The fifteen-day Chinese Lunar New Year festival started February 17. As a veterinarian, I love that each year in the Chinese zodiac is represented by an animal. Twelve is an important number in both the Chinese and Western zodiac: the Western Zodiac is composed of twelve constellations, while the Chinese zodiac features twelve animals.

2024 was the Year of the Dragon and 2026—or 4724 in the Chinese calendar—is the Year of the Horse. While we don’t normally care for horses at the current day Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, horses are a part of our history—and occasionally, our present. In honor of the Year of the Horse, I’ll share a few AMC equine stories to start the Year of the Horse off right.

AMC’s First Emergency Room was for Horses

The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center traces its origins back to The Women’s League for Animals, founded by Ellin Prince Speyer in 1910. The Women’s League opened its first clinic on the Bowery. At the time, horses were essential to moving goods and people throughout New York City, and Women’s League focused on their health and welfare.

In 1914, our second location opened on Lafayette Street. The brand-new three-story building included offices, an examination room and an emergency room for horses! Just six years later, the hospital was treating more than 9,000 patients annually.

Treating an NYPD Horse: AMC’s Parking Lot Becomes an Equine MASH Unit

Today, AMC partners with the NYPD to provide medical care to K9 officers. These vital members of the force receive specialized treatment that helps them recover from injuries and return to service. In the overnight hours, NYPD officers also bring us injured animals discovered in their line of work, such as dogs and cats suffering from smoke inhalation or other injuries.

But the NYPD doesn’t only have canine officers—they have equine partners as well.

One Sunday night, an NYPD horse got spooked in Times Square and sustained a large gash after an encounter with a taxi. Because AMC was closer than they NYPD’s veterinary facility, the horse was trailered to us for emergency care.

There was just one challenge: a full-sized horse does not fit in AMC’s elevator.

So our parking lot was turned into an equine MASH unit. The emergency team moved lights, equipment and supplies down into the parking lot, halted the bleeding and treated the horse for shock. Once stable, the horse was trailered to the NYPD veterinarian for ongoing care.

Capricorn Meets the Year of the Horse

About 15 years ago, AMC’s Interventional Radiology Team cared for a 6-week-old standardbred foal with an abnormal blood vessel requiring correction with a stent. His name, 11 Capricorn, fittingly aligns with our zodiac theme for this blogpost.

As you can see from the photo of him in the CT scanner, it was a tight fit. Despite the logistical challenges, the treatment was successful, and 11 Capricorn went home to his stable and mom.

All of us at AMC wish you—and your favorite animal companion, Chinese zodiac member or not—health and prosperity in the Year of the Horse.