Texas Equine Veterinary Association

www.texasequineva.com | 11 that I can script, and one I will hold dear forever. My relationship with Dr. Blodgett started in the early 90's. I was a college undergraduate who ran the horse center for Texas Tech, and like many, had fanciful dreams about the western lifestyle. I was fortunate enough to interact with the ranch during that time, and two of my college co-workers eventually went to work for him – one becoming Doc's right-hand woman for two decades and a person he saw as one of his daughters. He was instrumental in the development of countless undergrads, veterinary students, and interns. e work was always demanding, and the environment was all consuming, but the experiences for those students was like no other. I began a close working relationship with Doc in 2010 and was at the ranch almost monthly for 10+ years. Reflecting on my lunch with him just days prior to his surgery is still an emotional, surreal memory. In his normal way of minimizing any attention to himself and so not to worry anyone, he had only told a handful of people about his upcoming procedure. He was a quiet oak when it came to tense or difficult situations, whether in life or in veterinary medicine. Something that struck me about five or six years into our relationship was how much confidence he built in me. It was not something he ever said. Doc was a man of few words, unless you knew the subjects that would get him talking! People that did not know him well struggled with that nature. He was not going to adorn you with words of affirmation but his confidence in you was made evident in what he trusted you with. A vivid memory for me was a phone call I received aer a difficult battle holding Mr. Jess Perry together aer a year of severe laminitis. We had been successful in our management but were going through major setbacks. As anyone who deals with these cases understands, when you begin to digress, every veterinarian, farrier, chiropractor, researcher, therapist, and gardener on the planet has an opinion on treatment, and virtually no recommendation falls in the category of Evidenced-Based Medicine. Doc had already humored a number of wild opinions to help satisfy shareholders and others invested in the case – including a halter that was sent from UC Davis that had 40 Christmas lights on it. It had some magical "California" power that would realign damaged lamella. I knew Doc, but I was concerned he was getting fatigued with the pressure of the industry and the progress of the case. I had presented a detailed plan for our next steps but fully expected at some point he would call in higher profile leads and try to foster all these multiple opinions. is never works with foundering horses. You make the best decision you can with the information you have and then stick to the plan and manage the periphery. I was driving late one evening about a week aer some critical meetings on Jess Perry and the phone read, Blodgett. I thought in my head, here we go; I am off the case. We are moving to Brazilian creams and magical halters. I answered and all Doc said was: "Conklin, we are boxing the blinking lights up and sending them back to Madigan – get down here, when you can, and let's move forward." at did two things for me. It reaffirmed what I knew about Doc. He had no intention of caving, and the quiet oak firmly made his opinion and presence known. Second, it exponentially elevated my clinical confidence, not in a boastful way, but in a way that reaffirmed my mindset for approaching cases. Jess Perry lived another six years. Doc significantly changed my career from that point forward and I am eternally thankful I was blessed to know him. We will miss you Dr. Blodgett. Dr. Jim Heird Coordinator, Lincoln Memorial University Equine Veterinary Medicine Educational With the loss of Glennn Blodgett, the horse, the veterinary and the ranching world lost a true visionary. In addition, many of us lost as true a friend as one can ever imagine. Glennn was a leader who served every organization in which he participated with alacrity and dedication. He never spontaneously said a lot, but when he spoke it was wise, timely and always valuable. His whisper was heard louder than most people's shouts in a meeting. He was at the cutting edge in equine veterinary medicine and worked tirelessly to make the discipline better. He was at the forefront in promoting what was best for the horse's welfare. Glenn was a leader in preserving ranch horses and in promoting racing, cutting, and cow horses. He was universally respected in the horse world. Glenn was a family man dedicated to his daughters, grandchildren and of course to his wife of fiy plus years, Karen. He was loyal to his employer of forty years, the 6666. Dr. Blodgett in front of the truck that the Texas Equine Foundation donated to the TAMU Veterinary Emergency Team. Dr. Blodgett was the President of the Texas Equine Foundation during the time that this truck was donated. Dr. Blodgett and the 2015 Texas Equine Veterinary Association Board of Directors, of which he was the President.

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