The word laminitis is dreaded by riders around the world. It occurs much more frequently than you might think - about half of all cases are missed because the condition is not obvious to detect. However, it is a crippling condition for your horse and can eventually be fatal. It is estimated that laminitis occurs on average once every ten years of a...
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Could your horse have Equine Cushing’s disease? Equine Cushing's disease, also known as PPID, is thought to affect 20% of horses over the age of 15, and is the 5th most common disease syndrome recognised in horses and ponies in the UK*. It is a hormonal disease caused by changes in the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brai...
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What does a diagnosis of Equine Cushing’s disease mean for your horse? Finding out that your horse has or may have a disease is always a worrying time. Rest assured though that a diagnosis of Equine Cushing’s disease does not mean your horse’s quality of life is going to suffer. Equine Cushing’s disease is a common diagnosis...
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Why does your horse need a blood test 4-6 weeks after starting medication to treat Equine Cushing’s disease? Horses with untreated or uncontrolled Equine Cushing’s disease are at a high risk of developing signs associated with this disease such as laminitis, repeated infections, muscle wastage, lethargy, poor coat quality, and increased...
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Read on to find out why it's important to book regular 6-monthly veterinary examinations for your Cushing's horse: Once your horse is stable on treatment and their Equine Cushing’s disease is under control, it is recommended that they are re-examined by their veterinary surgeon every 6 months. This is to ensure that any signs that the disease...
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All horsey folk know that owning horses is not just a hobby but a lifestyle. Horses require care 365 days a year, including over christmas. Whilst Christmas is a time for eating, drinking, spending time with family (and your horse!) we must consider the safest way for them to enjoy the festivities too. Here are my top tips to keep everyone feeling...
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Horses are designed to be trickle feeders, chewing high fibre roughage for the majority of the day. Their digestive systems are adapted to efficiently use this fibre for energy, with 60-70% of a horse’s energy requirements coming from the hindgut. The population of micro-organisms in the hindgut ferment the high fibre roughage to slowly relea...
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Spring/summer is here! The sun is out and our ponies are loving the longer days out in the field, especially the fresh lush spring grass that comes with it. However is this good for them? In fact spring pasture-associated laminitis, obesity and digestive problems are a real issue horse owners need to be aware of. Do not worry though, below is a gui...
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Competition season is upon us and for many it’s a time of great anticipation and excitement, with much preparation having gone into readying your horse (and yourself) for the demands of competitions. However, with COVID-19 forcing many competitions and events into cancellation, with no clear indication as to when the current situation will ea...
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As of the 1st January this year, only one type of whip will now be permitted at British Showjumping. After calls for tightened welfare standards across the sport, it would appear that measures are now being taken to address the use of whips and spurs and penalise incidences where both are used excessively. The new rules address the type, length, ma...
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