Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care

01/30/2026

This weekend, winter is coming. ❄️⚔️

Temperature swings can be tough on horses. Sudden cold snaps, like the one Ocala is set to experience this weekend, can increase the risk of colic, especially when water intake drops and routines change. Set your barn up for success with our tips below! 👇👇👇

01/28/2026

The clock is officially ON! ⏰🐎

In just 60 days, we’ll be kicking off the Love of the Horse Ocala 5K, a morning of coming together for the horses and horse people who keep this community strong!

Whether you’re chasing a PR, walking with friends, or joining your very first 5K, there’s a place for you on this course. Registration is open, the countdown has started, and the excitement is building!

Sign up here! https://loveofthehorse5k.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=13083

01/23/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome the first foal of the year at our Advanced Fertility Center in Summerfield! A gorgeous, healthy c**t was born to Midnight Reign, and both mare and foal are doing wonderfully. Huge congratulations to their owner on this happy little Gypsy foal!

If your mare’s due date is approaching, we offer foaling services at the AFC! Our veterinary staff will be on standby to assist your mare, giving you added peace of mind during this special time.

To learn more about our foaling out options, call our Advanced Fertility Center team at 352.307.3000!

01/22/2026

We’re incredibly thankful for the support of Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care and their role in making the Love of the Horse 5K possible! As a full-service equine practice, their team provides thoughtful, comprehensive care, from routine wellness and preventive medicine to advanced surgeries and emergency support, always with the horse’s best interest at the center.

We’re proud to have Peterson Smith Equine Hospital & Complete Care alongside us, supporting the horses and horse people who make this community what it is!

01/16/2026

Join us for this incredible community event benefiting The Foundation for the Horse, an organization dedicated to advancing equine health, welfare, education, and research!

We’re proud to share that this year’s Love of the Horse 5K will once again benefit The Foundation for the Horse, the leading charitable organization advancing the health and welfare of horses around the world. 🐴❤️

For more than 25 years, the Foundation has funded critical programs in equine research, education, and disaster support, helping horses live healthier, safer lives and supporting the veterinarians who care for them. Their impact reaches from local communities and scholarships all the way to international relief efforts, providing everything from emergency resources during natural disasters to long-term research that shapes the future of equine medicine.

Whether you run, walk, sponsor, or cheer from the sidelines, your involvement helps make a difference for horses everywhere! 🐎💙

01/13/2026

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Bridge to Peterson Smith Equine Hospital as one of our 2026–2027 Hospital Interns, joining us for 18 months!

Originally from California, Dr. Bridge relocated to North Carolina in 2010, where she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She went on to earn her DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, completing her clinical year at Texas A&M University. After an externship at Peterson Smith, Dr. Bridge knew she wanted to return to continue her training as an intern, and we’re thrilled to have her back.

Dr. Bridge began riding at the age of seven and spent more than two decades competing on hunter/jumper circuits across the country. Her professional interests include internal medicine and neonatology, with growing interests in ophthalmology and dentistry. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Bridge enjoys spending time with her husband and helping manage their family farm, home to two dogs, six cats, eight retired horses, and a flock of ducks. She’s also a fan of large-scale jigsaw puzzles and loves to travel.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Bridge to the Peterson Smith family, we’re excited to have her with us this year!

01/09/2026

At Peterson Smith, we take pride in recognizing team members whose expertise and dedication keep our hospital operating at the highest level. This month, our Star Award honors Chris Mareina! Chris consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the condition of our CT unit remains top notch! As a result of his thoroughness, external inspection professionals recently recognized our Qalibra system as one of the best maintained platforms in the country.

Because of Chris’s diligence and oversight, our CT machine remains reliable, downtime is minimized, and our imaging team can focus fully on providing the highest standard of care for our patients. Thank you, Chris, for your outstanding work and for setting an exceptional standard for hospital operations!

01/01/2026

Equestrians, this is your year! 2026 is the Year of the Horse, a year full of energy, freedom, and forward momentum. It’s a year to embrace adventure, chase new goals, and celebrate the joy of riding, whether you’re exploring trails, schooling in the arena, or simply enjoying quiet moments with your horse. May this year bring courage, laughter, and unforgettable moments that make you fall in love with horses all over again.

Our office is closed today for New Year’s, but we’ll be back to our regular schedule tomorrow, and as always, our emergency hospital and ambulatory services remain available 24/7. To all our clients, Happy New Year. We’re so grateful for each of you and can’t wait to share 2026 together!

12/30/2025

A little planning can go a long way in keeping your horse calm, comfortable, and safe during fireworks. 🎆🐴 Here are a few practical tips to help you navigate the noise!

Know Your Horse’s Comfort Zone: Think about whether your horse is typically calmer in a stall or turned out. Some horses feel more secure inside, while others may become more anxious or reactive if confined. Base your decision on how your horse usually responds to loud or unfamiliar noises.

Secure Their Space: Double-check gates, stalls, fencing, and latches ahead of time. If a horse gets worked up, even normally reliable setups can be tested: extra caution now can prevent bigger problems later.

Make Identification Easy: If you’re worried about a horse getting loose, take steps to make them easily identifiable. A visible ID tag with your phone number, a temporary halter tag, or even a breakaway kitten collar on the pastern can be incredibly helpful if things get chaotic.

Watch for Stress-Related Colic: Fireworks can increase stress, which in turn raises colic risk. Make sure your horse has constant access to fresh water and plenty of forage to support hydration and gut motility throughout the night.

Talk to Your Vet About Sedation: For horses that struggle significantly with fireworks, mild sedation may be an option. If you plan to use it, always discuss it with your veterinarian and test it in advance to ensure it works as expected.

As a reminder, while our main office will be closed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, our emergency hospital and ambulatory services remain available 24/7. We’re always here when you need us. Wishing you a year ahead filled with excitement, happiness, and all the little moments that matter most!

12/29/2025

As we get ready to ring in the New Year, just a quick heads-up that Peterson Smith Equine Hospital will be closed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, so our team can celebrate with their families. Be sure to check that your horse has all the medications, supplements, and other essentials they need. If you need any refills or have questions, please reach out to us today or tomorrow so we can help make sure everything is ready.

Though our office will be closed, our emergency hospital and ambulatory services will remain available 24/7 to care for your horse when you need us most. For emergency assistance, call 352.237.6151. From all of us at Peterson Smith, we wish you and your horses a calm, healthy, and Happy New Year. May it be filled with good rides, sound legs, and plenty of peaceful barn days!

12/25/2025

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from all of us at Peterson Smith! 🎅🐴

We hope your Christmas is filled with warmth, laughter, and the simple comfort of being surrounded by the people (and horses!) you love most.
While our office is closed today, our emergency hospital and ambulatory teams are always on call, ready to step in if your horse needs us. For assistance, please call 352.237.6151.

Wishing you a peaceful, joyful holiday and a very Merry Christmas. 🎁✨

12/23/2025

Holiday heads-up! We’ll be closed Wednesday and Thursday for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so if your horse needs anything: medications, health certificates, etcetera, now’s the time to call.

Even Santa knows the drill… he swung by early for a last-minute coggins, but naturally, he couldn’t resist turning our trailer loading ramp into a sleigh launch pad. 🛷🎅 Our speed limit is 5mph, but we’re willing to let it slide this one time!

Sending warm wishes, happy treats, and just enough holiday mischief to keep things interesting!