From Journalism to Racetracks: Dr. Ashley Hamilton’s Unfiltered Equine Vet Stories

Hosts Dr. Chelsea and vet tech Trish welcome equine racetrack veterinarian Dr. Ashley Hamilton, an old internship friend, who now works with a large practice across Florida, New York (Saratoga), and Kentucky. Ashley explains she didn’t initially plan on veterinary medicine, starting college in journalism, majoring in Spanish, and nearly deferring vet school to consider law/politics before committing to horses. She describes training at Rood & Riddle and in Northern Virginia, then the major shift to rural South Carolina practice with limited budgets, frequent down-horse calls, and safety concerns during late-night farm visits. Stories include owners pouring Gatorade into a dead horse’s mouth, improvised treatments, a difficult rectal abscess diagnosis, challenging euthanasias (including sheep and cats), and encountering intoxicated clients with an injured yearling. The conversation highlights rural veterinary shortages, economic realities, and emotional toll.

00:00 Show Cold Open

0:24 Meet Dr Ashley Hamilton

01:25 From Journalism to Vet School

04:25 Internships and Early Career Turns

04:59 Rural Practice Reality Check

05:55 Racetrack Medicine Life

06:28 Weird Eye Cases and Consults

08:39 Favorite Cases Lameness and Airway

09:43 South Carolina Farm Call Stories

11:20 Down Horse and Gatorade Shock

14:42 DIY Treatments Gone Wrong

16:28 Rectal Fluids Colic Debate

17:52 Sponsor Break VetCS

18:26 The Rectal Abscess Nightmare

21:07 On Call Safety and Dorm Syringe

23:56 Sketchy Farm Call

24:16 Horse Sling Nightmare

25:29 When Clients Won’t Pay

26:51 Low Fees Rural Reality

28:09 Horses Tied to Trees

28:49 Rural Vet Shortage

29:39 Snakebite No Resources

31:02 Euthanasia Toll

33:11 Fancy Sheep Euthanasia

35:34 Cat Veins and Workarounds

37:41 Mud Hill Midnight Call

41:46 Better Place Now

42:38 Closing Thanks