This year’s Ocala Equine Conference (OEC) brought together more than 150 equine practitioners for three days of high-impact continuing education in the heart of Florida’s horse country. Hosted by the Florida Association of Equine Practitioners (FAEP), this premier professional gathering once again delivered on its promise to blend education, innovation and community in an intimate setting designed specifically for its members.
For those who could not attend, here is a look at what made this year’s event especially impactful.
OEC Hands-On Wet Lab
A major highlight and draw of this year’s conference was a brand-new, enhanced small-group wet lab. Designed to build confidence and clinical competence, the lab allowed participants to rotate through four focused skill stations, each limited to just eight veterinarians.
- Subpalpebral lavage techniques
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Podiatric ultrasound
- Ophthalmology procedures
This structure optimized personalized instruction and provided ample time for questions, repetition and refinement. Participants were actively engaged in performing procedures under the guidance of recognized experts.
Attendees also had the opportunity to share case experiences and strategies for troubleshooting complex procedures that extended beyond the formal curriculum. The result was a collaborative learning environment that reinforced OEC’s reputation as a conference where clinical skills are sharpened, not just discussed
Education in Application
Beyond the wet lab, OEC offered expertly led sessions in which speakers focused on practical decision-making, diagnostic strategies and treatment techniques relevant to today’s equine practice. Attendees had the opportunity to continue discussions after sessions concluded. Conversations flowed from lecture rooms to hallways and into the exhibit space, reinforcing the conference’s emphasis on collegial exchange and anecdotal learning.
As a membership-based veterinary association, the FAEP remains committed to supporting, advocating for and providing educational opportunities to veterinary professionals. OEC reflects that mission by delivering high-value CE tailored to the needs of equine practitioners and their teams.
An Event with a Lasting Impact
Attendees left OEC with refined techniques and increased confidence, ready to implement what they learned immediately in their own practice. The event remains a reminder of the value of in-person, hands-on education.
The combination of expert instruction, small-group learning and a supportive professional community continues to set this conference apart.
Looking Ahead: Join Us for OEC 2027
If you missed OEC, you have another opportunity to attend next year, when the conference returns to Ocala, Florida, in 2027.
We encourage you to plan to join us. If this year demonstrated anything, it is that when equine practitioners come together to learn and collaborate, the impact extends far beyond the conference room and into every barn, clinic, and patient our members serve.