Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital

What Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital does

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital is a privately held, multi-location referral equine veterinary practice operating three 24/7 hospital campuses — Lexington, KY (headquarters, 1986, 150-160 stalls across nine barns including colic, neonatal ICU, high-risk pregnancy, and isolation facilities); Saratoga Springs, NY (since ~2013, 24 stalls across four barns, two surgical suites, standing and general-anesthesia CT added 2022); and Wellington, FL (since ~2016-17, two barns with bone scan, treatment facilities, and the standing PET scanner installed in 2022). The hospital is owned by 36 veterinary shareholders as a Kentucky professional service corporation, with co-founders Drs. Bill Rood and Tom Riddle now in emeritus status and Dr. Deborah Spike-Pierce serving as President/CEO. It is organized around specialty service lines including surgery, internal medicine, theriogenology/advanced reproduction, podiatry, dentistry, ophthalmology, anesthesiology, sport horse medicine, regenerative medicine (in-house stem cell lab, IRAP, PRP, shockwave), and a full diagnostic imaging suite (high-field MRI, standing and general-anesthesia CT, standing PET, nuclear scintigraphy, ultrasound, standing and overground endoscopy, digital radiography), supported by in-house laboratories. The Lexington clinical bench alone includes 7 board-certified surgeons, 5 internists, 4 theriogenologists, plus board-certified anesthesiologist, ophthalmologist, dentist, and 4 podiatrists.

The business model is a multi-referral equine specialty practice: primary revenue is professional fees for hospital-based and ambulatory services billed per case across surgery, medicine, reproduction, podiatry, and imaging, complemented by an ambulatory field service that brings clinicians to central Kentucky and Saratoga farms for breeding management, radiography, lameness exams, and emergency care. A second revenue stream is the wholly-owned Rood & Riddle Veterinary Pharmacy (RRVP) at rrvp.com, which sells prescription, non-prescription, and over 3,000 compounded formulations nationally to equine and companion animal patients and serves as the official pharmacy for the Breeders' Cup and National Horse Show. Tertiary revenue comes from continuing education and conference registrations (biennial International Podiatry Conference, Equine Upper Airway Symposia in the US and Europe, Partners in Practice Seminar, Cocktails & Conversations, Client Education Seminar) and from sponsorships of major North American equine organizations. Customer segments span Thoroughbred breeding and racing operations in central Kentucky, sport horse (hunter/jumper, dressage, eventing) owners, polo and equestrian sport clients in Wellington, referring equine veterinarians, and farriers; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is delivered through appointment requests and inquiry forms at each campus. The hospital is the official veterinary hospital and pharmacy of the Breeders' Cup World Championships and the National Horse Show, treats championship horses across disciplines (e.g., California Chrome, Wise Dan, Cyklon 1083, Celtic Fire, Chevy), and operates a long-running 53-week internship, residency, two-year podiatry fellowship, and externship pipeline (390+ alumni since 1986, with 121 achieving board certification across 12 AVMA specialty colleges) that doubles as a long-term referral and talent ecosystem.

Name

Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital

Legal name

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital PSC

Website

https://roodandriddle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital is a privately held, multi-location referral equine specialty practice operating 24/7 hospitals in Lexington KY, Saratoga Springs NY, and Wellington FL, plus a national compounding pharmacy. It serves Thoroughbred breeders, sport horse owners, polo clients, and referring veterinarians with surgery, medicine, reproduction, podiatry, and advanced imaging services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine Veterinary Healthcare

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Equine Hospital & Surgical Services (HLAMABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Specialty Referral Hospitals (Multi-specialty) (HLAMACAB), Equine Ambulatory & On-Farm Veterinary Services (HLAMABAE), Large Animal & Equine Emergency/Critical Care & Referral (HLAMABAI)

