 attendees who learned the latest advances on such topics as equine dentistry, preventative care and parasite control from leading veterinary experts.

Auctions raise funds for Foundation--The annual silent and live auctions during the convention also broke the previous record, raising an outstanding $151,000 for the AAEP Foundation, which funds equine research, education programs and veterinary scholarships.

The 51st Annual AAEP Convention will be held in Seattle, WA, December 3–7, 2005. For more information, call the AAEP at (859) 233-0147.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, KY, was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, AAEP reaches more than five million horse owners through its over 8,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.