Payton Pletcher
Delray Beach,FL
Summary
Fourth-year veterinary student with externship experience in Thoroughbred sales, racetrack medicine, surgery, and equine veterinary practice. Pursuing advanced training through an internship with Hagyard Equine Medical Institute as preparation for a career dedicated to sales and racetrack practice with a lasting impact on the Thoroughbred industry.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Equine Industry Immersion
Locations
01.2010 - Current
- Lifelong immersion in the Thoroughbred industry through family and direct experience.
- Active participation in horse handling at racetracks, farms, and sales, foundational to veterinary career.
Extern
Waller Equine Hospital
12.2025 - 01.2026
- Assisted in various case work-ups, including colic management, lameness evaluation, and wound care. Supported anesthesia procedures and performed dental and limb radiograph interpretation. Conducted abdominal and thoracic ultrasonography, rectal palpation, phlebotomy, intravenous injections, vaccinations, and catheter placements.
- Maintained strict sterility during colic surgery while performing tasks such as palpation, clamp holding, cecum deflation, staple placement, and suturing.
- Collaborated with doctors in daily case discussions, soliciting feedback and practicing diverse medical techniques.
- Analyzed and presented an article at journal club, demonstrating proficiency in current equine veterinary literature and engaging peers in critical dialogue.
- Established effective communication with clients and gained familiarity with multiple horse breeds and disciplines, emphasizing Quarter Horses.
Extern
Piedmont Equine Practice
11.2025 - 12.2025
- Engaged with diverse cases alongside multiple equine veterinarians to enhance clinical knowledge.
- Assisted in obtaining and interpreting distal limb radiographs, lameness examinations, daily patient treatments and case rounds, colic work-ups and discussions, phlebotomy, vaccines, soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries, laceration repairs, among others.
- Implemented and maintained biosecurity measures to ensure optimal herd health and prevent strangles outbreaks.
- Supported ophthalmology practice by assisting specialists and observing a range of surgical techniques and treatment methodologies.
- Acquired in-depth knowledge of various equine disciplines, including sport horses and fox trotters.
Extern
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
09.2025 - 10.2025
- Gained hands-on experience with Thoroughbred sales medicine at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, including repository radiograph review, distal limb ultrasonography, endoscopic evaluations, and clinical decision-making for buyers and consignors.
- Applied veterinary training in field service, participating in preventive care, neonatal foal evaluations, reproductive assessments, and emergency case management.
- Shadowed equine surgeons during orthopedic and soft tissue procedures, ambulatory surgical case work-ups, and peri-operative patient care.
- Collaborated with equine practitioners in racetrack medicine, contributing to lameness workups, intra-articular injections, pre-race examinations, endoscopic exams, acupuncture, and performance medicine, while expanding knowledge of different regulatory protocols.
- Expanded network through Hagyard's team and equine industry clientele.
- Developed familiarity with Hagyard's history, comprehensive service structure, and workflow.
Extern
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Rotation
08.2025 - 09.2025
- Performed necropsies on equine, bovine, small ruminant, and small animal cases as part of a clinical team, adhering to biosafety protocols and systematic gross examination techniques.
- Collaborated with pathologists and fellow students to identify lesions, document findings, and collect tissues for histopathology, microbiology, and toxicology analysis.
- Developed diagnostic reasoning skills by correlating gross pathology with clinical histories and ancillary laboratory results.
- Contributed to team-based discussions and case presentations on necropsy cases, differential diagnoses, disease processes, and herd/flock-level implications of individual cases.
- University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UKVDL)
Extern
Large Animal Field Service Rotation
08.2025 - 08.2025
- Participated in large animal farm calls with clinicians, contributing to diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care of equine and production animals.
- Obtained hands-on clinical skills, including, physical exams, diagnostic sampling, and therapeutic procedures.
- Performed an array of veterinary medical procedures such as, vaccinations, dehorning/disbudding, castration, reproductive exams, treatment of lameness and metabolic conditions, and a necropsy.
- Provided basic herd health care through parasite control planning, vaccination protocols, nutrition discussions, and client education.
- Engaged in journal clubs and case rounds, critically evaluating literature and contributing to group discussions on diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- Delivered a formal case/topic presentation based on independent research, demonstrating ability to integrate evidence-based medicine into practice.
Veterinary Student
Debusk Veterinary Teaching Center
08.2022 - 05.2025
- Performed routine surgical procedures (canine and feline spays and neuters; equine castration and anesthesia induction, monitoring, and post-op recovery; bovine castration and dehorning), under faculty supervision.
- Placed IV catheters, managed peri-operative care, and gained proficiency in foundational large and small animal medicine clinical skills.
- Participated in many lab sessions consisting of various equine basic and advanced diagnostic procedures through equine elective course.
- Gained practical experience with surgical prep, sterile technique, and post-operative monitoring applicable to equine surgical care.
Veterinary Assistant
Private Practice (Dr. Bill Yarbrough)
12.2014 - 12.2024
- Assisted with intra-articular injections, radiographs, endoscopies, lameness evaluations, emergency procedures, regulatory protocols, and veterinary care of Thoroughbred racehorses.
- Handled racehorses for various veterinary exams, acquired foundational knowledge of Thoroughbred race track veterinary medicine, managed surgical preparation and medicine supplies, and networked with many trainers and backstretch workers.
Extern
Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
06.2024 - 07.2024
- Observed daily patient assessments and treatments conducted by internists and surgeons.
