Practical Cardiology for Equine Practitioners – A 2-Day Practical Course
Species
Equine
Contact Hours
14 ATF Hours (To be confirmed)
Early Booking Deadline
Sun, 29 March, 2026
Registration Deadline
Fri, 10 April, 2026
Language
Englisch (mit deutscher Moderation)
Extras
Printed Set of Course Notes (pick up at venue) - USD 96.64
Discipline
Cardiology
Diagnostic Imaging
Growth Partners
Europe

Veterinary Partners
Global



Europe













COURSE DESCRIPTION
When confronted with horses affected by cardiac abnormalities many equine practitioners are intimidated and shy away from a cardiologic work-up. This practically-oriented course is intended to help general equine practitioners identify common equine heart diseases and their impact on performance, safety and life expectancy. Attendees will learn how to perform a thorough physical exam of the cardiovascular system and will be taught how to acquire and interpret a routine echocardiogram and ECG, crucial skills for equine practitioners to provide heart assessments in horses. The expertise and extensive experience of the team of internationally renowned equine cardiologists, along with a relaxed atmosphere will encourage open and honest discussions and stimulate attendees to assimilate knowledge.
The 7 hours of hands-on auscultation, ECG and echocardiography workshops will be held in small groups and a further 2 hours will be devoted to case discussions. At the beginning of the course attendees will furthermore be provided a few cases to work through which will then be discussed at the end of the course. The following topics will be covered in well-illustrated lectures and case discussions in English (no translation, with German moderation):
- Cardiac Auscultation – Murmurs & Arrhythmias
- The Foundations of Equine Echocardiography
- The Essentials of Doppler Echocardiography
- Electrocardiography – Indications, Principles & Interpretation
- Arrhythmias – Relevance & Treatment • Collapse & Sudden Cardiac Death
- Interpretation of Cardiac Findings – Impact on Performance, Rider Safety & Life Expectancy
- Cardiac Case-Discussions – Arrhythmias, Regurgitations, Shunts, etc.
The 7 hours of workshop will give attendees plenty of opportunity to further develop their echocardiography and ECG skills in small groups (max 4-6 attendees per instructor) on live horses with heart conditions, all under the supervision of the specialists. Each attendee will rotate through the following practical stations:
Auscultation of horses with heart conditions
- Echocardiography of 5 horses with cardiac abnormalities in small groups (max. of 4-6 attendees per instructor)
- Acquisition & interpretation of resting and exercising ECGS on live horses
- Heart Murmurs & Arrhythmias PowerPoint Case-based Discussions
The course fee includes catered lunches, coffee/tea breaks, extensive electronic course notes and a certificate of attendance. Attendees can choose to only attend the lectures (= Lectures Only) on this course or can register for the entire course (= Lectures & Practical Sessions). Early course registration is recommended as there are only limited number of places available due to the highly practical nature of this course.
This course is suitable for RCVS Modules: B-EP.3; C-E.2; C-E.3; C-E.5; C-E.15; C-E.16; C -VDI.5
Charlotte received her veterinary degree at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany in 2006, and thereafter finished a rotating internship at the equine clinic of this University.
In the following years, she completed a doctoral thesis in equine cardiology, followed by a PhD in equine gastroenterology and a residency in equine internal medicine.
She worked as a lecturer in the section of internal medicine at the equine clinic in Hannover, Germany, from 2010 to 2017 and became a diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine in 2015.
From 2017 to 2018, she worked as a researcher in translational medicine for the Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory at the New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania.
Charlotte became assistant professor in large animal internal medicine in August 2018 at the large animal hospital, University of Copenhagen. She has written several articles in equine internal medicine, focusing on cardiology, gastroenterology and equine welfare and lectures regularly at national and international courses and conferences.
