Show-Me State Times

Before Eclipse could fulfill his duties helping others, he needed assistance from a team of veterinarians at the University of Missouri. Eclipse, an 1,800-pound horse trained for equine yoga, is owned by yoga instructor Kalise Lischwe in southern Missouri. Last fall, Eclipse was diagnosed with corneal stromal abscess — a serious condition in horses where bacteria or fungus infects the cornea, causing severe pain and sometimes vision loss.

When Eclipse’s eye infection worsened, his local veterinarian referred him to Mizzou’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “I was training Eclipse to help connect with people’s minds, bodies and souls through the therapeutic power of equine yoga,” Lischwe said. “But I was worried about his severe eye infection impacting his vision.”

At Mizzou, Eclipse received care from a team that included Kile Townsend, a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist, and Elizabeth Giuliano, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist — one of fewer than 700 worldwide — who has worked at Mizzou since 1999.

To treat the horse, Mizzou veterinarians placed a special tube in Eclipse’s right eye to deliver medication to treat the infection and reduce pain and inflammation. The procedure was successful but required ongoing recovery efforts.

Giuliano provided detailed instructions to Lischwe so she could continue treatment at home with her caretaker Brittany administering medication four times daily for over a month. “I am so thankful to all the vets at Mizzou, as well as Brittany, for everything they did to help Eclipse heal,” Lischwe said.

Giuliano expressed satisfaction with Eclipse's progress when he returned for a check-up. She informed Lischwe that Eclipse had fully recovered without any vision loss. “When I first brought Eclipse to Mizzou...my dad had just passed away and Eclipse was struggling...Looking back...Mizzou healed my horse and my soul as well,” Lischwe reflected.

This spring, Lischwe plans to offer people opportunities to connect with Eclipse on their healing journeys through equine yoga sessions. “The special bond formed with horses is what sets equine yoga apart from regular yoga,” she noted.

Giuliano highlighted Mizzou's commitment: “Whether it’s veterinary ophthalmologists...or orthopedic specialists...it is important...to work together with primary care veterinarians...By cultivating those relationships over time...the animals we treat receive world-class care.”

She explained why Mizzou receives referrals from across Missouri and the Midwest: "Being a veterinarian is incredibly rewarding… I can relate to the love and concern owners feel toward their animals."