Wessex Equine

27/08/2024

The hot weather often brings breathing issues for our horses. This can be for a number of reasons. They can struggle with their breathing when they have an allergy and the hot weather often makes it harder for asthmatic horses too.

Signs your horse is struggling include:

🐴 Coughing
🐴 Nasal discharge
🐴 Increased breathing rate in exercise or rest
🐴 Increased breathing effort at rest
🐴 Long recovery times after exercise

If you notice any of the above signs with your horse give us a call and we can put you in touch with a veterinarian to discuss ways to make your horse more comfortable.

21/08/2024

Has your horse got a pink nose? Horses suffer with sunburn much like we do, especially those with very pink skin.

Remember to keep them covered on very sunny days. Using a fly rug on grey and coloured horses is a handy way of keeping them comfortable and sun cream can be applied to areas that are left uncovered such as noses and heels.

15/08/2024

It is very difficult to keep your horse happy and hydrated in hot weather.

Tips and Tricks:

🐎 Give electrolytes after exercise to help replace what has been lost through sweating.

🐎 Offer a water ‘buffet’: give them flavoured water/water with electrolytes in or even try floating some carrots or apples in there to encourage drinking.

🐎 Regularly cleaning your water buckets or troughs and giving fresh water also encourages drinking.

🐎 Soaking hay or feeding a mash or soaked feed can be a good way of upping their water intake.

13/08/2024

Have you got a summer holiday planned?

Don’t forget to let us know who is looking after your horse in case of an emergency while you are away!

09/08/2024

Our winner for this month's cover photo competition is Clare Bevins!

05/08/2024

This month’s cover photo competition theme is holidays with your ponies!

Comment with a picture of your horse or pony on holiday for a chance to be our cover photo star this August!

01/08/2024

We are having intermittent issues with our phone lines at the moment - if you have an emergency and cannot get through please email us at [email protected]!

26/07/2024

Who has that friday feeling?

23/07/2024

Call us about our Horse Health Programme today!

16/07/2024

Many of us consider poo picking to be a bit of a ‘necessary evil’ when we own a horse. We remove manure mainly to help manage the worm burden of our horses but did you know that there are several other benefits too?

It improves grazing quality. Piles of manure, if left, will starve the grass underneath of air & light which leaves bald patches of ground. These patches are ideal for ragwort to grow in. The better the pasture, the more difficult it is for ragwort to grow.

- Manure attracts flies so if you remove it, that means less flies hanging around to irritate and bite your horse.

- Manure contains phosphorus and nitrogen which can run off the pasture and into the local watercourse which impacts the balance between aquatic weeds and aquatic life. Composted manure does not present such a problem as the nutrients become more stable during the composting process so are less likely to leach away.

- It helps keep us fit! Walking, bending, stretching is all good exercise for us!

So all that poo picking is definitely worth it – it’s good for our horses, our pasture and us too!

09/07/2024

How many of us struggle to get rid of ragwort in our pasture?

Whilst it is incredibly annoying to see those bright yellow flowers spring up each year after year, it’s vital that we remove the plants as they are very toxic to our horses if eaten and may cause irreversible liver damage.

Whilst horses tend not to eat Ragwort because it has a bitter taste, if it is cut, wilted and dried (whether left in the pasture or found in forage such as hay) it loses its bitter taste and becomes more palatable but is still just as toxic.

If you have ragwort growing in your horse’s pasture, the best way of removing it is to pull the plants up so that the roots are removed from the ground. When ‘pulling’ ragwort:

- Always wear gloves and cover your arms.

- Try to pull up the plants when they are immature and before they shed seeds – seeds ripen in July & August and are generally shed in September.

- Ensure that all the root is removed as remaining fragments will regrow.
It will be easier to pull it up when the ground is soft or damp after rain. Ragwort is a biennual plant (flowers every two years) and its seeds lie dormant in the ground so the removal of plants will need to be done annually for at least two years.

- When removed, immediately bag the plant or put it into a container which prevents it from spreading seeds whilst transporting it for disposal.

- Dispose of it by composting or taking it to your local recycling/composting centre. If there is only a small amount, it may be burned if it is safe to do so and away from buildings, people and animals. Safe and effective disposal of the removed plants is key to preventing further spread. It is vital that all dead ragwort is removed from the pasture as it becomes more palatable and is, therefore, more likely to be eaten.

05/07/2024

And the winner of July's cover photo competition is Kerrie Fleming Horses with Flora!

Keep an eye out for our next cover photo competition in August!

01/07/2024

How are your keeping your ponies cool in the summer heat? ☀️

Show us your photos for a chance to be July’s cover photo competition winner!

25/06/2024

Has your horse or pony recently been tested for PPID (Equine Cushing’s disease)? If so, please can we ask for your help with some research being carried out by the Royal Veterinary College and some of the vets in our CVS partner practices?

Your horse is eligible to take part if they are at least 10 years old and:

They have had a positive test result but have not yet started treatment (tested in last 2 weeks)
OR
They have had a positive test result and started treatment within the last 2 weeks (tested in last 2 weeks)
OR
They have had a positive test result although no treatment is planned (tested in last 4 weeks)
OR
They have had a negative test result in the past 4 weeks
OR
They have had an equivocal (unclear) test result in the past 4 weeks

The link below will take you to a survey and once signed up, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire once every 3 months.

