Hagyard Equine Medical Institute: Woodruff Heather DVM

- 4250 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511

For over 145 years, the name Hagyard has been synonymous with the highest echelon of veterinary care in the equine world. Located in the heart of the Bluegrass, the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, KY, stands as the oldest and one of the largest private equine veterinary practices globally. This is not a typical local clinic; it is a full-service, state-of-the-art referral center that sets the standard for equine medicine worldwide, serving a diverse clientele that includes international breeding operations, world-renowned racehorses, elite sport horses, and pleasure horses.

The institute operates with a deep bench of more than 50 veterinarians, each contributing a variety of specialties and interests, ensuring that no other single non-university veterinary group in the equine world can match their collective qualifications. The team is grouped into specialized divisions, providing seamless, comprehensive care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This dedication to expertise and patient focus is a hallmark of the institute's philosophy, tracing its roots back to 1876.

Within this esteemed group is a team of veterinarians dedicated to various disciplines, including specialists like Dr. Heather Woodruff DVM. Dr. Woodruff is associated with the Hagyard Sport Horse program (now often referred to as Foxwood Equine Sports Medicine, collaborating with Hagyard), focusing on the intricate health and performance needs of equine athletes. Her experience includes serving as an official show veterinarian for major equestrian festivals, demonstrating a specific focus on maintaining high-performance horses in the competitive arena through diagnostics, lameness evaluations, and cutting-edge therapies.

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is situated in a prominent, easily accessible location directly across from the Kentucky Horse Park, making it a central fixture in the state’s world-famous horse country.

The main campus address is:

4250 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511, USA.

The facility is designed as a large, modern medical complex, covering over 110 acres, dedicated entirely to equine patients. The institute ensures comfort and convenience for clients through several accessibility features. Specifically, the campus includes a wheelchair accessible entrance, designated wheelchair accessible parking lots, and a wheelchair accessible restroom. Due to the high-level, often critical nature of the cases managed here, appointments are strongly recommended for all non-emergency procedures to ensure that your horse receives the focused attention required from the appropriate specialist.

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is comprised of several specialized divisions, allowing it to offer an expanded definition of "full-service" care, ensuring that every horse receives innovative and specialized treatment.

• Emergency & Critical Care: A full-service hospital operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with dedicated staff and facilities, including a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) within the McGee Medicine Center for critically ill newborn foals.
• Equine Surgery (Davidson Surgery Center): State-of-the-art surgical procedures spanning orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, utilizing cutting-edge technology and techniques for superior results.
• Internal Medicine (McGee Medicine Center): Specialized treatment for acute or chronic diseases, injury, and long-term recovery care, managing over 2,500 medicine and critical care cases annually.
• Reproduction & Fertility (McGee Fertility Center): Advanced services for breeding and fertility management, supporting both international breeding operations and local farm owners.
• Performance Medicine & Lameness (Hagyard Sport Horse/Foxwood Equine Sports Medicine): Comprehensive health and wellness programs tailored to equine athletes, including lameness evaluations, diagnostics, acupuncture, and advanced therapies for performance maintenance.
• Advanced Diagnostics and Imaging: Comprehensive capabilities including specialized laboratory services (Hagyard Laboratory), advanced imaging, hyperbaric medicine facilities, and ophthalmology services.
• Ambulatory & Field Care (Hagyard Field Care): Full-service veterinary care brought directly to farms and boarding facilities throughout the region for routine health management and initial emergency response.
• Equine Podiatry: Highly specialized care for the equine foot, often integrated with the Sport Horse program, addressing complex hoof issues and injuries.
• In-House Pharmacy: The Hagyard Pharmacy provides full-service veterinary specialty compounding, prescription pharmaceuticals, and supplements, staffed by licensed pharmacists with extensive equine knowledge.

Choosing Hagyard is choosing an institution whose history is intertwined with the history of equine excellence in Kentucky. The institute's numerous unique features set it apart from typical veterinary practices.

• Oldest and Largest Private Equine Practice: Established in 1876, Hagyard's legacy and experience are unmatched, providing a foundation of trust that spans centuries and generations of horsemen and women.
• Unmatched Team Qualifications: The practice boasts over 50 veterinarians, including specialists with Board Certifications in specialty areas like Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, Ophthalmology, and Theriogenology—qualifications no other single non-university group can match.
• Dedicated Specialty Centers: The division of the hospital into specialized centers (Davidson Surgery, McGee Medicine, McGee Fertility, Sport Horse) ensures that every patient, from a critically ill foal to a world-class athlete, receives care from the most qualified and focused professionals.
• Expertise in Sport Horse Medicine: With doctors like Dr. Heather Woodruff DVM, who have experience as official show veterinarians, the Hagyard Sport Horse program offers cutting-edge, long-term solutions for athletic maintenance, lameness, and rehabilitation.
• 24/7/365 Emergency Coverage: The constant availability of expert staff and specialized facilities like the NICU provides crucial peace of mind to horse owners, knowing that world-class emergency care is always on call.
• Commitment to Education and Research: Hagyard actively invests in educational programs for veterinarians and engages in research efforts, ensuring that their treatments and surgical methods remain at the very forefront of equine veterinary science.

To schedule an appointment for non-emergency services, or to be routed to the appropriate specialist—be it for surgery, fertility, or sports medicine—please use the main contact line. Note that the 24/7 dispatch team uses a dedicated emergency line.

Address: 4250 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511, USA

Phone: (859) 255-8746 (General Inquiries/Appointments)

Emergency Contact: (859) 255-8741 (24/7 Emergency Dispatch)

For horse owners in Kentucky, choosing Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is about securing an unequaled level of assurance for your animal's health. The most compelling reason to choose Hagyard is the unparalleled depth of expertise and resources all concentrated in one place. Whether you need a specialist for a complex orthopedic surgery, advanced reproductive techniques for a champion mare, or critical care for a sick foal, the required specialist and state-of-the-art facility are already here.

The institute's long history provides a proven track record, and its modern divisions ensure that every specialized need is met. For owners of equine athletes, the dedicated Sport Horse program, with practitioners like Dr. Woodruff, offers holistic, cutting-edge care that extends beyond simple treatment to long-term performance maintenance and recovery. The 24/7 availability of their emergency services is a vital safety net for any horse owner in the Bluegrass region.

By choosing Hagyard, you are partnering with a veterinary institution that not only understands the emotional and financial value of your horse but also contributes to the global advancement of equine medicine, ensuring your companion benefits from the best care available anywhere in the world.

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute: Woodruff Heather DVM

4250 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511, USA