Empowering Equine Education

22/11/2025

As we continue to monitor the current outbreak of the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus (EHM) infection, let's take this opportunity to discuss once more the importance of biosecurity measures to stop disease spread. We recommend the following biosecurity precautions for horse owners, particularly if their horses have recently traveled to horse shows or were exposed to horses that have traveled:

1) Monitor horses for clinical signs (including fever, discharge from the nostrils, toe-dragging or a lack of balance) and take the temperature twice daily. Temperature greater than 101.5 F is considered a fever.

2) Immediately isolate any horse(s) showing clinical signs. Equine herpesvirus is an aerosolized virus and is spread through shared airspace, direct contact, and contaminated caretakers or equipment. A good isolation area is a separate barn or shelter that does not share airspace with healthy horses.

3) Implement movement restrictions until the situation is evaluated.

4) Contact your veterinarian to evaluate your horse and to propose a comprehensive biosecurity protocol.

5) Increase biosecurity measures that include extensive cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and equipment that come in contact with affected horses: wash or sanitize your hands between interacting with horses; take time while filling water buckets and feed tubs, do not cross contaminate; minimize the use of shared equipment and tack.

6) Make sure your horse is up to date on vaccinations.

7) Establish communication with all parties involved (owners, boarders, trainers, etc.).

More resources and information regarding biosecurity are available on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website at https://equinediseasecc.org/biosecurity

To learn more Equine Herpesvirus (EHV), visit: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/equine-herpesvirus

22/11/2025

28/10/2025

A horse's full intestines can weigh over 100 pounds (45 kg), with the large intestine alone potentially accounting for that entire weight when full of feed.

The total weight depends on the horse's size and what it has recently consumed.
Key components of the equine digestive tract include:
Total capacity: The entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a fed, mature horse can hold nearly 50 gallons (190 liters) of fluid and feed.
Hindgut weight: The hindgut (cecum and colon) accounts for approximately 64% of the empty weight of the GI tract. This is the area where fiber fermentation occurs.
Large intestine capacity: The large intestine is a significant contributor to the total weight of the full intestines.
It can hold 80 liters (21 gallons) or more of food and water.
When filled with feed, it can weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kg).
Cecum capacity: The cecum, a comma-shaped organ on the right side of the abdomen, can hold up to 30 liters (about 8 gallons) of food and water.

Another thing to consider in our horses is that the small intestines is suspended via the mesentry to the vertebral column of the lumbar. The lumbar is one of the last places to mature in horses and is susceptible to problems. Lumbar pain is a common site of dysfunction in horses I see for several reasons…..that is another post!

Below is just the intestinal tract from a 15hh horse, in a dissection it takes 4 people to comfortably carry this all out on a tarpaulin.

Below is a link to whole collection of videos on the intestinal tract.

https://www.patreon.com/collection/1804697t

22/10/2025

Thank you so much Sarah Nickels from Abbey's Run Equestrian for hosting a fantastic VIP weekend!

I walked away feeling inspired and better skilled to support my equine patients and Emergency Training students with positive reinforcement and co-operative care techniques.

It’s amazing how horses can become very willing participants in treatments such as receiving inhaler medications, with kind, intentional training. I really hope this body of work spreads throughout the horsey community and ripples into the veterinary space as well. For too long we’ve demanded our horses co-operate, instead of investing our time into correctly training them to establish a beautiful pathway of communication and understanding.

10/10 recommend the VIP Weekend at Abbey’s Run Equestrian for any horse owner or equine professional wanting to expand their skills and understanding of equine behaviour.

Thank you again, Sarah! 🙏❤️🐴

Thanks to Equine Vet, Dr Lizzie McCready from Empowering Equine Education who came along to participate, but was so willing to share knowledge to support other participants ❤

21/09/2025

Proud to have been part of this collective effort to rescue 35 year-old Gypsy who got stuck in thick mud in a dam!

We are incredibly lucky to have a local Large Animal Rescue Team and wonderful Yarra Glen CFA who's volunteers make these rescues possible.

Huge shout out to our fantastic Faye from The Equine Practice who not only runs the show in the office at the vet clinic, but also volunteers for the CFA and was responsible for holding Gypsy's head up while she was stuck in the dam awaiting rescue.

07/09/2025

Did you know most horses need to consume about 2% of their body weight in forage and feed (dry matter) each day to maintain weight and gut health?

For a 500 kg horse, that works out around 10 kg of dry matter daily and the majority should come from forage (hay or pasture).

Note: Some easy keepers do well with ~1.5% bodyweight, while others – like hard keepers, performance horses, lactating mares, or growing youngsters – may need to 2.5-3%.

