What: More than a half-million dollars in state-of-the-art physical therapy equipment will be demonstrated at a media open house for the new Equine Physical Therapy Program at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. The program -- the first of its kind in North America -- features high-tech physical therapy equipment that has proven effective with human patients and is now being used with horses recovering from injuries or surgery. When: 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, March 21 Where: UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital; meet at the large-animal admissions desk. Who: Demonstrating the equipment will be Jack Snyder and Sharon Spier, a husband-and-wife veterinary team, who will provide emergency medical care to horses competing in the Olympics this summer in Sydney, Australia. Snyder, chief of equine surgery at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, is director of the new Equine Physical Therapy Program. He and Spier also ran the equine veterinary clinics at the 1996 and 1988 Summer Olympics, and the 1994 and 1991 Pan American Games. Visuals: A horse will be tested for lameness with electronic pressure sensors, while running on a treadmill. An international grand-prix stallion, headed for Olympic jumping competition, will receive treatment for ligament injuries. A mare, which arrived at the vet hospital seven months ago paralyzed in one front leg, will receive electrical stimulation. Initially unable to walk, the mare delivered her foal three weeks ago and now is able to walk, as a result of the therapy. Background: The Equine Physical Therapy Program, which opened in January, has already treated about 30 horses for tendon and ligament injuries, stress fractures and postoperative conditions. It makes use of a variety of technologies including ultrasonic waves, electromagnetic pulses and short-wave lasers to reduce pain and inflammation and stimulate healing. Other equipment, such as a thermography unit that detects heat and electronic pressure sensors that identify unevenness in a horse's stride, are used to diagnose injuries before they become visible. Studies indicate the therapy dramatically reduces recovery time. Directions and Parking: Take Interstate 80 to Highway 113 and head north toward Woodland. Exit right onto Hutchison Drive, then turn right onto Health Sciences Drive. Immediately turn right onto West Health Sciences Drive. At the stop sign, turn left onto Garrod Drive and drive straight into the Parking Lot 51. Park in reserved media spaces or other single-car spaces. Please do not park in oversized parking spots reserved for clients towing horse trailers. Place a business card on the dashboard to park free.