Beyond the Classroom: WSU Veterinary Students Provide Critical Care to Rescued Idaho Herd

By Communications Staff, College of Veterinary Medicine
September 14, 2026

In the high-stakes world of veterinary medicine, the classroom is only the beginning of the journey. For fourth-year Washington State University (WSU) veterinary student Erin Levine and her colleagues, the true laboratory is often found in the field, far from the sterile environment of a teaching hospital. Recently, that laboratory took the form of the Lewiston Livestock Market, where a team of dedicated students and faculty converged to provide urgent care for 66 horses rescued from a severe neglect case in northern Idaho.

The operation was more than just a volunteer effort; it was a masterclass in field medicine, disaster response, and the profound impact of community partnerships.

The Scope of the Mission: Addressing a Large-Scale Neglect Case

The emergency response was prompted by a significant animal welfare crisis in Idaho. When 66 horses were seized from a neglect situation, the scale of the operation posed an immediate challenge to local resources. Providing comprehensive veterinary care—including examinations, vaccinations, deworming, and microchipping—for such a large group of animals requires a logistical precision that is difficult to achieve without specialized support.

WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, leveraging its deep bench of expertise and student talent, stepped in to bridge the gap. For students like Erin Levine, the assignment was an opportunity to apply years of rigorous academic preparation to a chaotic, real-world scenario.

"I was there with a few other students helping to get these horses examined, dewormed, vaccinated, and microchipped along with the awesome equine ambulatory vet team," Levine said. "We were also able to perform a new foal exam on a very recently born colt."

Chronology of a Field Operation

The day began early at the Lewiston Livestock Market, where the rescued horses had been relocated. The atmosphere was one of organized urgency.

• Arrival and Triage: Upon arrival, the team established a workflow. The primary goal was to ensure each animal was assessed for immediate health risks.
• The Clinical Process: Students, working under the direct supervision of WSU faculty and veterinary technicians, performed full physical examinations on each horse. The process was systematic: checking vital signs, assessing body condition scores, and addressing basic health maintenance needs.
• Specialized Care: As the day progressed, the team encountered unique cases, including the aforementioned foal. This necessitated shifting from standard processing to specialized neonatal care, providing the students with exposure to pediatric equine medicine in an unpredictable environment.
• Behavioral Rehabilitation: The afternoon was dedicated to working with the more nervous, undersocialized horses, requiring a patient, "low-stress" handling approach that demonstrated the intersection of animal welfare and clinical behavior.

Supporting Data: The Value of High-Volume Clinical Exposure

The "high-volume" nature of the event provided a unique educational advantage. While a typical rotation at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital might focus on one complex case at a time, this field experience allowed students to practice their skills repeatedly, building muscle memory and diagnostic confidence.

The Educational Impact

For students nearing graduation, the gap between theoretical knowledge and field reality is the final hurdle. Levine emphasized that the exposure to horses from neglect cases offers a perspective that is fundamentally different from hospital-based medicine.

"Working with a lot of animals in a high-volume setting is a great way to get our hands on a lot of different horses in a short amount of time," Levine noted. "The exposure to horses who aren’t necessarily coming from a place with exceptional care is very ‘real life’ compared to some of the cases we might see on a rotation at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital."

The "Master-Apprentice" Model

The collaborative nature of the day—where students, residents, faculty, and technicians worked side-by-side—recreated a professional clinical environment. In this setting, the hierarchy of the classroom faded, replaced by a colleague-to-colleague dynamic. Levine highlighted the importance of learning from "the masters" in a setting where every decision had immediate consequences for the animals’ wellbeing.

Moments of Transformation: A Lesson in Patience

While the statistical data of the day—66 horses processed—is impressive, the emotional and professional growth of the students was anchored in specific, individual moments.

Levine recounted a specific interaction with a yearling colt that had been identified as particularly shy and fearful. The process of earning that animal’s trust serves as a microcosm for the work of a veterinarian.

"To see Dr. Ali Botting and technician Maizey Kaiyalatake the time to work with him at his pace and eventually earn his trust enough to halter and vaccinate him was really incredible," Levine said. "This horse went from being essentially untouchable to allowing Maizey to touch his neck and face. It was really inspiring and just a powerful moment for all of us."

This interaction underscored a vital lesson for the students: that medical care is inextricably linked to the animal’s psychological state. The ability to read body language and adjust one’s approach is as much a skill as administering an injection or performing a physical exam.

Implications: The Vitality of Institutional Partnerships

The success of the Lewiston operation highlights the critical role of partnerships between academic institutions like WSU and animal welfare organizations, such as the Idaho Animal Rescue.

Why These Partnerships Matter

1. Access to Care: Large-scale seizures often overwhelm the resources of local shelters. Academic partnerships provide the personnel and clinical expertise to ensure these animals receive high-quality care that would otherwise be inaccessible.
2. Student Development: As demonstrated by the WSU team, these settings provide an unparalleled educational environment. They teach students how to work in teams, how to manage resources, and how to stay composed in high-stress situations.
3. Community Impact: By providing volunteer labor and expertise, WSU strengthens the bond between the university and the broader community, demonstrating that its mission extends far beyond the campus boundaries.

"I think these partnerships are hugely important both for access to care for animals from all walks of life and also for students to gain experience in these unique high-volume settings," Levine stated.

The positive outcome of the day—a group of 66 horses now on a path to better health and a group of students better prepared for their professional futures—serves as a testament to the model. As the students left the Lewiston Livestock Market, there was a shared sentiment that the labor was not just a one-time volunteer opportunity, but a model for how future veterinarians should engage with their communities.

"The horses and the humans both benefitted from our work that day," Levine concluded. "And I think we all ended that day in agreement that we would happily do it again."

As WSU continues to produce the next generation of veterinary professionals, experiences like these remain the bedrock of the program. They ensure that graduates are not only technically proficient but also compassionate, adaptable, and deeply committed to the welfare of animals, no matter their circumstances.