Meadow Brook Stables

11/15/2025

Day 237:

I didn’t get a chance to work with Easy today — we stuck to grooming and a little self-care instead. And honestly? That’s just as important.

Regular grooming isn’t just about keeping them pretty; it’s a huge part of keeping their skin and coats healthy, especially in wet, muddy weather. When horses get damp, brushing helps lift and fluff the coat so moisture doesn’t sit trapped against the skin. Too much moisture + mud is the perfect recipe for irritation and infection.

💧 Some common skin issues we try to prevent:

• Rain Rot:
Caused by bacteria that thrive in warm, damp conditions. It shows up as painful raised scabs and tufts of hair coming out. Horses who stay wet or wear blankets too long without drying off are extra susceptible.

• Scratches / Grease Heel:
An inflammatory skin condition on the heels and pasterns. Mud and moisture soften the skin, allowing bacteria or fungus to get in. It can become swollen, cracked, and very sore — and can flare up quickly if not caught early.

• Mud Fever / Dermatophilosis:
Similar to rain rot but often lower on the legs where mud packs in. It can cause thick scabs, hair loss, and sensitivity.

• General fungal or bacterial irritation:
When sweat, dirt, or moisture get trapped under coats or blankets, the skin becomes a perfect environment for microbes to grow.

Keeping horses cleaned off, dried, and well-groomed dramatically lowers the risk of all of these.

Easy, of course, thinks grooming time is purely her personal spa appointment.

Her favourite is the curry comb — especially on her b***y, belly, and chest. She practically wiggles into it. I swear she’d follow me around the stall asking for “just one more scratch” if she could.

11/14/2025

💙 Gambit Update - Additional Testing 💙

We know that Gambit’s primary issue is the misalignment and compression at C2–C3 in his neck — the point where the vertebrae are putting pressure on his spinal cord and causing his neurological symptoms.

However, with complex neurological horses, it’s always important to cover all the bases. Sometimes, there can be secondary issues or unrelated conditions that can contribute to or worsen neurological signs.

That’s why the vets at New Bolton ran several additional tests — some of which needed to be sent to outside labs. The results are now coming in, and here’s what we found 👇

🌿 Vitamin E Deficiency

Vitamin E plays a vital role in neurological health. It acts as a powerful antioxidant that protects nerve cells from oxidative damage. Horses that are low in Vitamin E can develop muscle weakness, poor coordination, or even permanent nerve damage if the deficiency is severe or prolonged.

We had tested Gambit’s Vitamin E levels before his trip, and he was at the low end of normal — but his retest at New Bolton came back below normal, even with supplementation.

Gambit's vitamin E result (1.9 ppm; normal range is 2-10 ppm but we the recommendation is to get neurological cases get closer to about 4 ppm). He is currently being supplemented with 5000 IU/day of Elevate and we will plan a recheck in 1-2 months to see if supplementation needs to be adjusted further.

Vitamin E intake is so important moving forward to support his nervous system and muscle health as best we can.

🩵 Summary

So while Gambit’s diagnosis remains centered around the C2–C3 spinal compression, these tests confirm that we’re not missing any other underlying diseases or infections that could be contributing to his neurological signs.

It’s a small but meaningful relief to know that we’re working with a single, defined issue — not a combination of them.

Now we can focus fully on management, comfort, and quality of life, supporting his body and nervous system in every way possible.

11/14/2025

🎥🐴 Welcome to Easy’s Crib! 🐴🎥

You’ve seen MTV Cribs… but have you ever toured the luxury suite of a foal superstar?

“Hi, I’m Easy — welcome to my barn! Over here is my gourmet dining area (hay buffet, open 24/7). To your right you’ll find my personal spa room where I get brushed, massaged, and admired. And out there? That’s my private turnout arena — basically my living room where I zoom around and pretend to listen to my mum.”

Please enjoy the tour. No autographs. Treats accepted. 😎✨

11/14/2025

🌟 IN SEARCH OF: Barn Heroes (aka Volunteers!) 🌟

Do you love horses? Want more horse time? Want to earn riding lessons and get jacked from lifting hay bales? 👀💪

We’re looking for reliable (yes… REALLY reliable), hard-working, horse-loving humans to join our volunteer crew at Meadow Brook Stables!

