Four future horse doctors currently in their fourth year of outstanding veterinary school performance are the 2022 recipients of $75,000 Coyote Rock Ranch Veterinary Scholarships. The Foundation for the Horse will present their awards Nov. 20 during the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) 68th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
The scholarship recipients, selected from 54 distinguished applicants, are:
- Laurel Caldwell, Texas A&M University
- Jacqueline Chevalier, Cornell University
- Nicole Phillips, University of Calgary
- Alex Valle, University of Pennsylvania
Caldwell, who intends to pursue an internship focused on theriogenology and ambulatory care upon graduation, has participated in numerous veterinary externships at prominent equine practices around the world. In addition, she established “TEVA Chats at the Chicken,” a casual bimonthly meeting of current veterinary students and Texas-based equine practitioners at a popular watering hole to foster collegiality and a sense of support, encouragement and belonging in veterinary students with an equine interest. The program has since been emulated at another veterinary school.
Chevalier expects to complete an internship followed by a surgical residency and Ph.D. in orthopedics and regenerative medicine. Chevalier’s clinical research focuses on biological therapeutics, and she is associate editor of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and American Journal of Veterinary Research. In addition, she is founder and chair of Strides for Stability annual charity horse show that has raised over $80,000 since 2015 for the Windsor Essex Therapeutic Riding Association in Essex, Ontario, Canada.
Phillips will begin an internship at an equine specialty referral hospital after graduation before embarking on an imaging-focused internship and radiology residency. Her current research includes work on new treatments for equine osteoarthritis and a systematic review of existing intraarticular osteoarthritis treatments. Phillips has actively supported multiple equine rescue and therapeutic riding operations and has voluntarily organized and hosted grassroots, community-based competition in support of the Alberta, Canada equestrian community to improve accessibility of sport with entry-level divisions for novice riders and young horses.
Valle, who aspires to equine ambulatory practice, will enter a rotating ambulatory and surgery internship upon graduation with potential pursuit of a sports medicine and rehabilitation residency in the future. He has externed at many leading equine practices across the United States and his research study, “Effect of video angle on detection of induced front limb lameness in horses,” received a first place Fear Free Research Grant and has been submitted to a respected journal for peer-review.
Penelope Knight created the Coyote Rock Ranch Veterinary Scholarship in 2015. Since award of the first scholarships in 2016, 24 AAEP student members have shared in cumulative proceeds of $1,875,000.
“At Coyote Rock Ranch, quality equine veterinarian medicine lies at the heart of our program. In helping future veterinarians achieve success, we elevate the entire equine industry and ultimately the welfare of the horse,” said Mrs. Knight. “With my overall aim of supporting education, research and advancements in care for the horse, I am pleased to offer these scholarship opportunities to our next generation of equine veterinarians.”
For more information about this program and other scholarships offered through The Foundation for the Horse, visit foundationforthehorse.org.
About Coyote Rock Ranch
Coyote Rock Ranch, owned by Penelope Knight and located in the beautiful high desert country of Central Oregon, is a breeding operation for high-end cutting horses. Committed to quality in everything they do, Coyote Rock Ranch has a reputation for breeding and raising well-bred Quarter Horses with the pedigree and care to become tomorrow’s champions. To learn more, visit www.coyoterockranch.com.
About The Foundation for the Horse
Established in 1994, The Foundation for the Horse is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to improving the welfare of the horse through Education, Research, and help for Horses at Risk. It is governed and stewarded by world-renowned equine veterinarians and equine stakeholders. In 2022, and for the second consecutive year, The Foundation awarded over $1 million in scholarships and grants to impact equine health and well-being throughout the U.S. and developing countries. To learn more, visit www.foundationforthehorse.org.
Contact: Keith Kleine
Director of Industry Relations
The Foundation for the Horse
kkleine@aaep.org or (859) 327-8750