Dr. Scott Swerdlin

Polo

Five Questions for Dr. Scott Swerdlin

     Scott Swerdlin is a familiar figure around the equestrian scene in Wellington. He's often sitting in the stands at the Winter Equestrian Festival, or talking to competitors at the dressage ring. With polo, he's watching the high-goal, checking out the horses, and is back in the saddle competing in the medium-goal Flying Cow league.
     As president of Palm Beach Equine Clinic, it is Swerdlin's job to make sure there are vets and staff to support all the disciplines and provide each of them with the highest quality of care. But polo is his first love. A native Floridian, Swerdlin was brought up in south and central Florida where his family raised cattle and horses and he gravitated to playing polo.
     The clinic has continued to expand since Swerdlin became a partner in 1985 and now features 18 veterinarians and a support staff of more than 40. Palm Beach Equine Clinic is growing rapidly, providing service to its 8,000 clients throughout the United States. They have veterinarian support in Texas in Houston and Caty as well as in Sheridan, Aiken, and up and down the East Coast during the show season. The clinic is also the fourth largest purveyor of veterinary pharmaceuticals in the country.
     Last year, Swerdlin and Palm Beach Equine Clinic were greatly affected by the equine herpes virus and were among the leaders in helping get a handle on the deadly disease.

Sidelines: How has the relatively quiet start to the season affected Palm Beach Equine Clinic?
SS: This year we weren't in a crisis mode, which allowed us, and everyone else, to concentrate on doing what we do best, taking care of our talented patients and providing exceptional veterinary services to our clients.

Sidelines: What makes Palm Beach Equine Clinic so successful?
SS: Our mission has been the same since our inception in 1982 when Paul Wollenman founded the clinic. We concentrated more on polo than any other discipline at that time. Now we handle all the disciplines, including pleasure horses and racehorses. And our goals are the same today as they were back then. We want to provide excellent care coupled with concern for the horse and the owner. Whatever the discipline, our philosophy is 'What can we do to make the horse happier and healthier and extend their success and athletic performance?' That and the tremendous work ethic and quality of our team of veterinarians and staff. We all care deeply about what we do.

Sidelines: You treat a lot of horses for a variety of injuries. How does treating injured polo ponies differ from other disciplines?
SS: The major difference is the athleticism of the polo pony compared to a hunter or jumper or dressage horse. Each discipline has it own specific injuries based on the demands of the sport. In dressage, there are back and hock problems. Race horses have more carpal or knee injuries. With show horses, there are a lot of injuries to the support ligaments and structures. And polo ponies have the most ankle and foot problems. I find it amazing that one species is asked to do so many different activities and that they do it willingly and enjoy it.

Sidelines: What changes have you noticed in polo ponies over the years?
SS: Today's polo ponies are more breedy; there is more of a Thoroughbred influence now along with a need for speed compared to 15 years ago. Back then, polo ponies were more handy, they had more of a native Argentine influence in breeding.
And the fact that polo players are changing horses more often after three-and-a-half minutes. There's less injuries because horses aren't as fatigued. Also, a horse's performance can be extended and they can remain competitive longer because of various factors, including good sports medicine, medication and supplements that can really prevent the occurrence of chronic injuries.

Sidelines: You've always been optimistic. What do you see in Wellington's future for polo and other disciplines?
SS: I think the most exciting time is ahead of us. Bill Ylvisaker had this vision almost 30 years ago. Wellington will be the single-source destination of every competitive horseman in every discipline in the country. Now we have a successful infrastructure that's here for the long haul and they will continually improve and upgrade the facilities to keep up with the demand. Different people have stepped up at different times to keep Bill's vision going. Look at polo. With International Polo Club going strong and numerous smaller clubs emerging in Wellington and the surrounding areas, polo is in a far better place than just five years ago. It's the most competitive polo in the country and it's continuing to grow. The new showgrounds got off to an impressive start toward becoming a world-class facility. For example, when the old polo stadium is renovated and hosting evening classes, the sport won't have to compete with football or with golf, and people in the community hopefully will come out and watch the competitions, it will be an even more wonderful place to live. We're going to have the community say, 'Wow'.

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