Must:
• Have your own transportation
• Be able to commit to 1 shift/week (about 3 hours)
• Be physically capable (hay bales don’t lift themselves)
• Love mud, manure, and majestic chaos
• Not disappear halfway through a shift like a feral barn goblin

Volunteer Roles:
🐴 Feeding Team — feed the horses & feel powerful
🧹 Barn Chores Team — stalls, buckets, tidying, and lots of horse time
✨ Grooming Team — brushing, braiding, pampering ponies like royalty

Perks:
• Free workouts
• New friends
• Valuable horsemanship skills
• Extra riding/groundwork lessons
• Unlimited sniffs and snuggles from cute ponies

If you want to join the fun, comment below with:
Name, Age, Team(s) you’re interested in, and Availability!

Come be part of the madness—we mean magic! 🐴💛

Photo by Mikahla Dorey

11/14/2025

💙 Gambit Update - Vitamin E Testing 💙

We know that Gambit’s primary issue is the misalignment and compression at C2–C3 in his neck — the point where the vertebrae are putting pressure on his spinal cord and causing his neurological symptoms.

However, with complex neurological horses, it’s always important to cover all the bases. Sometimes, there can be secondary issues or unrelated conditions that can contribute to or worsen neurological signs.

That’s why the vets at New Bolton ran several additional tests — some of which needed to be sent to outside labs. The results are now coming in, and here’s what we found 👇

🧠 Vitamin E & Neurological Health in Horses 🧠

Vitamin E plays a critical role in maintaining a healthy nervous system, muscle function, and immune response in horses. It’s a powerful antioxidant that helps protect nerve and muscle cells from oxidative damage — something that’s especially important for horses with neurological conditions or symptoms.

Because Vitamin E deficiency can mimic or worsen neurological signs, testing Vitamin E levels is an important step in evaluating any horse showing neurological concerns. Horses that are deficient may show weakness, poor coordination, or general muscle loss — symptoms that can overlap with other neurological diseases. Ensuring Vitamin E levels are optimal helps support the nervous system and gives affected horses the best chance at maintaining strength and stability.

Gambit’s Vitamin E Results & Plan

Before Gambit left for New Bolton, we tested his Vitamin E levels through Fundy Vets, and his results came back at 2.5 ppm — the low end of the normal range (2–10 ppm). Following those results, we began supplementing Gambit with 2,000 IU/day of Kentucky Performance Horse’s Elevate, which is a high-quality powdered form of natural Vitamin E. It can take up to two months for this type of supplement to bring blood levels up significantly.

As part of his comprehensive evaluation at New Bolton, they re-tested his Vitamin E levels and found him measuring at 1.9 ppm — which is considered below normal (normal range being 2–10 ppm). For neurological horses, their goal is to reach closer to 4 ppm to provide additional neurological support.

So why the drop in Vitamin E?

🧠 Stress and Hauling Affect Vitamin E Levels

Oxidative stress: Transport, new environments, and physical or emotional stress all increase oxidative processes in the body. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, so it gets used up more quickly during those times.

Reduced intake: Horses often eat less or have limited access to fresh forage (the main natural source of Vitamin E) while traveling or adjusting to a new place.

Absorption and metabolism: Stress hormones can alter digestion and nutrient absorption, making Vitamin E uptake less efficient for several days after transport.

📉 Impact on Blood Tests

Because of these factors, a horse that’s recently hauled — especially a long distance — may temporarily test lower in Vitamin E than their true baseline. This is one reason veterinarians often recommend retesting after the horse has settled and has been on consistent supplementation and diet for a few weeks.

💡 For Gambit’s Case

It’s very possible that hauling to New Bolton and the stress of the diagnostic process contributed to his lower reading of 1.9 ppm compared to his earlier 2.5 ppm result. Once he’s been back on routine care and consistent supplementation, a follow-up test in a month or two will give a more accurate reflection of his stabilized Vitamin E status.

Based on these results, Dr. Garcia-Lopez recommended increasing Gambit’s supplementation to 5,000 IU/day of Elevate, with a recheck in 1–2 months to see how his levels respond and to determine if further adjustment is needed.

