Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital

- 2150 Georgetown Rd Building 25, Lexington, KY 40511

For residents and horse owners across Kentucky, the care and well-being of your equine companions are paramount. When specialized, world-class veterinary service is needed, you need to know you can rely on a facility with a proven global reputation for excellence, innovation, and compassionate treatment. Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, located in the heart of the Bluegrass region in Lexington, is that destination. Established in 1986 by founding partners Dr. William Rood and Dr. Thomas Riddle, this facility has grown from a local ambulatory practice into a worldwide leader in equine healthcare. It is often referred to as the “Mayo Clinic for horses,” a testament to its commitment to advanced medical and surgical care for all breeds and disciplines.

The hospital's mission is clear: to provide expertise for their patients in a caring, professional, and ethical manner that brings value to the entire equine community. This commitment shines through in every interaction, from routine check-ups to complex, life-saving procedures. The facility serves as a major referral center, drawing clients not only from Kentucky but from around the world, including Thoroughbred horse racing interests, sport horse owners, and owners of beloved backyard horses. Their dedication ensures that every patient, regardless of its background, receives the highest standard of care available.

The entire operation sits on a dedicated campus, housing state-of-the-art diagnostic technology, surgical centers, and specialized units for intensive care, reproduction, and podiatry. This all-encompassing approach ensures that a comprehensive team of specialists is available under one roof to address virtually any medical or surgical challenge a horse might face.

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital is conveniently located in Kentucky's Horse Capital, making it highly accessible for horse owners across the state and beyond. You can find this essential facility at:

• Address: 2150 Georgetown Rd Building 25, Lexington, KY 40511, USA

The facility prioritizes accessibility for all visitors, offering:

• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot
• Wheelchair accessible restroom

The central location, just off Georgetown Road, places it perfectly within the Bluegrass, minimizing travel time in critical emergency situations and providing a serene yet professional setting for longer-term care.

Rood & Riddle is a full-service equine hospital, providing an exhaustive range of advanced medical, surgical, and diagnostic services. Their offerings ensure that a patient's entire healthcare needs can be managed by a team of board-certified specialists and experienced veterinarians.

• Ambulatory Services: Providing on-site care for breeding farms, sport horse facilities, and other equine events, including preventative care, general reproduction, and lameness.
• Emergency Surgical: Offering 24/7 emergency veterinarian service to address critical, time-sensitive injuries and illnesses.
• Equine Surgery: Featuring multiple state-of-the-art surgical suites for both high-risk contamination cases (like colic) and low-risk elective procedures (like orthopedics).
• Equine Surgeons: The team includes internationally recognized experts in various surgical sub-specialties.
• Orthopedic Surgery: Specializing in advanced procedures for bones, joints, and ligaments, including revolutionary techniques like the routine use of bone plates and screws.
• Soft Tissue Procedures: Comprehensive care for non-skeletal surgical needs.
• Internal Medicine Specialist: Dedicated specialists for complex medical cases such as colic, pneumonia, infectious diseases, and mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) management.
• Diagnostic Imaging: Utilizing cutting-edge technology for thorough diagnostic evaluations, including CT Scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Imaging Ultrasound, Endoscopy (Standing and Overground), Radiology, and Nuclear Scintigraphy.
• Lameness Exam: Detailed evaluations to diagnose the source of performance-limiting issues.
• Equine Sports Medicine: Focused care to maintain and restore peak athletic performance in competition horses.
• Pediatric Medicine: Specialized medical attention for foals and young horses.
• General Anesthesia: Safely administered and monitored anesthesia by trained professionals for all surgical and complex diagnostic procedures.
• Veterinary Pharmacy: An on-site veterinary pharmacy that provides prescription medications, including custom-compounded formulations, with quick, knowledgeable service.
• Animal Health: Comprehensive preventative and general care to maintain overall equine health.
• Medical And Surgical Care: Providing the full spectrum of intensive care, including a Colic Intensive Care Unit and a Neonatal Unit.
• Thorough Diagnostic: Ensuring that all treatment plans are based on the most accurate and complete medical information possible.

The reputation of Rood & Riddle is built on several key distinctions that set it apart as a premier equine referral center.

• World-Renowned Expertise: The hospital’s veterinary staff includes leaders in their fields, such as internationally recognized orthopedic surgeons and reproduction specialists, who contribute to research and publish their findings globally.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: The Lexington campus features surgical centers, a Podiatry Center, a dedicated Reproductive Center, a Colic ICU, and a Neonatal Unit, all equipped with the latest technology for diagnostics and treatment.
• Commitment to the Community: Rood & Riddle has played a crucial role in managing and researching widespread equine health crises in Kentucky, such as the Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome (MRLS) outbreak in 2001, demonstrating its dedication to the broader equine population.
• Compassionate, Individualized Care: As noted by real client reviews, the hospital is praised for providing the same level of attentive, personalized, and empathetic care to a "20 year old backyard horse" as they would to an "elite competition horse." The staff goes above and beyond, including follow-up care and even personalized sympathy cards.
• Referral Center for Complex Cases: A majority of their caseload consists of referred cases, confirming their status as a "final authority" and expert destination for injuries and diseases that require highly specialized intervention.
• Appointments Recommended: While emergency services are 24/7, the hospital manages its high volume of specialized care efficiently, and appointments are recommended for routine or planned visits.

To schedule an appointment, inquire about services, or access the veterinary pharmacy, please use the following contact details. Remember that they offer Emergency Veterinarian Service, available around the clock for critical care needs.

• Address: 2150 Georgetown Rd Building 25, Lexington, KY 40511, USA
• Phone: (859) 233-0371
• Mobile Phone: +1 859-233-0371

Choosing Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital means selecting a facility that embodies the best of Kentucky’s equestrian legacy combined with global medical innovation. It is an institution where teamwork, professional excellence, and genuine compassion intersect. Clients consistently highlight the dedication of individual doctors and the staff's willingness to communicate honestly and guide owners through difficult decisions—even recommending against a costly surgery when it is not in the horse’s best interest, as one review shared. This integrity is rare and invaluable.

Whether you need a cutting-edge orthopedic repair, advanced reproductive services, intensive care for a critically ill patient, or general preventative veterinary care, this hospital has the facilities and the personnel to deliver an unparalleled standard of treatment. For any horse owner in Kentucky, having this world-class medical resource right in the Bluegrass is a profound advantage and a true source of confidence. When the health of your horse is on the line, the expert care, advanced diagnostics, and compassionate support found at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital make it the definitive choice.

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital

2150 Georgetown Rd Building 25, Lexington, KY 40511, USA