About Dr. Bob Wright

Dr. Bob Wright graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1973 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1978. He was in mixed animal practice for nine years in Kapuskasing in Northern Ontario. In 1986, he returned to Southern Ontario where he initiated the equine extension services of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. In 1996, he completed the Ontario Horse Industry Survey and Report. The report, and the subsequent updates, have been the benchmark for the economic impact of the Ontario horse industry and are quoted by numerous authors and studies. Currently, Dr. Bob estimates that there are 379,000 horses on more than 48,000 properties with a growth rate of 26% from 1996 to 2006. The horse industry has a direct annual economic impact annually of more than $675 million and investment in fixed assets of more than $6.9 billion.

From 1996 to 2001, Dr. Bob worked to improve the economic impact of both the Ontario and Canadian horse industry by co-organizing and participating in five horse industry trade missions including three to the United States, one to Germany, and one to Dubai. Export initiatives resulted in sales of Canadian products valued at greater than $7 million. He has provided advice to a multitude of businesses whether they were new enterprises or initiating strategic alliances.

In 2000, changes in government priorities brought Dr. Bob back to veterinary medicine. West Nile Virus had just been identified in New York and there was a need to monitor West Nile Virus occurrence in horses and its potential spill-over to humans. Other investigations followed and included ergot alkaloids toxicity in pregnant mares, alsike clover poisoning of horses, and chronic wasting disease of cervids.

Bob has a passion for writing and extension education and has authored more than 150 factsheets, information sheets, and scientific publications. He also created the monthly "Horse News and Views" column where more than 450 “snippets” provided advice to horse owners. The topics of these writings were based on the many investigations he has been involved in.

In October 2009, Dr. Bob retired from OMAFRA to his farm near Belwood where he still practices veterinary medicine, teaches, and is completing his research projects.

Some of Dr. Bob's interests away from the clinic....