Keywords

• Equine veterinary services
• Equine specialty hospital
• Veterinary diagnostic imaging
• Equine sports medicine
• Equine reproductive services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Veterinary Hospital and Ambulatory Service Fees: Primary revenue: professional fees for hospital-based and ambulatory equine veterinary services including surgery, internal medicine, reproduction/theriogenology, podiatry, dentistry, sport horse medicine, regenerative medicine, diagnostic imaging, and emergency care. Billed per service/case across Lexington, Saratoga, and Wellington locations, plus farm-call ambulatory services.
2. Veterinary Pharmacy (RRVP): Revenue from Rood & Riddle Veterinary Pharmacy (rrvp.com), selling prescription medications, non-prescription products, and over 3,000 compounded formulations for equine and companion animal patients nationally.
3. Continuing Education and Conference Revenue: Revenue from CE registration fees and sponsorship of the biennial International Podiatry Conference, Equine Upper Airway Symposia (US and Europe), Partners in Practice, and other seminars.
4. Diagnostic Laboratory Services: In-house laboratory services supporting internal cases plus likely third-party submissions via the published Laboratory Submission Form (semen, bloodwork, etc.).

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital operates three 24/7 referral hospital campuses in Lexington, KY; Saratoga Springs, NY; and Wellington, FL, providing specialty equine veterinary services (surgery, internal medicine, theriogenology, podiatry, dentistry, sport horse medicine, regenerative medicine, and ophthalmology), advanced diagnostic imaging (MRI, CT, standing PET, nuclear scintigraphy, ultrasound, endoscopy, digital radiography), in-house laboratory services, ambulatory farm-call care, and a separate compounding veterinary pharmacy (RRVP).

Product overview

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital is a multi-location referral equine veterinary practice — not a software platform — operating three hospital campuses (Lexington, KY; Saratoga Springs, NY; Wellington, FL) supported by the separate Rood & Riddle Veterinary Pharmacy (rrvp.com). The offering is structured as a unified referral hospital plus a portfolio of clinical service lines: Ambulatory, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Imaging (encompassing CT, PET Scan, MRI, Ultrasound, Standing and Overground Endoscopy, Radiology, and Nuclear Scintigraphy), Reproduction / Theriogenology, Podiatry, Dentistry, Sport Horse Medicine, Laboratory, and Regenerative Medicine (including stem cell and IRAP). These clinical services are wrapped with educational and community-facing products: the StallSide Podcast, RREH TV, the Thoroughbred Sport Horse Awards (co-sponsored with USEF and TOBA), the Comeback Award, an Internship/Externship/Residency/Podiatry Fellowship training pipeline, and a Continuing Education program. The digital surface is the marketing website plus a client login portal hosted on ezyvet, with no public API or AI product features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rood & Riddle Veterinary Pharmacy (RRVP): Veterinary pharmacy offering prescription, non-prescription, and over 3,000 compounded formulations for top equine athletes and companion animals.

Products and services

• Ambulatory Services Farm-call equine veterinary service bringing Rood & Riddle clinical expertise directly to client farms across central Kentucky and the Saratoga region for herd health, reproductive work, radiography, lameness exams, and emergency care.
• Surgery In-hospital surgical service for severely ill or injured horses, including upper airway, gastrointestinal, orthopedic, and urogenital procedures, staffed and equipped for rapid intervention.
• Internal Medicine Specialty medical care for infectious diseases, complex medical conditions, and critical care support of ill horses at the three hospital locations.
• Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic imaging service equipped with CT, standing PET scan, MRI, ultrasound, endoscopy (standing and overground), digital radiography, and nuclear scintigraphy, with images interpreted by board-certified radiologists or internists.
• Reproduction / Theriogenology Full-spectrum equine reproductive health and management services for mares and stallions, supported by the dedicated Theriogenology / Advanced Reproduction team and in-house laboratory for semen processing, evaluation, and shipping.
• Podiatry Equine foot care using advanced diagnostics, including lameness diagnosis, therapeutic shoeing, and surgical intervention, delivered by four podiatrists in Lexington alongside a two-year podiatry fellowship.
• Dentistry Equine dentistry services ranging from routine oral examinations to advanced dental procedures, delivered by experienced veterinarians including a board-certified equine dentist.
• Sport Horse Medicine Evidence-based sports medicine for equine athletes across disciplines, including pre-purchase exams, sales radiographs, lameness evaluation, and performance-focused care.
• Laboratory Services
• Regenerative Medicine Specialty regenerative therapies including in-house stem cell lab, IRAP (Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein), shock wave therapy, and PRP for equine musculoskeletal conditions.
• Ophthalmology Specialty ophthalmology service staffed by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists, supporting diagnosis and treatment of equine eye conditions.
• Rood & Riddle Veterinary Pharmacy (RRVP) Premier veterinary pharmacy providing prescription, non-prescription, and over 3,000 compounded formulations for top equine athletes and companion animals, sold through rrvp.com and supported by the three hospital locations.
• Continuing Education Program Registration-based continuing education program offering the biennial International Podiatry Conference, Equine Upper Airway Symposia (US and Europe), Partners in Practice Seminar, Client Education Seminar, and Cocktails & Conversations, targeted at veterinarians, farriers, and horse owners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 121 former interns achieved board certification across 12 specialty colleges
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature8 records