🌱 On good pasture, a 500 kg horse can consume 50 - 60 kg of grass in 24 hours, which equals 10 - 12 kg of dry matter.

But once the grass is shorter than 2 inches, even if it looks green, your horse simply can’t consume enough to meet their needs.

When that happens, problems start:

❌ The stomach is emptier → higher ulcer risk
❌ The hindgut runs out of fibre to ferment → triggering microbial imbalance
❌ Gut motility slows → increased risk of impaction colic
❌ Reduced gut fill → increased chance of displacement or torsion colic

This is where supplementing with hay becomes essential. And not just a couple of biscuits. It pays to get specific:

For example: 1.5-2% of supplemental hay for a 500 kg horse equals 7.5-10 kg hay per day.

⚖ To measure accurately, use a luggage scale to weigh your hay net/bag.

FYI: one biscuit/flake of hay can weigh anywhere from 1-3 kg depending on type and density.

Feeding round bales? As a guide, the average 4’ x 5’ round bale weighs ~400 kg. At 2% bodyweight per day, one bale lasts approx. 40 days for one 500kg horse, or 20 days for two horses sharing.

If you’d like more practical tips on feeding, forage and colic prevention, you can watch the Colic + Nutrition Masterclass that Sam Potter (FeedXL) and I hosted.

In it, we break down safe feeding strategies, common nutrition mistakes that increase colic risk and how to help your horse during a colic episode 👉 https://www.empoweringequineeducation.com/replay-colic-feedxl

04/09/2025

Exciting news!! The latest issue of Hoofbeats Magazine is now out, and I’m thrilled to be featured talking all about colic 🐴 🩺

In the article I cover the key difference between medical and surgical colic, why environmental conditions have triggered a spike in colic cases, proactive colic prevention tips and how to think ahead so you feel more prepared.

You can grab a copy of the August/September edition at newsagents, selected saddleries, and feed stores across Australia and New Zealand, or online at hoofbeats.com.au (my article is pages 55 – 57).

02/09/2025

It's been ages since I properly introduced myself on here, so...

I'm Dr Lizzie, an equine vet based in Melbourne (but originally from the UK)👋

My horse story started when I was 5. Mum loaned my sister and me a cheeky little Welsh Mountain pony called Muffin and I turned into a completely horse-obsessed kid!

Fast forward through years of mucking out, pony club, eventing and dreaming of becoming an equine vet, I went to study at the Royal Veterinary College in London. Graduated with Honours in 2016 and jumped straight into equine practice.

I spent time at a world-class hospital in the UK before making the move to Australia, where I now drive around visiting horses as an ambulatory vet.

I've also trained in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and acupuncture (IVAS) - something I'm passionate about integrating more into my work 🌿

Over the years working as an equine vet, I kept seeing the same thing over and over...

Lovely, dedicated owners facing emergencies like colic or nasty wounds, and despite caring so much about their horses, they just didn't know what to do to help.

That gap between wanting to help and knowing how to help is what led me to start Empowering Equine Education and my Equine Emergency Training course (which now has over 750 students!)🎉

Now I get to split my time between clinical work and teaching, which means I can help way more horses (and their humans) than I could have ever dreamt.

At the end of the year, my partner, our dog Disco and I are going to travel around Australia in our renovated van turned campervan (it’s a working progress). And I can’t wait to take you along for the ride!

19/08/2025

Here's some interesting information about Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) from our friends at Rhinebeck Equine. Have you heard about this condition before? Let us know in the comments below!

"💪🏼 Last week, we discussed Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (ER) aka tying-up. We mentioned that PSSM (Polysaccharide storage myopathy) is associated with genetic susceptibility of ER.

💪🏼 What is PSSM?
PSSM is a disorder that causes muscle soreness and tying up in horses from abnormal glycogen storage in the muscles. The two types of PSSM are Type 1 and Type 2.

♦️ PSSM Type 1 is caused by a mutation in the GYS1 gene (glycogen synthase 1). The mutation causes muscle cells to produce glycogen continually. PSSM Type 1 is more commonly observed in Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosas and draft breeds; however, it has been documented in 20 breeds.

♦️ PSSM Type 2 occurs without genetic mutation yet results in abnormal glycogen storage in the muscles. It is still unknown the exact cause of PSSM Type 2. PSSM Type 2 is more common in warmbloods, but it has been linked to other breeds.

🩺 What are the clinical signs?
Sweating, lameness, sore muscles, weakness, undiagnosed lameness, poor performance, and muscle tremors that may occur with or without exercise. Not all horses will exhibit severe clinical signs.

