Author Archives: Justin Jornigan

It has been a sobering week. Flash back to Friday, Mar 6, almost two weeks ago. The wind picked up and the temperatures dropped as the day progressed and the phone just kept ringing as we tried to finish the typical chaotic Friday in spring. The day dragged out beyond normal hours as we hadContinue reading “Remembering Grandaddy”

Folks in the medical profession and emergency care attribute weird, whacky, and high volume to the full moon. The super moon was last night and it brought me a gift. I was the veterinarian on call. A man called with a percheron mare having difficulty delivering her foal – we call this dystocia. If you’reContinue reading “Super Moon”

One day I hope to walk away from a ballot box feeling excited about a vote for a presidential candidate. I hope for a candidate with some breadth to his/her intellect, one with excellent interpersonal and management skills, one who can speak with purpose, respect, poise, and honesty. One with thick skin, calm resolve, andContinue reading “Election Day”

Almost weekly I find myself asking, “why does this guy own cows?” It happened soon after a 5:30am emergency page this week. “She’s beena tryin’ to calve since 4 o’clock yesterdee evenin’”. That’s 13 hours ago. That may surprise some of you, but it happens so frequently, it honestly doesn’t even phase me anymore –Continue reading “Let’s Be Better Cattlemen”

What a fascinating survey coming out of Scotland. In short, “over 60% of rural professionals had found themselves in a situation where farmers have expressed signs of poor mental health – yet only 11% had enough knowledge or confidence to respond, with vets emerging as the profession most farmers would prefer to confide in.” IContinue reading “People Profession”

We have had a number of memorable Valentine’s Day evenings working late, on-call, and stopping for dinner at random places on the way home. One year we stopped at this little Asian place it seemed like a hole in the wall, atypical date night spot. We walk in and they had the place completely deckedContinue reading “Valentine’s Day Tradition”

Some days, like today, I just like to pull the tailgate down and lay on my back in the bed of the truck. I like to watch the clouds drift by me. I sometimes wander where they started forming and how long they’ve drifted. Are they growing or shrinking? Are they rising or falling? ItContinue reading “Look Up”

I have read that only 1% of veterinary graduates are entering equine medicine, and 50% of them will switch to small animal practice or some other field within 5 years.  There are a host of things contributing to this.  Incredible school debt, low salaries in equine practice, harsher working conditions, the requirement to be on-callContinue reading “What Matters Most: My Story Navigating the Early Years in Large Animal Practice”