Behind the Scenes with Team USA Equine Veterinarian Dr. Susan Johns

What does it take to care for horses competing at the highest level of sport? Our very own Dr. Susan Johns shares what it's like to serve as a Team USA equine veterinarian. After years of working with high-performance horses and serving as the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team Head Veterinarian, Dr. Johns offers a unique perspective on the people, intense preparation, and passion behind championship-level competition.

Q: You just returned from the FEI World Championships in Aachen. What was your experience like as the Team USA veterinarian?

Dr. Johns: There is a tremendous amount of logistics and planning involved, as well as a lot of emotion that goes into being part of selecting the team and then getting the horses safely to the competition.Flying the horses overseas is always an immense responsibility. They are incredibly precious cargo. Our first priority is getting them safely to the training camp in Germany, then on to the competition, and making sure they have everything they need to perform at their best.This is an enormous dream and goal for the riders, owners, and everyone surrounding these horses, so the experience can be quite stressful. At the same time, it is incredibly rewarding. I am responsible for the care, well-being, and welfare of these horses, and I take that responsibility very seriously.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you when you're caring for horses competing?

Dr. Johns: We are constantly monitoring the horses and checking in with the grooms and riders, making sure their temperatures, pulses, and respirations are normal, that they are eating and drinking well, and that all of their needs are being met.I watch all of their training sessions, and we will often walk the cross-country course with the riders so that we understand the footing and what the horses are going to encounter on course. We also make sure the horses have adequate time to rest and recover and provide whatever supportive care they may need, including physiotherapy and acupuncture.Basically, our job is to make sure all of the horses' needs are met so that the riders can focus on the job at hand. At a championship, that usually means 12- to 14-hour days in the barns, often starting very early in the morning and finishing late in the evening.

Q: What does it mean to you to represent Team USA and care for these horses?

Dr. Johns: It is an incredible honor. I have always loved competitive sports, and since I decided I wanted to become a veterinarian, I have wanted to work with high-performance horses and help keep them fit and healthy so that they can perform at their very best.It never gets old to be around these extraordinary animals and to watch what they are capable of doing. Representing Team USA and being entrusted with their care is something I never take for granted.

Q: After traveling to Olympic Games, Pan American Games, World Equestrian Games, and Nations Cups, what has been one of your most memorable experiences?

Dr. Johns: Every championship and every trip is special in a different way. One of my favorite parts is actually transporting the horses to the competition. I love being on the plane with them because, at that point, there is so much excitement, anticipation, and hope surrounding the trip.You are flying there with this incredible group of horses and thinking, "Could this be the group that comes home with medals?"There is something really special about the beginning of a championship when the horses, riders, grooms, owners, and entire support team are all heading into it with so much hope and excitement about what might happen.

Q: What does success look like to you, not just for the horse in the competition ring, but as a veterinarian?

Dr. Johns: Success for me is knowing that every day, whether I am evaluating a horse at home or helping prepare one for a major championship, I am giving that horse everything I've got. It also means recognizing when something isn't in my wheelhouse and making sure that horse has access to the best possible resources.Good communication and collaboration are a huge part of that. Not every story ends with a medal or even with a horse returning to competition. Sometimes there is a lameness or an injury that we simply can't resolve the way everyone hoped.But regardless of the outcome, I want the people I work with to walk away knowing that I gave it my very best effort, that I genuinely cared about their horse, and that I always wanted the best possible outcome for them.

Behind every championship performance is an extensive team dedicated to the health, safety, and success of the horses. For Dr. Susan Johns, caring for elite equine athletes is more than a profession. It is a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and the welfare of the horses that make the sport possible.