Yves Rossier, DVM, is a professor of equine sports medicine and a researcher at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Montreal, the FEI Head Veterinarian in Canada, as well as serving as an FEI Veterinary Committee member and current chair of the EC Equine Medication Control Committee.

Yves, 61, has had an illustrious career which has seen him serve as Veterinary Clinic Team Leader at the 2012 Olympic Games, Foreign Veterinary Delegate for the 2014 World Equestrian Games and Veterinary Advisor at the 2018 WEG, and President of the Veterinary Commission for the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. He has worked diligently behind the scenes making sure the equine athletes’ health and welfare is maintained and that veterinary standards and FEI regulations are upheld at Canadian venues including Spruce Meadows, The Royal Horse Show, and Bromont.

In 2008, the work that Yves and his team researched on how to perform ultrasound-guided injections of the sacroiliac (SI) region in horses was presented at the International Congress of World Equine Veterinary Association. The traditional techniques for injection of the SI region are based on unreliable external landmarks and are sometimes challenging. The group’s work on ultrasonographic guidance showed that needles could deliver medicine more accurately.

In 2012, Yves took a year’s sabbatical from the University of Montreal to complete a study on Injury Surveillance in FEI Horses. The FEI-funded study involved analysis of the approaches taken by other sports regulators including the IOC, international federations and horseracing authorities in order to fine-tune the existing FEI protocol and introduce an improved model for FEI events.

Foreseeable Future

“My main goal will be to fulfill my appointment as Foreign Veterinary Delegate for the Olympic Games in Tokyo to my absolute best ability. I am honoured by this nomination, as I consider it a huge responsibility to ensure the well-being of the horses participating in the Games and to achieve the fairest and best possible competition during the Olympics.”

Mission Possible

“There are so many things [I am proud of]… for example, all the work we did on ultrasound guided injection techniques, and I am presently working on the use of telemedicine and augmented reality in equine practice. But just working every day, in clinics, solving lameness cases and helping veterinary students become the best possible veterinarians, is so rewarding.”