Ocala, Florida-based equine veterinarian Richard “Chip” Estes, DVM, was recognized with the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) 2018 Distinguished Educator – Mentor Award for the continuous support he has shown his colleagues throughout his career and into his retirement.

The Distinguished Educator – Mentor Award honors an individual who, by his or her actions and commitment, has demonstrated a significant impact on the development and training of equine practitioners through mentoring. Estes received the award during the Dec. 4 President’s Luncheon at the 2018 AAEP Convention in San Francisco, California.

A 1974 graduate of Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Estes spent most of his career in private practice, primarily with broodmares and horses in training. Throughout his more than three decades of practice, Estes dispensed practical, science-based advice to numerous colleagues and, more recently, has shared his extensive knowledge and provided a balanced perspective to discussions in the AAEP Rounds—online forums for members to seek advice and share ideas about cases and other veterinary topics