Colorado State University to Host ‘Horse Sense’ Viewing, Other Equine Events in April

Note to Reporters: Photos are available with the news release at http://news.colostate.edu. Reporters interested in obtaining a DVD of the documentary should contact Emily Wilmsen.

A documentary about Colorado State University’s acclaimed equine programs will be shown on campus twice in April and on Rocky Mountain PBS in May.

The film,“Horse Sense,” features the university’s efforts to advance equine and human health and support the critical connection humans have to horses in Colorado and the West. It was produced by Chapman University undergraduate film students and narrated by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper.

The showings at CSU are free and open to the public, but due to limited space, reservations are required at https://advancing.colostate.edu/HorseSensePremiere2013:

• Tuesday, April 2: 7 p.m. at the Lory Student Center Theatre on the CSU campus. Parking is free and available near the building. Dr. Mark Stetter, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, will serve as host for the evening.

Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, one of the world’s leading equine orthopaedic surgeons, will introduce the film, which will be followed by a panel discussion featuring some of the university’s – and the nation’s – top equine veterinarians. In addition to McIlwraith, the panel will include Dr. Chris Kawcak, Dr. Jerry Black, Dr. Pat McCue, Dr. Melissa King and Dr. Eileen Hackett.

• Saturday, April 27: Noon at the B.W. Pickett Equine Center, 735 S. Overland Trail, preceding the Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale, which starts at 1:30 p.m. For more information on the sale, go to http://equinescience.colostate.edu.

Rocky Mountain PBS will broadcast the film at 8 p.m. May 9.

Colorado State is unique in offering a full continuum of the highest-quality equine programs: a popular undergraduate degree in equine science; the education of graduate students and veterinarians critical to the horse industry; research that drives the industry; and horse care through the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Equine Reproduction Laboratory. Among its areas of international expertise are equine orthopaedics and reproduction.

“Horse Sense” features interviews with horse owners, ranchers and several faculty members from the university’s renowned equine programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences including:

• Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, University Distinguished Professor, Director of the Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, Professor of Surgery and The Barbara Cox Anthony University Chair in Orthopaedics;
• Dr. Chris Kawcak, Iron Rose Ranch Chair in Equine Musculoskeletal Disease and Injury and Professor in Clinical Sciences;
• Dr. Jerry Black, associate professor in the Departments of Animal Sciences and Clinical Sciences, director of the Equine Sciences undergraduate program, director of the Equine Reproduction Laboratory and The Wagonhound Land and Livestock College Chair in Equine Sciences; and
• Dr. Patrick McCue, professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and Iron Rose Ranch University Chair in Equine Reproduction.

“Horse Sense” was produced by Tyler Gurd and Sam Price-Waldman, students in Chapman’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, and includes original music by country singer/songwriter and Colorado resident Pete Martinez.

Cathy Carpenter Dea, a CSU alumna and lifetime horse lover who is an ambassador for CSU, helped visualize and coordinate the film on behalf of the Dea Family Foundation.

Executive producers are Dr. McIlwraith, Dr. Kawcak, Jeff Swimmer, the Dea Family Foundation, Cathy and Peter Dea and Cort Carpenter. Support for the film was provided by the Dea Family Foundation, Steve and Paula Reynolds/TBR Ranch, and the Verdad Foundation. Additional support was provided by The Foundation for a Better Life.

Note also that on Friday, April 26, administrators, faculty and friends of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the College of Agricultural Sciences will celebrate a grand opening of the new Equine Reproduction Laboratory, which was destroyed by fire nearly two years ago. The event will be 4-6 p.m. with remarks at 4:15 p.m. at the new facility, which is at 3101 Rampart Road, Fort Collins. Due to space limitations, registration is required at https://advancing.colostate.edu/EVENTS/ERLGRANDOPENING.

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