Doctor Oliver Liyou founded Equine Veterinary Dental Services (EVDS) and has been training vets and horse owners on how to look after equine teeth ever since. We’re proud to have supported Ollie by providing the imaging equipment he needs for practical hands-on training.
We’ve provided equipment for (and attended) many courses, we have especially fond memories of the EVDS Equine Dentistry Level 1 course in June 2023. As always, there was plenty of laughter and good humour along with the learning.
One funny thing about equine dentistry is that you don’t always need a live patient to practice! All the same, we think Buffy is far cuter than any of those horse skulls, and we’d rather work with him any day! Luckily Brontë Fisher of Darling Downs Vets was able to give him a clean bill of dental health.
Skulls and Shetland ponies are a fixture at most EVDS events, but this particular course included an additional surprise element. Somehow the talk turned to poetry, and some keen people rose to the challenge.
First off, here’s a poem by Paige Ludbury of Heartlands Veterinary Hospital, in the Avon Valley in WA.
Dear team of fabulous sponsors,
This an ode to your sponsorship,
Without it my equine dentistry would surely be shit. (Pardon the French).
And the scales would sure be tipped, away from the vets,
Into the hands of the lay dentist.
And oh what would become of the humble horse,
As it rears and snorts and cavorts,
From the lack of butorph.
As a hook is left, to tear a cheek
And a return to head tossing within a week.
So dear sponsors,
From a grateful vet, I thank you for contribution,
From which I can provide a resolution,
To the malocclusions and contusions,
To the humble and amazing horse.
Not to be outdone, Alex from 4cyte responded in kind!
Oh Paige, your words have touched my soul,
A poetic symphony that made me whole.
With grace and beauty, you penned your verse,
A heartfelt gratitude, I can’t rehearse.
Your poem, a melody of gratitude and praise,
For 4CYTE’s partnership in those equine dental days.
You painted images with words so fine,
Each line like a brushstroke, divine.
In the realm of dentistry, equine and grand,
Our sponsorship became a helping hand.
Together we embraced a noble cause,
Caring for horses’ teeth, obeying nature’s laws.
Your verse danced upon the page,
Enchanting readers, like a poet sage.
With gratitude, I now reply,
A heartfelt thanks, I cannot deny.
For your poem, a gift so rare,
An ode to our partnership, beyond compare.
In your words, I found solace and delight,
A testament to our bond, shining bright.
So, dear Paige, I extend my appreciation,
For your poetic creation, a true sensation.
Our journey continues, hand in hand,
Spreading smiles across the equine land.
This is the kind of community connection we love. It makes attending these events worth the plane flights and early morning drives.
It all goes to show there’s more to EVDS events than scoring a hat, although hats are exactly what these lucky winners got for the best radiograph of the day.
To put it another way:
Just take a little quiet time
The next time you’re apprenticed
To Ollie the equine dentist.
Scribble down some words that rhyme.
Almost before you know it
You’ll abandon teeth and jaws
And bow to rapturous applause
As Australia’s best horse poet.
We’re looking forward to Toothfest next week!
