An architect’s rendering of the new equine sports medicine complex at the UF Large Animal Hospital.

The University of Florida (UF) College of Veterinary Medicine will host a grand opening ceremony on June 6 at 4:30 p.m. to dedicate a new equine sports performance complex.

The event will be held at UF’s Large Animal Hospital on the college campus, located at 2015 SW 16th Ave. in Gainesville.

“We are excited to be able to offer this new venue for performance horses that arrive at UF with issues that are often difficult to identify without direct observation of them under saddle,” said Dr. Alison Morton, director of the hospital’s lameness and imaging service and an associate professor of large animal surgery. “We will now have a better environment for equine athletes and their riders.”

Horses are often more comfortable, better behaved and therefore safer when they are in a familiar environment, such as a riding arena, that has a contained fence line and sure footing, Morton added.

In addition to being a resource to the horse-owning public, the new complex will provide educational benefits for faculty and veterinary students.

Located behind the main Large Animal Hospital building, adjacent to existing barns, the new complex will be large enough to allow most performance disciplines, such as show jumping, dressage, western sports and driving.

Speaking at the event will be James W. Lloyd, DVM, PhD, the college’s dean; David Guzick, MD, Ph., senior vice president for health affairs at UF and president of UF Health; Jack Payne, PhD, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources at UF; and others.

A reception will follow the ribbon cutting, and the public is invited.