World Class Grooming Aiken Equine Educational Series

Head Groom for Olympian Phillip Dutton for over a 15years, Emma oversaw his elite horses in 4 Olympics, 4 World Equestrian Games and 2 Pan American games, in addition to countless horse trials, events and three-day events. During her tenure there she taught numerous top riders the ways of horse management, care, and devotion to the sport and the horses.  Emma grew up in North Devon England and was brought up in the hunt field with her dad as Master of the Foxhounds. Emma was raised surrounded by horses. She grew up in the Pony Club system, receiving her “B” designation before going on to college to get her Baccalaureate in Science at the University of Wales. Moving to the States to pursue horses, she moved from strength to strength and is currently sought after as a groom, clinician, and educator.

Clipping can be a very important part of your horse's health management, no matter if you enjoy riding, driving, competing or have an older retired horse. For many, clipping can be more about aesthetics than comfort of the horse, however it is the horse that we should always be thinking about when we are removing his natural line of defense against the weather.

Emma will be covering the safety aspects of how to introduce horses to clipping, making sure it's a positive experience for both the horse and person.  She will also cover the why?, when? What type ? helping you all to make an informed decision the next time you think about clipping your horse.

Dr. Kate Echeverria started KE Equine in 2021, an ambulatory equine internal medicine specialty practice that services Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Dr. Echeverria attended Wake Forest University for her undergraduate education and North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine for her veterinary education graduating in 2010. Dr. Echeverria worked in private equine practice in Aiken, South Carolina and Raleigh, North Carolina and then went  to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital and completed a 3 year equine internal medicine residency and earned a Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Medicine. Dr. Echeverria is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine -Large Animal Internal Medicine. Dr. Echeverria is a member of ACVIM, AAEP, AVMA, MVMA, RIVMA, and is a certified FEI treating veterinarian.  Dr. Echeverria is the assistant chair to the ACVIM Certification Council and a board member of the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Associations.  

Kate has been asked to return after her lecture last year on equine stomach health was received extremely well. In 2025 Kate will be talking about the differences and best management practices pertaining to EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome)  IR (Insulin Resistance) and Cushing's Disease. 

Dan was born and raised in Lancaster County Pennsylvania and graduated from Millersville University in 2003 with a degree in Environmental Geography. Immediately upon graduating from college He enrolled in Kentucky Horseshoeing School in Shelbyville Kentucky. Although Dan did not grow up with horses he developed an interest in driving and draft horses, working on multiple farms throughout his time in college.         

After graduating from shoeing school Dan found an apprenticeship in Chester County Pennsylvania with Steve Teichman and Todd Meister. In 2004 he passed the American Farriers Association Certified Farrier exam. Dan works with many equine disciplines including 3 day event horses, dressage, hunters and jumpers. Many of his horses and clients have competed in national and international events including Kentucky Defender 3 day, Maryland 5* International 3 day, Badminton Horse Trials and Burghley Horse trials.

Dans lecture was a big hit in our inaugural educational series so we have him returning again in 2025.