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Breeders' Cup World ChampionshipsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerRood & Riddle is the "Official Equine Hospital and Veterinary Pharmacy" of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, supporting the world's top Thoroughbred athletes during the annual championships.
• National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) - Eclipse AwardsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerRood & Riddle sponsors the Eclipse Awards, the NTRA's annual honors recognizing North American Thoroughbred champions across racing categories.
• United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRood & Riddle is an official sponsor of USHJA, supporting programs and services for the hunter/jumper sport.
• American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRood & Riddle sponsors and supports the AAEP and its Foundation; hosts and supports AAEP-aligned continuing education and is a member of the professional equine veterinary community.
• National Horse Show (NHS)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial veterinarian and veterinary pharmacy of the National Horse Show, the oldest horse show in the United States.
• Gulfstream Park - Pan American StakescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Pan American Stakes (Grade II) held annually on Florida Derby Day at Gulfstream Park.
• New York Racing Association (NYRA) - Funny Cide Stakes / SaratogacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Partner of the NY-Breds Funny Cide Stakes held annually on NY-Bred Day at Saratoga Race Course; also the official equine hospital of multiple hunter/jumper shows including Vermont Summer Festival, Lake Placid Horse Shows, and HITS Saugerties.
• American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHBA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the ASHBA Breeders Challenge Stake at the World Championship Horse Show.
• Hambletonian Society - Breeders CrowncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the $6.7 million Breeders Crown, the richest and most prestigious Standardbred year-end divisional championship series.
• Make-A-Wish FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRood & Riddle is the "Wish Sponsor" of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, hosting a wish child and family annually at Keeneland Race Course.
• Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports CKRH's annual "Night of the Stars" gala funding equine-assisted activities for people with physical, cognitive, and behavioral special needs.
• Masterson Equestrian Trust (MET)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of the Masterson Equestrian Trust hunter/jumper event.
• Show Jumping Hall of FameminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProud sponsor of the U.S. Show Jumping Hall of Fame.
• Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership co-presenting the Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse Awards since 2009, alongside USEF; TOBA presents the Horse of the Year award at its annual awards dinner.
• Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club (KTFMC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember and supporter of KTFMC, the central Kentucky Thoroughbred farm manager professional organization.
• Kentucky Thoroughbred Association / Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTA/KTOB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports KTA/KTOB in advocacy for the Kentucky Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry.
• Kentucky Horse CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember and sponsor of the Kentucky Horse Council, including annual large-animal emergency response training.
• Retired Racehorse Project (RRP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports and provides educational presentations to the Retired Racehorse Project, which promotes second careers for off-track Thoroughbreds.
• Mid-South Eventing and Dressage Association (MSEDA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor of MSEDA's Dressage at the Park team competition.
• Grayson-Jockey Club Research FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports the foundation's funding of equine veterinary research at universities across North America.
• Boehringer Ingelheim Animal HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the biennial Rood & Riddle International Podiatry Conference; cross-listed on the Helpful Links industry resources page as a partner pharmaceutical company.
• Zoetis (Equine)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle International Podiatry Conference and the Partners in Practice seminar; cross-listed on the Helpful Links industry resources page.
• Merck Animal HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Partners in Practice seminar and cross-listed industry partner on the Helpful Links page.
• CovetruscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Partners in Practice seminar and cross-listed industry partner on the Helpful Links page.
• Patterson VeterinarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Partners in Practice seminar and cross-listed industry partner on the Helpful Links page.
• Platinum PerformanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle International Podiatry Conference.
• Farrierproducts (Kerckhaert hoof pads)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle International Podiatry Conference (Kerckhaert hoof pads).
