Educating Riders: Dr. Ken Marcella, DVM

By: Aubrey Simpson

Education. It’s both a passion and a calling for Dr. Ken Marcella. EquuSSource caught up with the good doctor en route from his home in Clermont, Georgia to Greenville, South Carolina where he was slated to speak at the Region Five NATRC (North American Trail Riders Conference) Annual Convention. “I’ll be speaking about conditioning and fitness for those endurance competitors looking to move up to the next level,” the vet explained. The attendees were in for a treat, as Dr. Marcella’s enthusiasm, knowledge and gift for easy, engaging communication are immediately apparent.

“Education is important,” he starts. “I didn’t grow up around horses, I grew up in the city, in Waterbury, Connecticut and I have a strong empathy with folks who are new to horse ownership. A lot of the fun part of what I do comes from the enthusiasm of people who want to learn more about horses. When I entered vet school I thought that a sweat scrapper was a splint for a dog’s leg, so I spent a lot of time asking what my classmates probably thought were rather simple equine questions. Many of the best equine practitioners and surgeons that I have worked with grew up around horse people and often find it difficult to communicate with those who are less knowledgeable. But I find it stimulating, and now when new horse owners ask me the same simple questions that I once asked, I can relate. It’s not about me, it’s about giving back.”

Dr. Marcella is a contributing writer to numerous equine magazines, from the Thoroughbred Times to DVM NewsMagazine to Dressage Today. His subject matter covers a broad spectrum of interests and areas of expertise, from basic horse emergency care to the problems and conditions of elite equine athletes. He has primarily written articles that focus on science and research, but has covered issues such as veterinary school architectural design, the changing face of mobile veterinary practice and marketing challenges in the current economy.

“I think that one of the biggest problems for many vets is burnout. For me, mentoring and having other things to focus on really helps this issue. The writing helps. When I’m working on an article that deals with new treatments or fresh scientific developments I get to talk to researchers and other veterinarians and that keeps me connected. Doing the necessary research helps me stay educated and current, and it gives me something new to think about as I drive around and vaccinate or float teeth or do any of the many routine things that make up a normal practice day. I’d encourage every vet to get out there and write - even if it is only for the hometown newspaper or local horse group newsletter. It’s not only good marketing - it’s helpful for horse owners. People in general want to learn about their animals.”

Another area that keeps Dr. Marcella fresh and interested in veterinary medicine is fieldwork with related research projects. He was head vet for the 2008 National Endurance Championships. “At the Championships there were over 100 horses ridden in 50 or 100 mile competitions. At various checkpoints veterinarians are stationed in order to examine each horse to make sure that it is sound and healthy, fit to continue the competition. The vets check metabolic parameters and conduct a lameness trot out on each horse a number of times during the ride. It is a situation that easily lends itself to research, and we have looked at weight and fluid loss during competition, thermographic evaluation of muscle function, electrolyte values, urine color and analysis and any number of other areas with an eye to trying to develop predictive tests or monitoring systems to keep these extreme athletes from developing problems during or after competition. I have been doing these types of events for years and work 8 to 10 rides or competitions a year. I don’t ride and have never ridden; I use it as a lab, as field research for equine sports medicine.” Dr. Marcella likes studying and observing on the world stage of competition. He worked at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 2004 Pan American Games. “All of these interests are what allowed me to do this job, to stay excited and engaged so that each morning I can’t wait to get to work.”

With so many interests, you may wonder if Dr. Marcella has time for a personal life. The answer is yes. Through his work he met his wife Elfriede, who goes by ‘Elfi', and also has a passion for education and horses. Elfi was adopted from Germany as a toddler and grew up in Maryland. She was fortunate to have some outstanding coaches and teachers who helped her navigate through the turbulent teenage years. A strong desire to “pay it forward” and her love for horses led her to become a riding instructor. Elfi started Seldom Seen Farm in 1996 and she and Ken built the current location in 2001. As an American Riding Instructors Association certified instructor she teaches riding, but more importantly, provides a place for personal growth and challenge. Elfi uses horses to teach discipline, confidence, motivation and all the life lessons that were so important to her during her teenage years. Ken has this to say about his lovely wife: “She’s amazing, she knows when to challenge and when to support, and who needs a supportive talk and who needs a verbal kick-start. Though she and her students may not always have the fanciest or most expensive horses to work with, through hard work and discipline they are able to be competitive in the show ring. She has dealt with many different kids from many different situations and tries to offer them guidance as they grow up and hopefully become better people because of what they have learned from being associated with horses and with her.” Even with the addition of the Marcellas’ three-year-old son Sev, Elfi continues to run the farm and recently started a grassroots low-cost hunter/jumper show series to offer beginning riders a place to compete and improve in a supportive environment. Ken and Elfi Marcella share an obvious passion and commitment to education and caring for others.

Summing up his approach to life, Dr. Marcella shared, “I was working at a barn a few years ago and I met an Atlanta police officer whose job was to fly a helicopter around the city. It was a beautiful warm spring day and he was about to spend that gorgeous afternoon flying - but he was unhappy at the thought of going to work and was acting like he was being sent off for hard labor rather than off to soar in the sky. I think of him and realize that sometimes we all can lose sight of the best aspects of what we do. I feel that I am privileged to do this job. I think about how lucky I am to be in this career rather than punching a clock like my dad had to do. People lose their enthusiasm and start complaining because they’ve lost the joy of what they get to do for a living. I don’t ever want that to happen to us.” It’s just another valuable life lesson, spoken by a man with a real passion and calling.

Dr. Ken Marcella has appeared as a speaker at several Southern States events. “I take endorsing a company or product seriously. If I don’t believe in it, I don’t endorse it. My wife and I own a number of different types of horses. We feed most of the horses Triple Crown? Complete or Reliance?. Our older horses and those that are retired are fed Triple Crown Senior. One of the things I like best about Southern States feed is that I can pick and choose because the company gives me a wide array of feeds to choose from that best match my needs. It comes down to who is going to do the diligence, to do the quality control to ensure the best product. Who do you trust?  I’ve had really good experiences with Southern States so I trust them. One of the reasons I speak at Southern States events is because I know that they are quality people. With them, it’s not just about selling the feed; it’s about getting the right feed for your horses. It’s about medicine and science. That’s why I choose Southern States.”  The Marcellas purchase their feed from the White County Farmer’s Exchange in Cleveland, Georgia.