42 SIDELINES DECEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Continued on page 44
All
Horses
Great
and
Small
By Kayce Douglass and Jan Westmark-Allan
S
itting down to interview Dr. Terry Swanson
is much like interviewing James Herriot,
the vet who penned the best-selling series
“All Creatures Great and Small.” Dr. Swanson, a
veterinarian from Littleton Equine Medical Center in
Littleton, Colorado, is equally charming, admired and
loved – not just in Colorado but throughout the Rocky
Mountains.
Wearing his customary cowboy hat, Dr. Swanson chatted with
Sidelines staff member Kayce Douglass who gushed over the kind
hearted vet she has known for over 20 years. “He is so kind, warm
and humble,” Kayce said. “People come from all over the country
to see him and he has fown all over the world to look at horses,
from Germany to Holland and throughout the United States.”
During the interview with Dr. Swanson, the modest veterinarian
who is an accomplished roper, removed his cowboy hat during
the chat. “He had to take two phone calls while we were talking,
one from Argentina and one from Texas, each time regarding a
diagnosis on a horse,” Kayce said. “With each call, Dr. Swanson
would put his cowboy hat on and go take the call and then return,
take his hat off, sit back down and go right back to talking to me. He
is such a genuine person – not to mention a brilliant veterinarian.”
Dr. Swanson grew up on his family’s cattle ranch in South
Eastern Wyoming and attended the University of Wyoming before
going to vet school at Colorado State University. He joined the
Littleton Equine practice 45 years ago, developing a following and
a respected reputation second to none. He and his wife Elaine,
who is fondly called Peachie, have been married 45 years. Their
son Roy has blessed them with two grandchildren, Quincy Rose
and Waylon Gene and the proud grandfather is happy to say his
grandchildren are a huge part of his life.
When did you know you wanted to be a veterinarian?
When I was very young, while growing up on our cattle ranch, I
knew I wanted to be a vet. We had commercial cattle and Quarter
Horses. Working on the ranch introduced me to the world of
veterinary science and large animals. It was a way of life for us.
What is the best thing about being a vet?
Defnitely the people. Horses have always been my avocation
and my profession. Having grown up on a rural ranch in Wyoming,
horses were our way of life. I care about horses and their welfare.
However, I am so happy working with my clients and helping them
with their horses. It is so rewarding for me to see the happiness
on their faces, when I am able to help them and the horses that
they so passionately care about. I enjoy being at all of the horse
shows, rodeos and all of the equestrian events in the community
and seeing my clients with their horses. There is such joy for me
when a little girl comes up to me on her pony, with a BIG smile on
her face and shows me her ribbon. That makes me smile!
What’s one of the most interesting cases you’ve had as a
veterinarian?
There have been many, however, one that I especially
remember is a horse that was intermittently lame on his hind leg.
We were able to diagnose a clot in the main artery of his leg. The
prognosis was not good at all. After much research we found a
terrifc vet in Holland, Dr. Astrid Riijkenhuizen. She came here
and did the surgery and it was successful and this horse is still
competing today.
Dr. Terry Swanson shows off his roping skills.
Photo courtesy of David R. Stoecklein and Platinum Performance