Dr. Robert Hunt Passes

[Wandering Eyes]

Robert Hunt, a respected veterinarian at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, passed away Thursday after a bout with cancer.

Dr. Hunt graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. From 1984 to 1987 he worked at the Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Santa Ynez, California. He returned to the University of Georgia in 1987 to complete his surgical training and graduate degree in cardiovascular physiology. He paid his way through school by taking a job as a farrier. Dr. Hunt remained on faculty and became a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1992. He joined Hagyard Equine Medical Institute as an equine surgeon in 1992.

According to a 2024 feature by Chris McGrath in the TDN on Hunt he said that when he was asked why he worked with farm animals, he replied: “This is the one thing I can do that's going to help a guy put bread on the table.”

“And I've always taken that with me,” Hunt continued. “Especially with the emergencies where you have an animal that's going to die, but if you do the right intervention, it's going to live and stay in production. That's always been a very impactful, meaningful part of my job.”

Jockey and veterinarian Ferrin Peterson, who worked with Dr. Hunt, met him one morning while breezing horses at Turfway Park. That led to her working under him in surgery for a year. Two of the horses they performed surgery on went back to the races and won with Peterson aboard.

“Dr. Hunt's character, integrity and perseverance have been so impactful on not only my career but the lives and careers of so many people and horses,” Dr. Peterson said. “He always placed the needs of the horse first, even if it cost him personally and financially. But he remained steadfast, standing strong in his convictions. Mentoring people in his line of work was one of his greatest passions. I can think of no greater legacy than for these mentees, myself included, to carry on the principles he exemplified. I am forever grateful for my time with this great man.”

Hunt told McGrath that one of his greatest pleasure was helping young veterinarians, like Peterson, and vet students.

“I love hanging around young people,” he said. “They're energetic, their minds are bright, they want to learn.”

In an undated video posted on the website iamanequineveterinarian.com, Hunt spoke of how hard he worked at his craft.

“I might have pushed the envelope too hard when it came to the dedication department,” he said. “It was what I always wanted to do. My philosophy was that I had to be all in in order to play at the level I wanted to play at.”

Mill Ridge General Manager Price Bell spent a memorable week with Hunt.

“I moved back to town in 2011 and in April of that year I was talking to Dr. Hunt and was trying to learn,” Bell said. “His way was so welcoming and he put you at ease. He asked me if I wanted to tag along with him for a week. I rode with him for a week. There was the backyard pony to major farm operations doing everything from sales surveys to lacerations. We made a stop in the necropsy lab because something had been bothering him about a surgery and he wanted to see the necropsy so he could understand the puzzle. He had two to four interns with him at all times. His patience, grace and humility with them and with me, it was inspiring. I'd say it was the best week of work I've ever had because it was stimulating and he was so passionate about it.”

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