Growing up in 4-H, Tad Bender was no stranger to farm animals, but a chance encounter with a beloved local equine veterinarian sparked his interest in horses. “When I was 9, I showed my first sheep project for 4-H, and that’s where I first met an equine and livestock vet,” he said. “From then on, I wanted to be an equine vet, and I was too stubborn to consider anything else.” Dr. Bender ultimately bought out that vet’s practice and has served the Southern California equine community for 17 years. Today, he’s a partner and one of three Doctors of Veterinary Medicine practicing at Ocean Hill Equine Medical Group. He’s also a proud Ford Pro™ customer.
Super Duty Brings Vet Services to the Barn
Dr. Bender runs his practice on the go, using his trusty 2023 Ford Super Duty® F-350® XLT truck to come directly to patients. As the veterinary field faces a shortage of equine specialists,1 Dr. Bender’s expertise is in increasingly high demand, and his expansive territory reflects that.
“There are a lot of horses in our area but not a lot of equine vets,” he said. “We service the northern part of San Diego County. We also travel to Orange County once a week and Riverside County once a day.” Dr. Bender estimates he logs nearly 1,000 miles a week on his Super Duty truck, crisscrossing multiple counties to provide mobile vet services.
Dr. Bender estimates he logs nearly 1,000 miles a week on his Super Duty truck, crisscrossing multiple counties to provide mobile vet services.
Dr. Bender’s truck is more than just transportation; it’s an exam room on wheels. The 2023 Super Duty truck is upfit-friendly, and Dr. Bender’s custom bed setup is equipped to handle the unique demands of providing mobile vet services for horses, upfitted with extensive shelving units designed to hold everything from suturing equipment to prescription medications. The pickup even has a generator-powered X-ray machine and a water tank with a hose and spray nozzle.
The 2023 Super Duty was also the first in its class to offer an embedded 5G Wi-Fi® hotspot.2 For Dr. Bender, having embedded Wi-Fi ensures connectivity for navigating rural areas, accessing patient records, and sending electronic bills to patients.
The Vehicle Maintenance Dilemma
Adding another layer of complexity to equine vet medicine is the fact that emergencies are an unavoidable reality of the job. size and strength mean even seemingly minor injuries can quickly escalate into major emergencies. What might be a small nick on another animal could easily become a large, deep gash on a horse, demanding immediate attention. “Horses are very good at having emergencies,” Dr. Bender said. “When you need to come out and see them, it’s often not something you can schedule—you have to go right now.”
“Horses are very good at having emergencies. When you need to come out and see them, it’s often not something you can schedule—you have to go right now.” – Dr. Bender
Yet Dr. Bender must also factor in time for scheduled vehicle maintenance, a crucial aspect of keeping his mobile vet services up and running. “I put a lot of miles on this truck, and that vehicle maintenance comes up awfully quick,” he said. Taking his truck in for scheduled maintenance used to mean sacrificing half a day of work—approximately four hours—a prospect that filled him with anxiety. “I got into this job to help animals and their people, and knowing I’m needed urgently but can’t get there because I’m stuck waiting for my vehicle to be serviced is frustrating.”
“In a field where every minute counts, minimizing downtime is incredibly important.” – Dr. Bender
Ford Mobile Service to the Rescue
Determined to increase his availability for patients, Dr. Bender recently decided to try out Ford Mobile Service, in which certified technicians come directly to him to perform routine and preventative vehicle maintenance. Ford has the largest Mobile Service fleet among all automakers in the U.S. and is the only non-luxury automaker offering a complimentary Mobile Service.
Find Mobile Service
Scheduling was seamless. In fact, the process was so easy that the office manager grew a little suspicious. To double-check, he called to onfirm the appointment. “And they said, ‘Yep, you’re all set,’” Dr. Bender recalls with a chuckle. “Our office manager was very impressed. He loved being able to book everything online.”
“Our office manager was very impressed. He loved being able to book everything online.”
– Dr. Bender
On the day of service, Dr. Bender admits he had doubts about the practicality of the Ford Mobile Service van reaching the rural locations of his appointments. But his worries were quickly dispelled when the technician arrived, ready to work on the dirt road where Dr. Bender’s Super Duty® was parked. “He said as long as it’s level, he can rotate my tires.”
“With Mobile Service, I went from having to take at least a half day off work to only being down for an hour at lunch.”
– Dr. Bender
Dr. Bender was also impressed by the range of services offered. “I was surprised by how many things the technician could do in the field—from recalls to inspections to tire rotations.” More importantly, using Ford Mobile Service has allowed Dr. Bender to increase vehicle uptime and keep his vehicle where it belongs: on the road. “With Mobile Service, I went from having to take at least a half day off work to only being down for an hour at lunch,” he said.
The convenience of Mobile Service has made such a positive impact on Ocean Hill that it’s influencing future vehicle decisions. Dr. Bender’s colleagues, who currently drive trucks from a different manufacturer, are now considering switching to Ford trucks after hearing of the benefits of Mobile Service.
Dr. Bender became an equine vet to fulfill his passion for helping horses and their people. With such urgent demands and a vast territory to cover, vehicle uptime is critical for Ocean Hill Equine Medical Group. Ford Mobile Service has given Dr. Bender peace of mind, knowing he’ll be ready to answer the next call.
Ford Mobile Service is available to all customers, encompassing retail, commercial, and government clients. Mobile Service is offered throughout the Ford Dealer network, as well as Commercial Vehicle Centers and Elite Commercial Service Center facilities.
