Growing up on a dairy farm in Alvin, Gregg Knape planned to go into farming and ranching, following in his father's footsteps. He loved raising animals alongside his dad, watching them grow and develop unique personalities — just like humans do. That was until Knape’s best friend, who was in...
Before administering any kind of shot to horses he treats, Dr. Gregg Knape is sure to gently touch them and alert the animals that he is about to do something.Gregg Knape planned to go into farming and ranching, following in his father's footsteps. He loved raising animals alongside his dad, watching them grow and develop unique personalities — just like humans do.
Several years after, Knape started working as a veterinary show official, where he was hired alongside six other veterinarians to institute the Residue Avoidance Program, created to make sure the competition is fair for rodeo athletes and the food supply is drug-free. Knape cares for hundreds of bucking horses, bulls, steers and horses. He arrives from his practice, which is about 30 miles away, after completing a full workday there.
According to Knape, there are few serious injuries to the animal athletes in competition, “You have to remember with RodeoHouston, these are the top echelon of animals. These animal athletes are the best in rodeo.” Knape administered the injections after greeting the horses and rubbing their necks. He added most used for this part of the rodeo programming are from Colorado and not used to “all this mess” in Houston.
Knape has a calm presence but is decisive in his work. At a recent show, he asked an event rider how her horse, who was receiving antibiotics for an earache, was doing.Knape said it’s rare, but fractures of animals’ bones would be on the more severe side of injuries seen. If this occurred to a calf — baby cow or bull — he would likely take it to his practice to get it x-rayed and into a cast.