With the summer show season well underway and the breeding season coming to a close, many exciting changes are afoot at Kleinpeter & Cramer (KCEVS). Our practice is changing in order to better serve the needs of our valued clientele.

Dr Eddie Cramer has had another booming breeding season, successfully transferring more than 100 equine embryos utilizing cutting-edge, advanced reproductive techniques. With a continuously growing recipient herd of more than 200 mares and an increasing regional clientele, we have outgrown our present facility in Prairieville, LA. To appropriately meet that growing demand, Dr Cramer has purchased acreage south of Opelousas, LA, and has begun construction of a new, state-of-the-art, reproductive facility that will open for business for the 2010 breeding season. It will be called the Louisiana Center for Equine Reproduction (LACER).

KCEVS will continue to service our clients from our current location at 39088 Hwy 42 in Prairieville, LA. Whether your needs are routine preventative care or performance enhancement for the equine athlete, we will continue to provide a full range of services for you and your horse. Please take a moment to check out our website (www.kleinpetercramer.com) and learn more about the services we offer. We stand by our commitment for quality, value, and service.

Dr Erin Riley, our associate for the past two years, is leaving us to return to his home state of Mississippi where he will be working to develop an equine component to an existing small animal practice in the Hattiesburg area. We wish Dr Riley, his lovely wife Blair and his newborn son, Hayes all the best in their move. They are sorely missed by all.

On a brighter note, we are pleased to announce the addition of Dr Heather Garcia to our practice. She is a Washington State University graduate and is currently completing her Louisiana licensure requirements here at KCEVS. Originally from New Mexico, Dr Garcia grew up training and showing horses and brings a wealth of new information and enthusiasm to our ever-changing practice. She will spend the next month working alongside Drs Kleinpeter and Cramer, learning our protocols and getting to know our clients, before beginning her practice activities August 1st.

Dr Chat Kleinpeter is unfortunately on the injured list. He is recuperating from surgery to repair fractures involving his right ankle resulting from a horse kick suffered in Fort Worth on June 13th. Though unable to bear weight on his injured limb until August 1st, he is seeing clients with the kind assistance of Drs Garcia and Cramer.

Barbara Keller, our office manager and client care coordinator, along with Caroline Ford, our most capable veterinary technician, stand ready to make your visits to KCEVS both pleasurable and productive.

Last but not least, make sure your horses are up to date on their encephalomyelitis and West Nile immunizations (within 6 mos). Several cases have already been reported in LA this season. Please call us for an appointment to get them current.

Best wishes