Why Supplementation Matters

For neurological horses, maintaining optimal Vitamin E levels can:
✨ Support nerve cell repair and communication
✨ Reduce oxidative stress in the nervous system
✨ Promote muscle strength and coordination
✨ Potentially slow the progression or severity of neurological symptoms

Because Vitamin E can’t be stored long-term in the body, horses — especially those with limited access to fresh pasture or who are in heavy work — often benefit from daily supplementation.

We’ll be continuing to monitor Gambit’s levels closely to ensure his body has the nutritional support it needs alongside his ongoing neurological care.

11/14/2025

Day 236:

Easy had a very important job this morning: supervising barn repairs.

I climbed up on a bucket with the impact driver to hang a few of the plastic wind strips on one of the stall doorways. The second that driver started up, every horse in the area scattered and ran for the hills …

Except Easy.

She ran toward me — I think mostly confused about why everyone else was worried. Then she planted herself beside me like my tiny safety officer and stayed there the whole time. Thankfully, she refrained from knocking me off the bucket… though I’m not entirely convinced she didn’t consider it once or twice.

Easy puts a lot of trust in her people. When she’s unsure how to react in a new situation, she always comes straight to me, much like a foal would to their dam.

I guess I just need to accept it… I’m Easy’s “real” mom now. 😅

After the rain stopped, we headed over to the indoor. I tried her offline for the first time and she was so curious — sniffing the footing, licking the footing (of course), inspecting all the poles.

Most horses think the far end of the arena is the “scary end,” probably because it’s furthest away from the herd. Not Easy. She marched right up there, ears up, ready to investigate absolutely everything.

We worked on her circle again, but she still doesn’t respond to pressure like a “typical” foal would, which makes teaching some cues a bit tricky. She’s slowly getting the idea though. I’m going to set out some pylons and poles next time to help her really see what I’m asking.

Then we had some fun with a little liberty play. My only concern is that when she gets excited, she doesn’t always understand personal space and I don’t feel like being tackled by 600+ lbs of enthusiastic foal. But she has a fantastic draw — I’d let her get distracted, then walk away and call her, and she’d come trotting up like I had personally offended her by leaving. The head toss she gives me is peak Easy attitude.

So cute.
So sassy.
So very Easy. 💗

11/14/2025

Okay soooo… can we please talk about Nanny Rio for a second?

Every. single. time. I go off to “school,” she makes this HUGE fuss like I’m leaving forever. Calling out, pacing, staring dramatically into the distance… honestly, it’s embarrassing.

I mean, I’m a strong, independent foal who does not need constant supervision, thank you very much.

Sometimes I get a little distracted because there is just soooo much to see on the way over, and I have to inspect everything. Gotta make sure the world knows I’m coming through, you know?

THEN, on the way over to “200,” I strutted my stuff like the superstar I am. All the horses were watching me — obviously — and you could just tell they all wished they were as cool and stylish as me. Head high, tail up, legs prancing… I was serving LOOKS.

Today was actually pretty amazing because Mom let me off my halter and I got to explore the indoor ALL by myself. So many fun things to sniff! So many corners to check! I was basically on an adventure.

Meanwhile, Mom kept moving away from me and calling me like I was supposed to follow her everywhere.

Like… girl.

You walked away from me.

If you wanted me right beside you so badly, why did you leave in the first place??

Honestly, people make zero sense. Foals definitely understand the world better.

Anyway, I had fun. Rio survived (barely).

10 out of 10 adventure. Would explore again.

11/13/2025

💙 Gambit Update - Additional Testing 💙

We know that Gambit’s primary issue is the misalignment and compression at C2–C3 in his neck — the point where the vertebrae are putting pressure on his spinal cord and causing his neurological symptoms.

However, with complex neurological horses, it’s always important to cover all the bases. Sometimes, there can be secondary issues or unrelated conditions that can contribute to or worsen neurological signs.

That’s why the vets at New Bolton ran several additional tests — some of which needed to be sent to outside labs. The results are now coming in, and here’s what we found 👇

🦠 Lyme Disease Testing

Lyme disease can also cause neurological symptoms in horses, so it’s an important one to rule out.

Gambit had previously tested positive on the 4DX test, which only tells us he’s been exposed to the bacteria that causes Lyme (Borrelia burgdorferi) at some point.