More InfoGunther van Loon graduated from Ghent University, Belgium, in 1992 and has worked at the Ghent University, Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, ever since. In 2001 he finished his PhD on “Atrial pacing and experimental atrial fibrillation in equines”. In 2004 he became Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine and in 2011 Associate Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. In 2015 he received the Merial Applied Equine Research Award for outstanding research regarding ‘Advances in Equine Cardiology’, awarded by the WEVA. He is Full Professor in Large Animal Internal Medicine at Ghent University and his major interests are all aspects of cardiology, and thoracic and abdominal ultrasound. Areas of research include advanced imaging (speckle tracking, tissue Doppler, 3D, intracardiac echo), biomarkers, vascular disease, and arrhythmias and electrophysiology (atrial tachycardia/fibrillation, 3D mapping, ablation). Gunther has published mainly in the field of equine internal medicine and cardiology and lectures regularly at national and international courses and conferences.
More InfoDr. Virginia Reef, a 1979 graduate of The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, completed a rotating internship in large animal medicine and surgery, and a residency in large animal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Dr. Reef subsequently became the Director of the Large Animal Cardiology and Ultrasound Service. Shortly thereafter she was instrumental in establishing the Section of Sports Medicine and Imaging at New Bolton Center and has been the Chief of that Section for the past 18 years. Dr. Reef has worked on the faculty at Penn for the past 27 years, advancing through the ranks of assistant, associate, and full professor. She has trained the majority of academics focusing on equine cardiology and ultrasonography in the United States, as well as many individuals in private practice and overseas. Based on her many accomplishments, Dr. Reef was granted a prestigious endowed chair at Penn and currently serves as the Mark Whittier and Lila Griswold Allam Professor of Medicine. She is one of the charter diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a large animal associate member of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. In addition to numerous original publications, she is the author and editor of a standard textbook on equine diagnostic imaging, “Equine Diagnostic Ultrasound.”
More Info
Fe is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the European College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She works in private practice and is an Adjuct Professor of CityU University, Hong Kong. During her internal medicine residency at the University of Guelph, Canada, Fe combined her clinical training with a graduate degree. Her research focused on Inflammatory Airway Disease in actively racing horses and in 2012 she defended her thesis to receive a DVSc degree from the University of Guelph. She pursued her interest in equine sports medicine further: she completed a 2 year Equine Ultrasound and Cardiology Fellowship at New Bolton Center, USA. Fe currently works in Belgium, for Equine Sports Medicine Practice, helping high-level sport horses in different equestrian disciplines reach their peak performance and providing specialty equine cardiology, respiratory and ultrasound services across Europe. Her reseach focus are exercising arrythmias and upper and lower airway disease in sport horses.
More InfoPlease download the Program PDF to view it: Download PDF
CONTACT DETAILS FOR CLINIC
Birkenhof 2
65795 Hattersheim
Telefon: 06190 – 88 796 00 (24h erreichbar!)
E-Mail: info@tierklinik-hattersheim.de
DIRECTIONS
Take the A66 Frankfurt – Wiesbaden, exit Hattersheim-Süd/West (industrial area, Okriftel). Follow in the direction of Hattersheim Süd/West, across the set of lights and turn right after 100m. The clinic is signposted from here.
NEARBY AIRPORTS
Frankfurt Airport - approx. 11.8 km
NEARBY HOTELS
Gästehaus Frankfurt
|
Distance from Clinic 1.2km | Rooms from €39 |
Parkhotel Frankfurt Airport
|
Distance from Clinic 1.4km | Rooms from €80 |
Hotel am Schwimmbad |
Distance from Clinic 1.7km | Rooms from €8 |
“Small groups for practical sessions and enough time = perfect!”
- Liliane Ammann, Pferdeklinik Dalchenhof Switzerland, Practical Cardiology for Equine Practitioners course 2025
“Good interaction possibilities and small groups that were perfect for having the chance to practice.”
- Emma Arcangeli, Movile Pferdepraxis, Germany, Abdominal, Thoracic & Soft Tissue Ultrasound course 2024
Qualified Vet
Lectures & Practical Sessions
USD 2451.42
USD 2227.49
Lectures Only
USD 1225.71
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Lectures & Practical Sessions
USD 2327.67
USD 2115.53
Lectures Only
USD 1166.78
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Lectures & Practical Sessions
USD 4007.13
USD 3641.78
Lectures Only
USD 3241.06
USD 2940.53
Intern/Resident/PhD (Requires proof of status)
Lectures Only
USD 612.86
USD 612.86
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USD 247.50
USD 223.93
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