Code 4 Equine First Aid

01/11/2025

How many photos of p**p do you have on your phone???

01/03/2025

As the cold winter weather trudges on, Dr. Sarah Reuss, AAEP Vice President and a horse owner herself, shares the following advice to keep your horse safe during extreme weather.

1. While lots of hay is ideal for horses to eat to keep warm, now is NOT the time to introduce a round bale if they’ve never had access to one before. It may be more work, but keep throwing them their normal hay source, just more frequently.

2. Similarly, if your horse is not used to being in a stall, now is NOT the time. The stress of a major change and the decreased activity can be risk factors for colic. Be sure they have access to shelter, hay, and drinkable water but let them move around if they choose to do so.

3. Horses that are thin, older, or fully body clipped are those most at risk in extreme weather.

4. Well-fitting blankets are great but be sure that horses do not get sweaty under them, or that the blankets don’t soak through if snow or rain covered. Wet, cold and covered is worse that dry, cold and naked.

5. Some of the highest risk times are when the temperatures hover right around freezing, as that can result in sleet/freezing rain/ice that can make horses wet and therefore colder. Slippery footing is a concern, too.

6. If using electric water heaters, be sure they are functioning and not shocking horses. Take your gloves off and stick your hand in the water (briefly!!!) to double check.

7. Entice your horses to consume extra water by flavoring a bucket, adding electrolytes to their meals, or soaking their meals in warm water. If you’ve never fed beet pulp before, be sure to add LOTS of warm water. Dry beet pulp is a common source of choke.

8. The tips of your horses' ears can be at risk for frostbite. Putting on a waterproof, jumper-style ear bonnet or other waterproof ear cover can protect them from wind chills.

If you have any questions or concerns about keeping your horses safe this winter, contact your veterinarian for advice.

Source: American Association of Equine Practitioners

01/03/2025

Horses have a number of self-defence systems against the cold. Depending on a number of factors, blanketing may or may not be necessary for your horse. Show us your beautiful blankets or fuzzy coats!

Source: American Association of Equine Practitioners

12/26/2024

Merry Christmas!!!

Happy Christmas to you all!

Have an utterly wonderful day whatever you are up to.

Lots of love,

Emily, Jess and the office dogs! ###

11/29/2024

The snow has arrived!

❄️☃️

©️Emily Cole Illustrations

11/29/2024

I'll go first... My roommate farts and makes me super happy!

Do tell!

My roommate insists on p**ping in the trailer as soon as she steps in.

10/16/2024

Ha! I was told I'd grow out of this...

09/22/2024

Great day and class of Equine First Aid at Shire Ridge Ranch!

09/16/2024

LOL! 😂

👇👇👇

➡️
➡️
➡️
➡️
➡️
➡️

09/16/2024

Coughing is a common clinical sign in horses that can be entirely benign or the first clue of a medical condition. Your horse’s cough is a normal reflex that keeps his airway healthy and clean. But some conditions associated with coughing require immediate veterinary care. Horse owners should lear...

09/16/2024

Fall time is definitely showing its face. Here's some things to think about!

"F" IS FOR FALL-CHECKLIST! 🍂🍁

As the cooler weather moves in, now is the time to crack down on housing, nutrition, and preventative health strategies suitable for the arrival of winter.

Check out this list of essential items on the horse owner's fall to-do list, but there is much more that needs to be done—like having your horse's blankets repaired and waterproofed, securing and storing hay properly, assessing your shelters for safety and soundness, etc.

Note that your equine veterinarian is one of your greatest allies this season, so be sure to consult them and discuss vaccination and deworming protocols appropriate for your horse’s situation. This is also a great opportunity to chat about recommended changes in nutrition and exercise programs as well!

08/23/2024

Identifying pain in horses can be tricky. Especially since - as prey animals - they are masters at disguising their discomforts.
Pain and stress also show almost identically. Often we don't know if our horse is saying they're in pain or they are stressed.
The way around this is learning to identify the stress signals and then eliminate potential causes to the best of our abilities until we find the root cause.

Your best indicator for mental or physical discomfort is the eye.
Sadly, we have been desensitized to reading the eye as many ads and artworks show horses in distress.
We also tend to see our animals in mild distress frequently over nuisances like flies and will over time see the facial expressions as normal.
It is important to retrain your eyes and read what the horse tells you.

The eyes showing comfort or pain are all taken from stock images of horses in various situations, from grazing to light work.

The eyes on the bottom were taken of two trauma cases who have found a better home where they finally feel safe.

08/07/2024

Want to learn more about all of this? Think about hosting a class at your barn!!

08/01/2024

So very true!

Yep!
So true.

08/01/2024

Make time. Ride the horse.

08/01/2024

Love this!

07/28/2024

Happily it has cooled down...a little...here in Southern Alberta, but, these are things to watch out for all summer for sure, but also in the winter when the sun blasts off the snow.

The summer heat and sun won't be letting up any time soon, so make sure your equine friends are adequately protected from harmful UV rays. ☀️

Hot summer weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but also the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn— just like humans.

A lot of equestrians love some chrome on a horse, but it's important to remember that those beautiful white markings and the non-pigmented pink skin underneath are more likely to suffer from sunburn, especially in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and the nostrils.

In addition to the pain and discomfort, horses that are prone to recurrent sunburn may also face other long-term consequences, like the increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common cancer).

If your horse is susceptible to sunburn, contact your veterinarian for more information about sun damage and recommendations to keep your horse protected this summer.

Source: American Association of Equine Practitioners

07/28/2024

Had a great half day Equine First Aid Fundamentals Class with an excellent group! Forgot to take pictures of the activities but we did get a group shot with the very patient model horse Cole!