Dr. Rivest Named Senior MJC Veterinarian

Dr. Gabrielle Rivest, who served as a Maryland Jockey Club Association Veterinarian since March of this year, will take over as MJC Senior Veterinarian Aug. 1. She replaces Dr. Heidi Thomas, who came to the MJC in the fall of 2020 and is moving on to another opportunity.

Rivest, a 31-year-old native of Chester County, Pa., grew up riding horses and eventually landed a job hot walking at the Fair Hill Training Center. Her love of horses led to her decision to pursue a career as an equine veterinarian.

Rivest is a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She explained that veterinarians, like human doctors, must complete an eight-year program. Rivest, as an undergrad, regularly shadowed veterinarians.

Upon graduation, Rivest for two years served an internship at Colts Neck Equine Associates in central New Jersey. She then landed her current job at the MJC.

As an association veterinarian, Rivest watches horses on the track during training and racing, walks barns, conducts examinations and pre-race exams, and checks on the status of horses that may have had surgery. She also works with Thomas and Dr. Libby Daniel, the Equine Medical and Welfare Director for the Maryland Racing Commission.

Rivest said she is looking forward to her new responsibilities.

“I’ve been learning from Heidi since I started in March,” she said. “I’ve very excited about what the future holds and the opportunity presented to me.”

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