Rob Franklin, DVM, DACVIM, of Weatherford, Texas, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Equitarian Initiative, a group of equine veterinarians and caregivers looking to provide education, leadership and assistance to working equid and by extension their owner-families.

“Dr. Franklin has worked internationally and is a well known internal medicine clinician with great talent as both a veterinary caregiver and a collaborator,” said Initiative Co-Founders Julie Wilson, DVM, DACVIM, treasurer, and Jay Merriam, DVM, MS, president, in announcing his appointment. “He brings a wealth of knowledge about clinical nutrition and is working on developing locally sourced supplements to be made available at no cost to these needy animals.”

Franklin, who has traveled to Mexico to assist in the efforts, says the appointment is one of the most rewarding of his career.

“After traveling to Mexico and seeing the needs of families who depend on horses and donkeys for their livelihood, I was compelled to see this movement grow,” said Franklin, who is also co-founder of FullBucket Animal Health headquartered in Weatherford. “Through FullBucket’s Care+Care program, the Equine Initiative is seeing an increase in support of its efforts to care for the health of these animals.”

It is estimated that there are 100 million working equids in the developing world. A working equid is defined as a horse, mule or donkey that is used primarily for family income, agriculture and/or transportation.

The Initiative first began with a treatment workshop in Veracruz, Mexico, in October 2010, and is one that continues to be an annual event. The event has since grown to serve needs in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru, Costa Rica, Honduras, Morocco, on American Indian reservations and in Mexico.

For every FullBucket product purchased, a necessary supplement is provided at no cost to animal health care providers enlisted with the Equine Initiative in underdeveloped countries for animals in need.

Dr. Franklin received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University in 1999 and completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Florida. He is currently president of the Texas Equine Veterinary Association.

FullBucket provides a complete line of animal care products focusing on nutritional health. Developed by Rob Franklin, DVM, Dip. ACVIM and Keith Latson, DVM, Dip. ACVS, FullBucket is the leading probiotic in the world and created Care+Care to assist animal health care providers and owners in underdeveloped countries by providing high-quality and scientifically proven nutritional supplements at no cost. To purchase FullBucket products, contact your MWI Veterinary Supply representative or go to  www.mwivet.com.

For more about the Equitarian Initiative, go to http://www.equitarianinitiative.org.