Dr. Clara A. Mason, DVM
Dr. Mason was reared on the eastern shore of Maryland in the town of Easton. She grew up showing hunter jumper horses and riding hunter hack. Her passion for animals continued through college as she majored in Animal Science graduating from the University of Maryland. She continued her education in graduate school at the Johns Hopkins University and completed her doctor of veterinary medicine at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2004, Dr. Mason became certified in Equine Acupuncture through the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since graduation from veterinary school, she has practiced in Tennessee and West Virginia. In August 2012, Dr. Mason completed advanced Equine Dental training offered by the American Association of Equine Practioners at Texas A & M University.
Dr. Mason is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practioners (AAEP). She recently served a 3-year term on the Education Program Committee and 4-year term on the Leadership Committee both for the AAEP. In November 2011, Dr. Mason was invited to speak on Equine Abuse at the annual AAEP conference in San Antonio, TX. In addition, with Dr. Tom Lenz, she chaired a forum on the Unwanted Horse at two annual AAEP conferences. In July 2015, Dr. Mason spoke at the annual AVMA Conference lecturing on The Welfare of Urban Work Horses. She has authored numerous publications on Welfare in Horses including a chapter in Robinson’s Equine Medicine #7 on Prosecution of Equine Abuse. She currently serves as an Emeritus Board Member on the Large Animal Practitioner Advancement board for the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Recently, Dr. Mason was nominated to serve on the AVMA and AAEP Animal Welfare Committees. In addition, she serves on the AAEP sub-committees on Horses and Donkeys of the Bureau of Land Management, Carriage Horse Issues and Equine Welfare and Abuse Issues for the practitioner. In 2018, Dr. Mason attended the AVMA Humane Endings Symposium in Chicago. This symposium addressed many issues associated with euthanasia, pain management, and hospice care in all species of animals.
Dr. Mason continues to be nationally recognized for her contributions in preventing Equine Abuse and promoting Equine Welfare and is often a guest lecturer and an author of numerous magazine and book chapters addressing abuse and welfare. In October of 2010, Dr. Mason was honored in Washington D.C. by the Humane Society of the United States with an award for her contributions toward eliminating Equine Abuse in the United States. She and her husband Frank, live in Winfield sharing their home with a rescue cat named “Fiona”, a parrot “Louie”, and 3 horses (2 Quarter Horses and a Tennessee Walker).