Thank you.

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

19/06/2024

Wessex Equine are proud to announce that we are now stocking Hestevard supplements.

Hestevard provide a wide range of products for horses and ponies of all ages and types, from happy hackers to eventing superstars!

Check out the range online and give us a call!

https://hestevard.com/collections/all

13/06/2024

With the competition season underway, don't forget about our Competition Horse MOT Package!

£88 Non-ridden
£125 Ridden

Includes:
Ridden Exam (if applicable)
Trot Up
Flexion Tests
Watching on the lunge
General health exam

Call us to book in today!

11/06/2024

We understand that when, and with what, we should worm our horses can be confusing.
At this time of year, we recommend that you submit a small sample of your horse’s poo to us for a worm egg count.

When we have the results back, we will also look at your horse’s clinical history and worming record so that we can recommend whether your horse needs to be wormed or not, and if they do, then we will recommend a suitable wormer to use. This is known as a targeted worming programme and enables us to only worm our horses when necessary.

Worm egg counts should be repeated about every 12 weeks throughout the grazing season.

Four egg counts are included with our Horse Health Programme.

10/06/2024

Congratulations Ruth Huband! Gifty is this month's cover photo winner!

03/06/2024

It is time for another cover photo competition!

This month we would like to see you out and about with your horses at fun rides and shows!

The cover photo winner will be selected on Wednesday - Good Luck!

23/05/2024

We are happy to report the issue with our phone lines and internet has now been resolved!

Thank you all for your patience recently!

23/05/2024

With Spring well and truly upon us, please check your pastures for sycamore seedlings. Seedlings and fallen seeds contain a toxin called hypoglycin A (HGA) which causes Atypical Myopathy (sycamore poisoning) in horses when ingested. The toxin HGA slows or stops energy production in muscles and the heart.

There are a number of things you can do to help prevent ingestion of sycamore seeds & leaves and therefore help to prevent Atypical Myopathy (AM):

• Ideally moving your horses to pasture where sycamore trees are not in danger of dropping seeds, although we are aware this is not always possible (the “helicopter” seeds can travel up to 200 yards). Alternatively, fence off any areas of the pasture where sycamore seeds have fallen
• Removing sycamore seeds from pastures and pulling up (if possible) sycamore seedlings – seedlings should be carefully disposed of because dead seedlings (including seedlings killed using herbicides) are still poisonous
• Providing supplementary hay/haylage, especially when grazing is poor. However, avoid leaving wet hay on the ground as this can increase the risk
• Provide supplementary concentrate feeding
• Reduce time spent at pasture

Not all horses on problem pastures are susceptible (probably depending on genetic factors), but currently it is not possible to tell which horses are high risk.

Atypical Myopathy signs include:
• General weakness – difficulty walking and breathing
• Sudden collapse and inability to stand
• Depression – holding head low
• Muscle tremors / trembling
• Signs of colic (but often still have a good appetite)
• Brown or dark red urine

Blood tests can confirm the diagnosis. Sadly the disease is frequently fatal (over 50% of affected horses do not survive), especially if the horse becomes recumbent and unable to et up. However, treatment can be successful in mild cases and if started early enough – if horses survive the first few days then they have a higher chance of surviving, however full recovery can take several months.

If you suspect your horse is showing signs of Atypical Myopathy, please contact us immediately – remember that the earlier we can diagnose the disease and initiate treatment, the better the chances of survival.

23/05/2024

UPDATE!

We are still experiencing difficulties with our internet and phone lines and as such very few phone calls and emails are getting to us.

We hope for this to be resolved today, however, if there is an emergency please call us on 07833 473708!

Thank you all for your patience!

22/05/2024

Good Morning All!

We have engineers in our office at the moment and it is causing issues with our phones and internet.

If you have an emergency and can't get through on our usual line please call us on 07833 473708!

21/05/2024

SWEET ITCH PREVENTENTION

Unfortunately, there is yet to be a cure for sweet itch. However there are many ways you can help prevent and manage the symptoms.

The symptoms of sweet itch are itching, usually around the mane, tail and neck. However, in the worst cases it can manifest itself anywhere on the horse. These areas are often irritated, hairless with scaly/lumpy skin and can bleed and become thickened.

- Invest in a fly rug – make sure your horse is wearing it early in the season before the midges start biting. They are active between March and November normally but the condition can affect horses all year round.

- Use a fly natural repellent to help deter midges

- Try to keep your horse stabled at dawn and dusk when midges at their most active

- Avoid grazing horse in fields with open water sources. Flies & midges are attracted to these areas.

- Use anti itching shampoos containing calming properties such as oatmeal. Your vet can also recommend shampoos that contain local anaesthetics.

Speak to your vet regarding any other treatments they can offer to help manage symptoms.

20/05/2024

The Winner of this month's cover photo competition is Aimee Elcock!

Thank you to everyone who took part!

14/05/2024

Good Morning All,

If you have received a message regarding a competition win please ignore it as it is not us! We are working with Facebook to resolve this issue.

Have a great day!

13/05/2024

This month we would like to see your horses and ponies enjoying sunny days in the field!

Our cover photo winner will be selected on Friday this week!