His outside-the-box approach for diagnostics is second to none.

by Murray Brown

“He’s the best there is,” said Casie Coleman regarding equine veterinarian Dr. John Cummins. “He’s very, very sharp. He is very good at spotting lameness issues, and treating and correcting them. He’s an animal lover and wants to fix your horse even more than you want it fixed, even if he doesn’t own it.

“He will fly in and look over all my horses about once a month. He will then keep in touch to make sure the horses are better. He really cares.”

Sam Bowie, prominent owner and former Kentucky and NBA Star, said, “First and foremost, I’m honored to call him my friend. I’ve been honored to ride with John and observe him and the way he interacts with horses. I’d refer to him as almost being half horse himself. I haven’t been around all that many vets, but from what I’ve observed with John, he is an incredible diagnostician. He just looks at a horse and almost immediately can determine why and where it is lame. Of course, from the ‘why’ and ‘where’ he can often come up with the ‘how’ to treat the lameness and develop a road to making it sound.”

Trainer Tony Alagna said, “I consider John Cummins to be one of the best veterinarians in our industry. His ability to think outside of the box in terms of diagnostics is second to none. John can look at a horse with an entirely fresh approach — even though he may have examined that horse previously — and give you a fresh diagnosis of what that horse is dealing with at the moment. I find some vets rely, perhaps too much, upon what they know about the horse’s previous history of ailments and just want to continue treating the same thing.

“Nobody would have known who Ramona Hill was if not for John Cummins and his associate Dr Jen Stowe, owing to their tireless efforts with her in Florida and Lexington each year that she raced. What makes John especially unique is his ability to work on several breeds and understand their needs within their particular breed. John is highly respected in the American saddlebred, morgan horse and the thoroughbred industry as well as our own. He is an asset to his profession. I am proud to call him my friend.”

Dr. Cummins is not only a practicing vet in three branches of equine competition, but is also involved as a participant in harness racing, thoroughbred racing and with saddlebreds.

“I’ve been involved with horses all of my life, initially and almost entirely with standardbreds. However, in recent years mostly with saddlebreds,” Cummins said. “In the interim, I’ve occasionally also dabbled with thoroughbreds.

“I’m actually involved with all three, although mostly from a breeding perspective.”

You own standardbreds, thoroughbreds and saddlebreds. To what degree are you active in all three branches?

“In terms of numbers, I own roughly a dozen standardbreds, five thoroughbred mares and their foals, and 19 saddlebreds. My equine practice is divided in roughly the same proportion. About 80 per cent relates to saddlebreds, 15 per cent to standardbreds and the remaining five or so per cent to thoroughbreds. All of my mares, whatever the breed, go to the best stallions to which I can get access and the stud fees I can afford. With the thoroughbreds right now I’m breeding yearlings which I hopefully will be able to sell in Book 2 at Keeneland. I haven’t as yet reached Book 1 status, but that is somewhere I hope to get to one day.”

Let’s concentrate on your standardbreds. You describe yourself as both a market breeder and as one who also dabbles in racing.

“I consider myself as mostly being a breeder. However, when I breed a yearling who I believe might not realize what I might consider its true value at the sales, I might put that horse into training. I now have two horses in training with Nick DeVita in New York. I have the homebred 3-year-old filly Dame Good Time, a Chapter Seven who earned $147,810 last year. She finished second in the Kentucky Sire Stakes final at 2 last season. I have her 2-year-old brother in training with Nick as well. I’m really looking forward to this year’s racing.”

You have five standardbred broodmares. Which stallions are they going to this breeding season? 

“They are booked to Confederate, Sweet Lou, Gimpanzee and King Of The North.”

Those are horses that most would consider to be among the very best that the breed has to offer.

“My view of the breed is that there are only a limited number of stallions by who you can generate a high enough price to make the costs of breeding and raising a yearling economically worthwhile. Those horses are among them.”

You mentioned having raced in the Kentucky program last year with Dame Good Time. What are your thoughts on what is taking place due to the new program?

“It has been revolutionary. Not only to the standardbred and thoroughbred breeds, but more specifically to the Commonwealth of Kentucky itself. Real estate and real estate prices are booming. Bloodstock prices are as well. Every facet of the business here in Kentucky is improved.”

Even though you are not nearly as involved with standardbreds as you were previously, your history with the breed is close to being unmatched by almost any other veterinarian.

“That might be stretching things a bit, but we most certainly have had more than our share of successful clients and terrific horses. Among those that we worked for regularly were Ronnie Gurfein, Jimmy Takter, Nancy Takter, Ross Croghan and quite a few others. I still do work for Tony Alagna, Travis Alexander and Casie Coleman.

“There was a time when we would spend a full week of every month in New Jersey at The Meadowlands and in Chicago at the various tracks in the area. Among some of the better horses entrusted to our care were Muscle Hill, Moni Maker, Cantab Hall, Real Desire, Atlanta, Kadabra, No Nukes, Continentalvictory, Red Bow Tie, Self Possessed, Victory Dream, Captaintreacherous, Jenna’s Beach Boy, Ramona Hill and McWicked.”

You have bred and raised a few nice horses yourself.

“She’s A Great Lady, The Big Dog and CA Connection among others come to mind. I also raced Popcorn Penny, Carolina Sunshine and Parsons Den.”

What does the future hold for you?

“Hopefully more of the same. Just about every day of my life has included horses. I hardly envision that ever changing.”