To know if he has an active infection, we ran the Lyme Multiplex test through Cornell University.
The Lyme Multiplex measures three different antibodies to three antigens, called 'outer surface proteins (Osp)', of B. burgdorferi which have been shown to correlate with vaccinal antibodies, or acute and chronic stages of Lyme disease.

Equivocal ranges:
OspA: 1000 - 2000; (Vaccine Response)
OspC: 500 - 1000; (Early Infection)
OspF: 750 - 1250 (Chronic Infection)

Gambit’s Results:
OspA: 124 Negative
OspC: 43 Negative
OspC: 67 Negative

Gambit tested negative on all three — meaning he does not have active or chronic Lyme disease.

11/13/2025

👑 Broodmare Hoof Care — Because Our Queens Deserve the Best 👑

When it comes to raising happy, healthy foals, it all starts with the mare — and that means taking exceptional care of her from the inside out (and the ground up!).

At Meadow Brook, our broodmares don’t just live out in a field and “fend for themselves.” They live like queens 👑 and receive regular care to keep them in peak condition, not only for their own health but for the well-being of the foals they carry.

💅 Regular Hoof Care: Our mares are on a consistent trim schedule to maintain balance, prevent discomfort, and reduce unnecessary strain on their joints and ligaments — especially important as their body changes throughout pregnancy.

💉 Routine Veterinary Care: They receive vaccinations, dental checks, and regular deworming to ensure they stay strong and their immune systems are ready to support their growing foals.

🥕 Proper Nutrition: Each mare is fed a carefully balanced diet to meet her individual needs and provide the essential vitamins, minerals, and protein needed for fetal development.

💆‍♀️ Daily Checks & TLC: We do hands-on wellness checks every day — from monitoring weight and attitude to grooming and stretching.

And of course… there’s Delilah, who never misses an opportunity for extra kisses and snuggles during her monthly pedicure. 💋🐴

She knows hoof care day means pampering day!
Because to us, our broodmares aren’t just mothers — they’re partners in producing the next generation of sound, strong, and kind-minded foals. 💕

11/13/2025

Easy Plushie Pre Orders are OPEN

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/YLQTBJGZ6JNHL

You can order your Easy Plushie here! We can also add extras:

Pink Halter $15 CDN

Pink Blanket $20 CDN

Or a package for both $25 CDN

Keep in mind these are hand made so take time, they arent mass produced.

Shipping TBD. If you want pick up at MBS we will split shipping between everyone getting one. For everyone else you leave your address and we will quote you the cheapest shipping method available.

You’ve all asked — and now it’s happening! You can soon have your very own Easy to snuggle at home. 💕 We’re opening preorders for custom-made Easy Plushies! Each plush is lovingly handcrafted right here in Canada and designed to capture Easy’s unique coloring and charm. Standing approxi...

11/13/2025

🌧️ Rainy Day Learning 🌧️

While the rain poured down outside this afternoon, I decided it was the perfect time for a little continuing education! I’m like a sponge when it comes to learning — always eager to soak up more knowledge wherever I can. In this industry, it’s so important to keep growing, learning, and adapting. The world of equine care is constantly evolving with new science, new research, and new techniques — and staying current means we can provide the very best care possible to the horses entrusted to us. 💙

Today’s webinar was all about Foal Conformation and Corrections, with a big focus on angular limb deformities (ALDs) — those are the crooked or misaligned legs we sometimes see in foals, where the limb angles either inward (valgus) or outward (varus) at the knee, fetlock, or hock.

The session covered a range of ways to correct these issues, from conservative management like stall rest, controlled exercise, trimming, and nutritional adjustments, to more advanced surgical techniques such as periosteal stripping, transphyseal bridging, and corrective trimming or shoeing. These interventions, when done early, can make a huge difference in a foal’s long-term soundness and success.

What really surprised me, though, was learning just how common surgical corrections actually are. The presenter mentioned that they can perform up to 10 surgical corrections in a single day — and that roughly 5% of foals require some form of surgical correction for angular limb deformities. That’s far more than I ever would have guessed!

It’s amazing how much there is to learn, even after years of hands-on experience. Every bit of knowledge helps us make better, more informed decisions for our horses — and I’ll never stop striving to do just that. 💪🐴

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital

11/13/2025

If you're in Truro tomorrow stop by OakLee Equines