Vito DelVento | An Ocala Realtor® and Inaugural Veterinarian

When Dr. Vito DelVento accepted a position to oversee the veterinary board in the District of Columbia, it was originally meant to be a part-time gig – mostly administrative. Nothing overly taxing – just helping with things like licenses and permit qualifications, making sure veterinarians were operating within code, and contributing ideas for proposals and regulations that would keep both animals and humans safe. It was well within his wheelhouse.

That changed relatively quickly.

“It was on a very low, ten hour per week basis at first. Now it’s sort of evolved into a full-time job,” he says, and laughs. “I never expected to be going on this long.”

Ocala REALTOR® and Executive Director and Program Manager of Animal Services in the District of Columbia

Dr. DelVento, an active REALTOR® with Showcase Properties of Central Florida, is a dedicated competitor, trainer, and breeder of sport horses. In addition to his equestrian expertise, he is a respected veterinarian and currently serves as the Executive Director and Program Manager of Animal Services in the District of Columbia. He’s in charge of all animal services in the District, including the Humane Society, pet permits and licensing, wildlife protection and conservation, animal confrontations and relocations, and special events. It’s a big job that requires him to split his focus, spending an extensive amount of time in the DC area and traveling back home to Ocala on weekends depending on what the situation or event schedules allow.

One of the biggest he oversees is Presidential Inaugurations, during which literally hundreds of horses descend on the Capital for the traditional Parade. It’s as much a part of our national fabric as it is a cornerstone of important moments in our history to have these beautiful animals sharing the spotlight; they make the occasion special and recognizable at the same time.

Preparing the horse teams and regiments for events in the Capital involves a lot more than just saddling up and riding along the streets. It’s a massive undertaking with months of planning, a dedicated team, and one very busy animal services chief.

“Every four years we have this massive event. It’s divided into two planning phases: The general discussions start in Summer; standard stuff that’s more homogenous because we don’t know who the president will be. The second phase is more specific, depending on what the incoming Administration wants to do.”

Dr. Vito DelVento, Showcase REALTOR® and Executive Director and Program Manager of Animal Services in D.C.

“Every four years we have this massive event,” Vito explains. “It’s divided into two planning phases: The general discussions start in Summer; standard stuff that’s more homogenous because we don’t know who the president will be. The second phase is more specific, depending on what the incoming Administration wants to do.”

That second meeting was scheduled for December 12, after which more detailed planning is put in place and preparations begin for the intake of horses and teams coming from all over the country and bivouac in DC.

“Once we know which groups are coming and how many horses there are, we can start planning the logistics,” Vito says. “We have to make sure we have space for all of them, so they’re stabled at a large equestrian facility there. I do an evaluation of the animals to make sure they’re sound and healthy enough to walk the route.”

The morning of the big day is pure chaos. Before anything else happens on the day, Vito and his crew take the horse groups and walk the entire thing from start to finish. They’re all trucked in to go through security checks that would rival the airport, and then after all the walkthroughs and medical checks, are able to chill in a temporary stable city until it’s showtime. Then they’re transported from their stables, undergo more security checks, and are moved to a designated staging area.

“They’re all in the city by 8am; the parade starts at 3pm,” Dr. DelVento explains, adding that the entire city is locked down the whole day, except for specific designated entry points. “All the horses go through security, just like we do at the airport. That means at least four people looking at each horse from head to toe.”

After the animals are cleared, they move to the ‘clean zone’ for the staging area, where they’re given shelter, hay, and water and made as comfortable as possible before the event starts.

“It gets really crazy when the parade is about to begin.” Dr. DelVento chuckles. “The route is always the same every year, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less challenging.”

Because there’s usually a lot of visual, audio and olfactory stimuli roiling around the Capital, it’s a lot for the horses to absorb. Most of them are veteran parade professionals, so they’re well-trained for the barrage. But occasionally there’s a burp or unexpected snafu, so there’s alway a team of veterinarians and ambulances on standby just in case. Two teams of mobile vets are on the route, with equine ambulances available so they can address any emergencies.

“You have bands with cymbals and tubas and drums, loudspeakers, TV lights everywhere, people shouting and whistling, waving mobile phones, and floats with all kinds of moving parts that can spook a human, let alone a horse. But since most of them are veteran paraders, they tend to settle down fairly quickly. You have to be ready for when a couple of them can’t, though,” Dr. DelVento says. “There’s a large group that comes every year with about 80 horses and high school kids; they’ve been doing it since the Lincoln administration, so they know what to expect. Our priority is making sure everyone is safe in case something unexpected happens. You have to stay focused and prepared to handle possible problems.

“Luckily,” he adds, “We haven’t had any major issues in the past few years. I think that’s due to the level of preparation we do. It’s exacting and can seem a little tedious to some, but it’s absolutely necessary and the results justify why.”

Dr. Vito DelVento has dedicated over 15 years to this demanding yet fulfilling role, making a meaningful impact on both animals and humans who are increasingly cohabitating in closer spaces together. Reflecting on his long-term experience, he shares:

“It’s been a wonderful experience that really challenged me, and I’ve been able to meet and work with some incredible people and situations. I’m glad this part-time job developed into something that became a passion for me, and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.”