🥼 How do we test for PSSM Type 1 and 2?
Testing for PSSM Type 1 requires hair samples with the roots attached to test for the GYS1 variant. Testing for PSSM Type 2 requires a muscle biopsy.

🩸 Additional testing of insulin may be warranted due to PSSM Type 1 horses are commonly more sensitive to it. Insulin causes the GYS1 gene to produce more glycogen.

💪🏼 How do we treat PSSM once diagnosis is made?
Diet and regular exercise are crucial to managing these horses. Often these horses are on a low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) grass hay and a ration balancer. However, each horse is an individual and may need more calories which can be achieved by adding a low-NSC or high fat feed. Additional supportive care may be necessary during an active episode of tying up.

🤔 What is the prognosis?
Sadly, there’s no cure, but with dietary and exercise management horses can do well and reduce the frequency of active tying-up episodes."

If you have any concerns about your horse exhibiting signs of PSSM Type 1 or 2, talk to your veterinarian.

📸: Dr. Laura Javsicas, ACVIM, performing a muscle biopsy.

10/08/2025

📣 After 10 years of thinking about it… I finally joined the club.

I’ve started wearing a riding helmet while working with horses.

It might seem like common sense, but it’s not common practice amongst equine vets in Australia yet. And honestly? It should be.
I know firsthand how quickly things can go wrong 🤕

When I was 17, I was kicked in the head during a freak paddock accident. I wasn’t riding or doing anything “risky” – just wrong place, wrong time. It split my forehead open, requiring 19 stitches. I was lucky it wasn’t worse.

A 3-year study run by CVS and the University of Liverpool revealed that 90% of equine vets experience work-related injuries, with 25% requiring hospital care! Head injuries were common, often from horse limbs during routine procedures.

Here are 3 things you can do to help keep your vet (and everyone who handles your horse) safer:

1️⃣ Train for touch
Help your horse get comfortable with being examined – especially legs, feet, head and mouth. The more familiar this feels, the safer it is for everyone.

2️⃣ Practice taking their temperature
If they clamp their tail, dance around, or threatens to kick during temperature checks, start training this essential skill using cooperative care techniques. (I'm a huge fan of Sarah Nickels from Abbey's Run Equestrian for this type of training - she's amazing!)

3️⃣ If they’re needle shy – address it now.
If your horse panics or lashes out when they see a needle, there are gentle desensitisation techniques that can rewire this behaviour. (Dr Lily Wilson has excellent training for this – worth checking out!)

Let's work together as horse owners and vets to help make veterinary care safer for everyone involved. A little training incorporated into your everyday horse care can go a long way! 🐴🙏

22/07/2025

Are you feeding too much in one go? ❌

A horse’s stomach is smaller than you’d expect - about the size of a rugby ball.

When we feed large meals, we overwhelm their ability to digest starch and sugars in the small intestine.

The undigested food then spills into the caecum, where it ferments and disrupts the delicate microbial balance - increasing the risk of gas, hindgut acidosis, and colic.

All things we want to avoid.

✅Safe Feeding Rule: Keep meals under 0.5kg per 100kg bodyweight.

That’s equal to:
- 2.5kg for a 500kg horse
- 1.5kg for a 300kg pony

Important Tips:

🐴 When feeding a soaked feed (like beet pulp or hay cubes), be sure to count the full soaked weight - water included.

🐴 If your horse needs a high volume of hard feed daily due to limited forage (such as older horses with poor teeth), split the feed into smaller meals and space them throughout the day.

13/07/2025

TOMORROW'S THE DAY!!

And I’d love you to join us.

👉 https://www.empoweringequineeducation.com/colic-feedxl

In all my years as an equine vet, I’ve treated hundreds of horses for colic. But here’s the heartbreaking truth I want to change:
I’ve had to put more horses to sleep because of colic than any other condition.

That’s exactly why Sam Potter (FeedXL) and I are going live in just 24 hours for the Free Colic + Nutrition Masterclass – and there’s still time to save your seat: https://www.empoweringequineeducation.com/colic-feedxl

This isn’t just another free training.

It’s part of my mission to help you take action before colic becomes an emergency – by giving you the practical knowledge and tools I wish every horse owner had.

You’ll learn how to:
✓ Lower your horse’s risk of colic with smart, proactive strategies
✓ Make confident, calm decisions in a crisis
✓ Support your horse’s recovery and avoid setbacks

Because even when we do everything “right,” colic can still happen.

And when it does, being prepared can make all the difference.

Your horse deserves an owner who knows how to prevent and respond to colic.

And you deserve the peace of mind that comes from being ready.
👉 Register now: https://www.empoweringequineeducation.com/colic-feedxl

Can’t join live? No problem – just register and I’ll send you the replay.