Leslie Guttman, who grew up in Lexington, is an independent journalist and freelance writer whose work has appeared in such publications as the Washington Post, Salon, Orion, and the San Francisco Chronicle, where she worked on staff for more than a decade. Fans can follow the making of Equine ER at, part of the blog stable of The Horse, a monthly equine care magazine. Throughout her time at Rood & Riddle, Guttman documented her experience through blog posts, photographs, and video. Anybody who has ever loved an animal will be hypnotized by these wonderful stories.â€ Susan Richards, author of New York Times best-seller Chosen by a Horse (Soho Press, 2006) calls Equine ER â€œas thrilling and drama-filled as any of the popular hospital shows on television today.â€ Equine ER is also a window into the unique, pastoral way of life that still exists on the Bluegrass horse farms, one largely untouched by time and where doctors still make house calls on their equine patients.

â€œIt is an emotional thriller, really, a rollercoaster, as dramatic and well-paced as it is well-written and brilliantly observed. Â€œEquine ER is a wonderful book, wrenching, uplifting, and a powerful window into theÂ great love, empathy and connection humans have for horses and other animals,â€ said Jon Katz, the New York Times best-selling author whose most recent book isÂ Soul of a Dog (Random House, 2009).

The book follows the emotional journeys that doctors and owners embark on when a beloved horse becomes ill. Author Guttman masterfully tells the story of veterinarians, staff, owners and patients, giving readers both educational information on the advanced technology of equine veterinary medicine and the compassion and dedication of the Rood & Riddle veterinarians and staff. Written in the tradition of James Herriot, Equine ER explores the power of the human-horse connection, through the lens of Rood & Riddle. Published by Eclipse Press, the book captures the often dramatic, sometimes heartbreaking, but all-inspiring stories author Leslie Guttman witnessed during the past year as the proverbial â€œfly on the wallâ€ here at Rood & Riddle. Lexington, KY (July 7, 2009) â€“ Readers can now take a behind-the-scenes tour of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital with the release of Equine ER: Stories From a Year in the Life of an Equine Veterinary Hospital.

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