Kaitlyn Busson, a third-year equine veterinary student at the University of Calgary School of Animal Health and Veterinary Medicine, is the 2024 recipient of the $5,000 Dr. Bill Rood Leadership Scholarship. Managed through The Foundation for the Horse, the endowed scholarship was established in 2021 by friends, colleagues, and clients of the retired co-founder of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.
Busson accepted her award at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) 70th Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, on December 8, 2024.
The Dr. Bill Rood Leadership Scholarship rewards a veterinary student at a college of veterinary medicine in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean Islands, and Europe for their academic excellence, leadership in their school and AAEP student chapter, and their long-term goals in equine practice. Applicants must also have the support of AAEP members and their clinical instructors.
Dr. Rood received his DVM degree from the University of California, Davis in 1972 and his JD degree from the University of Kentucky in 1975. He started an ambulatory equine practice in Lexington while in law school. In 1982, he partnered with Dr. Tom Riddle to form what is now Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, which has grown to encompass the original hospital and a veterinary pharmacy in Lexington as well as satellite hospitals in Saratoga Springs, New York, and Wellington, Florida.
For more information about this program and other scholarships offered through The Foundation for the Horse, visit FoundationForTheHorse.org.
About The Foundation for the Horse
Established in 1994, The Foundation for the Horse is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to improving the welfare of the horse through Education, Research, and help for Horses at Risk. It is governed and stewarded by world-renowned equine veterinarians and equine stakeholders. In 2024, in honor of its 30th anniversary, The Foundation awarded a record $3 million in scholarships, grants and program support to help transform the lives of horses throughout the U.S. and across the globe. To learn more, visit FoundationForTheHorse.org.
