Wellington Show Season

This year I was given the opportunity to spend six weeks in Florida. Many of our hunter/jumper clients ship their horses to Florida from December through March to show. Due to the large number of patients that are in Florida from our practice, Dr. Merritt and one of the interns will travel south to care for them through the show season.
Now it was a sacrifice to leave Chicago where it was below 30 and dumping buckets of snow every day for the balmy 70, sunny Florida climate; but I managed. Driving into Wellington was a drastic change compared to home. The grass was brilliant green, palm trees brimming with coconuts, and a bright blue cloudless sky.
The weather was not the only difference. Here, most of the barns are centered just outside the show grounds. Instead of driving 30 minutes one direction to see appointments and then 45 minutes another direction, in Wellington all of our clients are within a few minutes of each other. Also during shows it seems the whole town operates around the horses. The police had men at the major intersections to see horses safely across, the shops cater to ‘horsey’ interests, and restaurants will stay open later if there are evening events running. Even celebrities travel to Wellington to participate in the events. But despite our best detective skills (aka stalking) a colleague and I were never able to find Madonna.
Travelling to Florida was about caring for our patients during a time that would technically be considered off season. We have the ability to travel with them so all our clients have to worry about is showing to the best of their ability, not who will care of their horses in a different state. It was also a great opportunity to meet and work with veterinarians from different hospitals; whether it be other vets traveling with their clients or the vets permanently in Florida.