University of Mn Leatherdale Equine Center

University of Mn Leatherdale Equine Center Home of the Leatherdale Equine Center, Piper Performance Clinic, Barenscheer Arena, and Nutrena Conf

The Equine Center represents our dedication to an expanded and comprehensive equine program, including undergraduate equine education, continued devotion to educating the next generation of equine veterinarians, a focus on equine research that will change the lives of horses worldwide, all while providing cutting edge, compassionate care for horses. With some of the top facilities in the country,

your horse will benefit from some of the best in equine care, research, and veterinary education found anywhere in the world.

Meet the team healing the Veterinary Medical Center’s biggest patients, Large Animal Surgery 🩺From pygmy goats to equine...
04/14/2026

Meet the team healing the Veterinary Medical Center’s biggest patients, Large Animal Surgery 🩺

From pygmy goats to equine athletes, the range of patients seen by the Large Animal Surgery Service at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center means its team members must be ready for just about anything at any time of the day.

The long hours are worth it to see critical patients heal and walk out the door—often after living in the hospital for months on end. Having a great team to rely on makes caring for patients a special experience.

“We are like family, and we like to have fun and enjoy coming to work every day,” says Dr. Nicolas Ernst, veterinary surgeon and professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine. “We go through hard times and challenging cases together and also get to celebrate the wins and patients recovering and going home.”

📰 Read more: https://profiles-vetmed.umn.edu/article/meet-service-large-animal-surgery

Expert care meets a "giant" spirit 🐴When Bill, a young Belgian horse, faced a series of life-threatening complications, ...
03/19/2026

Expert care meets a "giant" spirit 🐴

When Bill, a young Belgian horse, faced a series of life-threatening complications, the UMN Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) was ready for the challenge. Bill’s journey was a long one, from severe infections to an esophageal obstruction and a high-risk abscess near the carotid artery.

Through careful medical management and a collaborative approach, the Large Animal Hospital team at the VMC helped Bill make a full recovery, proving the importance of specialized veterinary internal medicine in treating our largest patients.

Today, Bill is back to his spunky, playful self and has gained 75 pounds since returning home! Read the full story here: https://profiles-vetmed.umn.edu/article/giant-recovery

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Last week, we celebrated House Officer Appreciation Week, a week filled with snack carts and treats to give back to our ...
03/03/2026

Last week, we celebrated House Officer Appreciation Week, a week filled with snack carts and treats to give back to our amazing house officers ✨ Thank you for your dedication, hard work, and help in making the Piper Hospital at the Leatherdale Equine Center a place of compassion and expertise!

02/17/2026

Wishing you and your herd a year of strength, speed, and good hair 🐎✨

Learn more about Piper Hospital at the Leatherdale Equine Center and West Metro Equine Practice: https://vmc.umn.edu/

🏇 When Susan and Ulf Holm-Johansen’s young Standardbred mare, Lena, fractured her pastern bone during her very first rac...
11/20/2025

🏇 When Susan and Ulf Holm-Johansen’s young Standardbred mare, Lena, fractured her pastern bone during her very first race, they feared her racing dreams were over. Thanks to expert surgical care and a few well-placed screws from Dr. Jenna Young and the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Medical Center team, Lena made a full recovery. After months of rest and rehab, Lena returned to the track this spring—stronger than ever.

“They are fantastic,” Holm-Johansen says about Young and the VMC staff. “You can tell that they really care about what they’re doing with these animals. As an owner and trainer, I find that reassuring. We’re not just a number.”

It’s ! Donations of any amount to the VMC help improve patient care and provide life-saving treatments, and support the compassionate professionals on the team. Thanks to Phyllis Wisen and an anonymous client family, every 25 gifts given will unlock a match up to a maximum of $35,000. Donate now: z.umn.edu/aw7s

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Read Lena's full story: z.umn.edu/aw7u

11/20/2025

HORSE OWNERS: EHM (Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy) has been confirmed in Texas and Oklahoma. The disease had a rapid progression, high clinical severity, and a concerning number of mortalities among suspected EHM cases.

**No cases currently suspected or confirmed in Minnesota.**

Cases were confirmed at the 2025 WPRA World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event in Waco, Texas Nov. 5 - 9, 2025, and in horses who traveled from Waco to the BFA World Championship 2025 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Please contact the Board of Animal Health immediately if you or your horse had known contact with animals that were at these events.

Read the full Equine Disease Alert: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNBAH/bulletins/3fc306a

11/20/2025

It's ! Every year, the Veterinary Medical Center serves thousands of patients, large and small, who come to our hospitals. Their care depends on both our medical teams, as well as on the generosity of people who believe in this work. Gifts of every size help make advanced, compassionate treatment possible. This year, our goal is 200 gifts. If we get there by the end of the campaign, a $35,000 match from Phyllis Wisen and a generous client family will be unlocked to support the VMC’s work.

Help us succeed by making your gift: z.umn.edu/aw6g
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Save the date! November 20 is , Minnesota's annual giving holiday and an opportunity to share your pride in being part ...
11/07/2025

Save the date! November 20 is , Minnesota's annual giving holiday and an opportunity to share your pride in being part of the Veterinary Medical Center (VMC)! Each year, more than 15,000 animals come through the door of the VMC. Their care—whether it’s routine, urgent, or pioneering—depends not only on our medical teams, but also on the generosity of people who believe in this work. Gifts of every size help make advanced, compassionate treatment possible. This year, our goal is 200 gifts. If we get there by the end of the campaign, a $35,000 match from Phyllis Wisen and a generous client family will be unlocked to support the VMC’s work. Help us kick off the campaign by making your gift TODAY. Your support expands the possibilities of our lifesaving work and brings comfort and hope to our patients and their families. Any donation counts toward our goal, no matter the amount! Donate early here: z.umn.edu/av0f

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10/06/2025

Do you have a horse that has been diagnosed with PPID?

We could use your help as we continue to ENROLL additional PPID horses that are being treated with pergolide for an ongoing genetic risk study. Enjoy this video that summarizes the project and consider enrolling your horse to help us answer these very important questions regarding PPID disease risk.

Visit our website to learn more about participation requirements and steps to enroll: z.umn.edu/pergolidestudy

Did you know that up to 30% of aged horses may be diagnosed with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID, also known...
10/02/2025

Did you know that up to 30% of aged horses may be diagnosed with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID, also known as equine Cushing’s) in their lifetime? This disease brings many challenges with senior horse care to both horse owners and veterinarians. Researchers at the University of Minnesota and University of Florida are motivated to better understand this disease through investigating the genetics associated with PPID risk and pergolide response in horses.

If you have a horse being treated for PPID we could use your help! In order to properly answer the genetic questions surrounding disease risk and drug response, we are continuing to enroll horses with PPID (diagnosed by a veterinarian) that are being treated with pergolide. Please check out our website to learn how you can enroll in this study and help us to help the horses you love! We are excited about this project and its potential impact to improve quality of life in many senior horses.

z.umn.edu/pergolidestudy

Address

1801 Dudley Avenue
Saint Paul, MN
55108

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 6pm
Thursday 7:30am - 6pm
Friday 9:30am - 6pm

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