Students from Northern Virginia Community College's Veterinary Technology program had the opportunity for some literal hands-on training with horses this month at South Run Riding School.
Under the guidance of Dr. Leslie Sinn, members of the Equine Nursing Course worked on their "patients," performing a multitude of tasks.
They practiced putting on a halter and leading a horse correctly, as well as performing important clinical skills, such as checking temperature, heart rate and respiration assessment, and bandag-ing and drawing blood samples.
Accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, NOVA's program awards an associate degree and prepares students for a post-graduate national exam that leads to licensure as a veterinary technician.
Most veterinary practices are dedicated exclusively to either small animals -- primarily cats and dogs -- or large animals, including horses, cows, llamas, goats and sheep.
Vet tech students typically have lots of experience with small animals, but they're far less familiar with the practical side of large animal handling and treatment.
However, by the end of their session at South Run, the students' comfort zone working with thousand-pound animals was noticeably improved.
"NOVA's Vet Tech program gave me excellent professional training," said South Run owner and manager Joy Goodenough, a 2005 graduate of the program.
"This 'field lab' was my chance to give back to the program in a meaningful way. It was great having the students here. They did a great job."
For more about NOVA's Veterinary Technology program, based at the school's campus in Sterling, call 703-450-2525 Monday through Friday, or see nvcc.edu/loudoun/scidiv/VTech.
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