Degree: B.S.Agr. Animal & Nutritional Sciences, Equine Studies minor with an emphasis in equine management, Dec 2018
Career: Payton works as an Equine and Livestock Claims Specialist for the global insurance company, AXA XL. She corresponds daily with trainers, veterinarians and owners to establish an effective treatment plan for injured or sick horses to aid into getting them back to their jobs. Her working relationship with livestock and equine veterinarians all over the country as well as in Ireland and France has further broadened her knowledge of effective courses of treatment, current research and the exciting differences of treatment that individuals have proven successful.
Internships/Working Student Experience: Payton was a working student at the JW Ruby Research Farm and was part of a team of students that were responsible for the daily care, feeding, and exercise of the teaching horses. After graduation, she moved to Lexington to work at Juddmonte Farms during the Breeding/Foaling season as a foaling attendant. At Juddmonte she worked hands on with many well-known thoroughbreds as she assisted with foaling, daily care, treatments, and attending the broodmares at the cover shed. During her time there she was able to learn the ins and outs of delivering foals, caring for neonates and broodmares, as well as tracking a mare's cycle.
About Attending WVU: "My experience at WVU, especially working at the JW Ruby Research Farm Horse Unit, allowed me to explore all avenues of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I knew that I did not want to go to vet school, but also didn’t know the abundance of job opportunities within the equine industry that were available to me. I am thankful to have had intensive mentoring and instruction from equine faculty and to know that if I ever needed to, I could come to anyone within the program, and they would lend a helping hand. WVU sent me off into the world with an abundance of knowledge and hands-on experience that I can proudly apply to and succeed with in my current job."