Henderson Native Takes On Australia

Madison Hutto is your average small-town girl. She is a Henderson native who graduated from Henderson County High School in 2015, with the dream of becoming a veterinarian. This dream is becoming a reality as she was recently accepted to intern in Sydney, Australia at the Randwick Equine Centre. Currently studying Pre-Veterinary Medicine at Murray State University, she plans to continue her education at Auburn University to complete veterinary school. 

Madison has always been an animal lover. “I wanted to be a vet at 5,” she said. At 8, she attended her first horse camp. “I think the horse craze probably started with camp,” she explained. That’s when she became more interested in horses than other animals. She attended horse camp every summer after that and went on to become a counselor for four years.  

During high school, she worked at the Animal Hospital in Henderson for Dr. Cottingham and Dr. Stallins.  She also took care of three horses at Stanley and Karen (Wilson) Shield’s Farm, where she fed and trained their horses. Madison explained that when she first started going to the farm, the horse she worked with the most, Brulad, was one she was told she shouldn’t ride. All of these horses came to love her. Three years after working on the farm, she took Brulad to horse camp. The farm became like a second home to her as she spent so much of her time caring for these horses. “I fed them, brushed them, loved them, gave them baths, gave them treats, and bought stuff for them,” she said. Sadly, Brulad passed away in 2017, but Madison has so many memories she will cherish forever. Madison’s time and dedication to caring for these horses only confirmed just how passionate she was about going into this profession.  

Madison’s distinguished academics and extracurriculars in both high school and college have prepared her for this amazing opportunity. In high school, she was involved in Speech and Debate, Drama Club, FFA, Band, National Honors Society and was on the Vet Science Team through FFA where her team placed 1st in State and she placed 11th in Nationals. In college, she has been a Resident Assistant and involved with the Resident College Council, President of her sorority Sigma Alpha, President of Speech and Debate and currently works on campus while attending school. 

“I’d primarily like to work with race horses, but I would like to partner with somebody to open a clinic. I would love to also work with small animals, but I want my primary to be race horses,” she explained.

Madison was required to do an internship abroad through the Honors College at Murray State University. She hosted a program in her residential college through the Study Abroad Office two semesters ago. This was the first time she heard about doing an internship abroad and learned there were a lot of internship opportunities in Australia. The process consists of filling out paperwork, submitting a resume and setting up an interview. However, Madison did not receive an interview. Once she had submitted all documentation, she was called two days later about her placement in Australia. She was told it could take anywhere from 2 to 10 weeks before she heard anything, but Randwick made no hesitation. They knew they wanted her to come intern at their facility this summer.

Randwick Equine Centre is a practice fully devoted to horses, ranging from miniature ponies to elite race horses. The hospital contains surgery and imaging suites, and they are specialized in surgery, anesthesia and medicine with their own laboratory.   

While interning at Randwick, Madison will be responsible for observing and participating in stable rounds, case workups and treatments, and assisting in surgeries, possible yearling radiographs and ambulatory veterinary services. 

Madison is scheduled to leave for Australia on May 21 and will return to the U.S. on July 23. 

“I am so incredibly honored to be given this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work halfway around the world. I know not everyone can say that they are given this chance, so that makes it all the more humbling. I can’t wait to see all the doors that this experience opens for me as I continue my education and work to fulfill my dream of being a veterinarian.”  

Lyndi Mauk, editor of Henderson Family Magazine, was born and raised in the Bluegrass State. She is grateful to be going through life alongside her husband and best friend, Brandon, and be a mother to their little girl.