• Soft Ride Equine BootsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle International Podiatry Conference.
• Antech Diagnostics (Sound Imaging)coreTechnology or IntegrationEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle International Podiatry Conference (Sound/Antech imaging equipment brand).
• Sound Horse TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle International Podiatry Conference.
• Rion Veterinary SupplyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle International Podiatry Conference.
• Aurora PharmaceuticalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle Partners in Practice seminar.
• Epicur PharmaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle Partners in Practice seminar.
• Hilltop Bio (Equine)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle Partners in Practice seminar (equine regenerative medicine).
• Keeneland RacecoursecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle Partners in Practice seminar; also the site where Rood & Riddle hosts Make-A-Wish children and families each year.
• Neogen CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of both the Rood & Riddle Partners in Practice seminar and the Client Education Seminar.
• Hallway FeedsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle Client Education Seminar.
• Franklin-Williams (financial advisory)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sponsor of the Rood & Riddle Partners in Practice seminar.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hagyard Equine Medical Institute: Hagyard is the other dominant equine referral hospital headquartered in Lexington, KY, offering surgery, internal medicine, reproduction, and ambulatory services to thoroughbred and sport horse clients. It is Rood & Riddle's most direct competitor in the Bluegrass region and shares the same end customers (Kentucky breeding farms, sport horse owners) and referral dynamics.
• Palm Beach Equine Clinic: Palm Beach Equine Clinic is a Wellington, FL-based equine referral hospital and direct competitor to Rood & Riddle's Wellington campus, serving the winter equestrian community (polo, show jumping, dressage). Both hospitals vie for the same high-end sport horse caseload in Wellington and South Florida.
• Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery (ESMS): ESMS is a multi-location equine referral hospital group based in Weatherford, TX, offering surgery, internal medicine, sports medicine, reproduction, and advanced imaging. Comparable to Rood & Riddle in clinical scope and target customer (high-value performance horses), it serves as a Southern/Southwestern U.S. peer.
• San Luis Rey Equine Hospital: San Luis Rey is a large equine referral hospital in Bonsall, CA, providing surgery, internal medicine, reproduction, and emergency services to the California thoroughbred and sport horse market. Comparable to Rood & Riddle as a full-service specialty referral hospital serving high-value equine athletes on the West Coast.
• Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center: Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Ringoes, NJ, is a specialty referral hospital offering surgery, internal medicine, reproduction, and sport horse medicine to the Northeast U.S. equine market. It overlaps directly with Rood & Riddle's Saratoga referral catchment and serves a similar standardbred/thoroughbred/sport horse clientele.
• Equine Medical Center of Ocala: Equine Medical Center of Ocala is a referral hospital in Ocala, FL, the second major Florida equine cluster, offering surgery, internal medicine, and reproduction services. Comparable to Rood & Riddle's Wellington campus in clinical scope and end customers, and a potential peer if Rood & Riddle expands into Ocala.
• Chino Valley Equine Hospital: Chino Valley Equine Hospital is a Southern California equine specialty practice offering surgery, internal medicine, reproduction, and advanced imaging. Comparable to Rood & Riddle as a multi-service referral hospital focused on high-value performance horses in a major U.S. equine region.
• Steinbeck Country Equine Clinic: Steinbeck Country Equine Clinic in Salinas, CA, is a specialty equine referral hospital serving the California thoroughbred breeding and racing corridor. Comparable in scope (surgery, internal medicine, reproduction, ambulatory) to Rood & Riddle's Kentucky and Saratoga campuses and serves similar breeding and racing customers.

Broad incumbents

• UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital — Large Animal Clinic: UC Davis Large Animal Clinic is an academic veterinary teaching hospital with a well-established equine service that competes with Rood & Riddle for specialty referrals, residency-trained specialists, and complex cases in the Western U.S. As an academic institution it offers research and residency pipelines, but it lacks Rood & Riddle's three-anchor private referral footprint and pharmacy subsidiary.
• Cornell University Equine Hospital: Cornell's Equine Hospital is an academic specialty referral center in Ithaca, NY, with overlapping capabilities in surgery, internal medicine, reproduction, and advanced imaging. It competes for Northeast referrals and trains residents who feed the same specialist pipeline as Rood & Riddle's internship/residency programs, but operates within a broader academic mission rather than Rood & Riddle's private multi-market model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital