Palm Beach Equine Clinic Vets Support Vinceremos

Story by Y.A. Teitelbaum

Photos by Abner Pedraza

It’s very common to see one of the Palm Beach Equine Clinic veterinarians at the 15-acre Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center facility in Loxahatchee Groves.

Many of the 30 vets have been there, checking the health of the horses that provide equine-assisted therapies for clients with varying physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities.

The visits and services are donated by Palm Beach Equine Clinic and would cost the nonprofit more than $50,000 per year for the veterinary care.

“Any care our horses need, they take care of it, whether it’s routine like vaccinations, or something serious, such as surgery,” said Ruth Menor, who founded Vinceremos in 1982 and is the chief program director. “The really special aspect of our relationship is our access. They are right there to help us with anything we need. It never seems to be too big of an ask.”

The amount of donated services doesn’t concern Dr. Scott Swerdlin, president of the Wellington-based equine clinic.

“As it increases, it makes our doctors feel even better knowing that Vinceremos is growing,” said Swerdlin, who first began donating services to Vinceremos in 2011. “We’ve been fortunate to be the veterinarians for such a great cause.”

Palm Beach Equine Clinic started out with three veterinarians in 1981 and has grown into one of the country’s largest equine hospitals, with more than 28 veterinarians using state-of-the-art equipment and innovative techniques. They are a leader in sport horse medicine, whether it’s for an Olympic dressage horse, a Grand Prix jumper, a high-goal polo pony or a trail horse and companion friend.

The practice is the longstanding official veterinarians of the Winter Equestrian Festival and have served in the same capacity for the Adequan Global Dressage Festival since its inception.

Palm Beach Equine Clinic provides 24-hour emergency coverage, complete surgical services and intensive care 365 days a year. There is an on-site pharmacy, a full laboratory and advanced diagnostic imaging equipment, including a MiE Nuclear Scintigraphy gamma ray camera and a Hallmarq standing MRI.

Community service is important to Swerdlin. “I try to instill in all the veterinarians how fortunate we are to be in an area where we have the quality of horses,” Swerdlin said. “It’s also very important to give back to the community.”

Swerdlin noted that there are many worthy organizations, and it is difficult to decide which ones to support. One of the factors he prefers is an organization that has an immediate impact on people’s lives.

“That’s Vinceremos — you see immediate results and see the joy in these kids’ eyes; it’s amazing,” said Swerdlin, who serves on the nonprofit’s board of directors.

That was evident when Swerdlin accepted an invitation to play polo with the children in the Vinceremos program. He arrived in traditional polo attire — white pants, knee pads and boots. The kids were playing in regular clothes.

“We were playing the boys against the girls; I was playing with the girls,” said Swerdlin, smiling at the memory. “We’re playing with this big old rubber ball, and I was trying to pass it downfield. I accidently hit one of these young boys in the face. I felt terrible! He had the biggest smile and all he did was come at me and try to take the ball away. When they’re on that horse, their whole personality changes. It’s remarkable!”

Swerdlin said he learned the value and importance of giving back from his mother.

“Just being in this community, seeing the growth and opportunities we have, you feel compelled to give back,” Swerdlin explained. “Everybody who has the opportunity to work with horses has that same feeling. I felt personally so compelled to be able to do something besides what we do, fixing horses, improving horses’ performance, that I wanted to see some kind of accountability for each and every veterinarian that is here. The fun thing is that they all volunteered.”

In addition to their significant contributions to Vinceremos, Palm Beach Equine Clinic also supports Just World International, which helps children who live in poverty, donating food and clothing while focusing on long-term solutions that include education. The clinic also supports the Great Charity Challenge and serves as an advisor to the county’s animal control department when it concerns horses and their welfare.

Dr. Janet Greenfield is the lead vet for Vinceremos and chairs the Horse Care Committee. She volunteers to educate young minds about veterinarians on career days at local elementary schools and 4-H clubs. Palm Beach Equine Clinic has worked closely with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue to teach protocols on the safe and proper technique of rescuing loose horses.

“We like to give back. Vinceremos is a wonderful organization,” Greenfield said. “I’ve learned a whole lot from that program. There are many different cases. As Scott always says, it’s not about the individual, it’s about the group… It gives us a sense of pride that we can help.”

Menor noted that Palm Beach Equine clinic veterinarians also make Vinceremos a priority.

“If we need them, they’re here,” she said. “Even if it’s after hours or Saturday, they fit it in. Their commitment to the horses is 110 percent.”

And that’s exactly how Swerdlin believes it should be. “We’re obligated to give back, not for ourselves, but for the horse, too,” he said.

For more information about Palm Beach Equine Clinic, visit www.equineclinic.com. To learn more about Vinceremos, visit www.vinceremos.org.