- Assisted with treatment of horses on local farms.
- Gained insight into diagnostic approaches and case management.
Research Student Assistant
Gluck Equine Research Center
05.2023 - 08.2023
- Performed over 100 rectal palpations with ultrasonography, endometrial biopsies, uterine lavages, artificial inseminations, stallion semen collections, and pregnancy diagnoses.
- Evaluated stallion sperm morphology and motility.
- Participated in conducting equine reproduction research.
Hotwalker/Groom/Foreman
Todd A. Pletcher Racing Stables
12.2012 - 12.2021
- Supervised and cared for Thoroughbred racehorses before and after training.
- Dedicated summers to learning the ins-and-outs of Thoroughbred racehorse training, race track industry standards, maintenance of equine athletes at optimal performance, regularly assisting and working with many equine veterinarians on the race track, and developing communication and team-based skills with various groups of people involved in the industry.
Undergraduate Research Facilitator
Texas A&M University CVM
05.2021 - 09.2021
- Maintained daily care and exercising protocols for yearlings included in the study.
- Collected data for bisphosphonate research.
Veterinary Assistant
Ocala Equine Hospital
12.2020 - 01.2021
- Assisted with day-to-day veterinary procedures and immersed myself in various surgical procedures.
- Restrained horses for exams and treatments.
- Supported diagnostic imaging procedures, including ultrasound-guided injections.
Tour Guide
Texas A&M Equine Initiative
12.2018 - 12.2019
- Guided donors and visitors on tours of the Equine Complex.
- Presented program highlights to assist in promoting the equine industry.
Sales Associate
Taylor Made Sales Agency
12.2012 - 12.2013
- Prepared and presented Thoroughbred yearlings to buyers.
- Assisted with sales operations during Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sales.
- Devoted myself to sales aspect of equine industry, networking, and handling yearling Thoroughbreds.
Education
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - DVM
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN05-2026
Bachelor of Science - Animal Science
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX01.2021
Skills
- Equine handling and restraint
- Anesthesia induction and monitoring
- Equine reproduction techniques
- Surgical preparation and sterile technique
- Diagnostic imaging support (radiography, ultrasound)
- Teamwork and adaptability
Accomplishments
- Equine Palpation Silver Badge, LMU-CVM
- October 2024
Affiliations
- AAEP
- SCAAEP - Student Chapter
- SAVMA - Student AVMA
Timeline
Extern
Waller Equine Hospital
12.2025 - 01.2026
Extern
Piedmont Equine Practice
11.2025 - 12.2025
Extern
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
09.2025 - 10.2025
Extern
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Rotation
08.2025 - 09.2025
Extern
Large Animal Field Service Rotation
08.2025 - 08.2025
Extern
Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
06.2024 - 07.2024
Research Student Assistant
Gluck Equine Research Center
05.2023 - 08.2023
Veterinary Student
Debusk Veterinary Teaching Center
08.2022 - 05.2025
Undergraduate Research Facilitator
Texas A&M University CVM
05.2021 - 09.2021
Veterinary Assistant
Ocala Equine Hospital
12.2020 - 01.2021
Tour Guide
Texas A&M Equine Initiative
12.2018 - 12.2019
Veterinary Assistant
Private Practice (Dr. Bill Yarbrough)
12.2014 - 12.2024
Hotwalker/Groom/Foreman
Todd A. Pletcher Racing Stables
12.2012 - 12.2021
Sales Associate
Taylor Made Sales Agency
12.2012 - 12.2013
Equine Industry Immersion
Locations
01.2010 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Animal Science
Texas A&M University
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - DVM
Lincoln Memorial University
CONTINUING EDUCATION
- Piedmont Equine Associates - Vet Student Wet Lab Day
- Madison, GA - January, 2024
- Participated in wet labs, which included IV catheter placements, nasogastric tube placements, distal limb radiography, physical exams and restraint, and rectal palpation and ultrasonography.
- Opportunities in Equine Practice (OEPS)
- Lexington, KY - 2024
- Selected to attend a national seminar designed for veterinary students pursuing careers in equine medicine, with sponsorship by leading equine practices.
- Participated in workshops and seminars.
- Engaged with industry leaders and equine veterinarians.
- Attended case discussions, wet labs, and panels.
- Gained mentorship insights within equine veterinary medicine.
COMMUNITY SERVICE & OUTREACH
- Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Thoroughbred Makeover, Veterinary Student Participant, Lexington, KY, 2025 , Participated on the arrival examination team by performing physical exams, body condition scoring, and soundness observations with veterinarians to examine over 375 Thoroughbreds in 2 days., Goal was to promote second careers for OTTBs (Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds) and advance Thoroughbred welfare and the industry image.
- Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA), Volunteer, Belmont Park, Elmont, NY, 2010, 2017, Contributed to the well-being of racing families by participating in fundraisers and activities and supporting family outreach., Gained insight into the human and community side of the Thoroughbred industry, deepening commitment to advancing welfare for both horses and the people who care for them.
- New York Race Track Chaplaincy, Volunteer, Belmont Park & Saratoga Race Course, NY, 2010, 2017, Assisted with community service initiatives supporting backstretch workers and their families, including outreach events and resource distribution., Contributed to programs fostering well-being, faith-based support, and family services within the Thoroughbred racing community., Gained early exposure to the importance of community care in the racing industry, reinforcing long-term commitment to equine and human welfare.