Wessex Equine

11/11/2024

I was pulled from my field, from my work, from my play
Ne're to see England in lands far away
Through death and destruction, through blood, sweat and tears
I carried my master, along with my peers
So I ask you to remember a while,
Along with the soldiers in smart rank and file,
Remember our beauty, the strength of our kind,
As we galloped through danger, without care to mind
For we were the horses thrust into war
And we gave up our lives for your peace evermore.

The War Horse 1914 - 1918

08/11/2024

The cover photo winner for November is Heather Muir!

Thank you all for sending in your photos and keep an eye out for our next competition!

06/11/2024

Colic can occur at any time of the year in both grass-kept and stabled horses. How can you spot the early signs of colic? 🔍

Here are the 5 REACT signs to look for 👇

😖🐎 Restless or agitated
🍎🥕❌ Eating less or droppings reduced
🤕 Abdominal pain
🤔🔁 Clinical changes
😴😔 Tired or lethargic

Time is of the essence when a horse has colic. Download the Emergency Care Plan available from the British Horse Society 👉 https://www.bhs.org.uk/horse-care-and-welfare/ownership-loaning/owning-a-horse/emergency-decision-making/

You can reduce the risk by following these steps 👇

🍴 A diet composed of predominantly forage
🪱 Have a testing-led deworming plan in place
🦷 Regular dental checks
❄️ Gradual stabling for winter
🐎 Healthy exercise regime

Read the full guide here 👉 https://www.bhs.org.uk/horse-care-and-welfare/health-care-management/horse-health/equine-diseases/colic-in-horses/preventing-colic-in-horses/

06/11/2024

***Neurological EHV case diagnosed in Gloucestershire***

Unfortunately, a horse in Gloucestershire was recently diagnosed with neurological EHV (Equine Herpes Virus).

EHV is a highly contagious disease spread by direct horse to horse contact and airborne droplets over short distances (5m) e.g. by coughing and snorting. There are 5 main strains of EHV, but EHV-1 and EHV-4 are the most common and occur in horses worldwide and can cause respiratory disease, abortion and neurological disease.

Cases of EHV infection are occurring more frequently. This is contributed to by increased national and international travel to competitions.

For many years pregnant mares have been vaccinated to reduce the risk of EHV abortion. However, BEVA (British Equine Veterinary Association) now also recommends that vets vaccinate the following groups of horses:

• All horses which frequently attend gatherings where horses mingle in close proximity
• All young horses (6 months to 5 years)
• All horses stabled where there is frequent movement of horses on and off the premises
• All horses that may come into contact with pregnant mares

The mainstay of prevention, and minimising spread of the disease in an outbreak situation is to implement excellent biosecurity practises which are aimed at stopping contact between infected or potentially infected horses, and those who have not been exposed.
If you would like to book an EHV vaccination for your horse or speak to one of our vets about it, please give us a call.

For further information about EHV, you can visit the following link: https://www.horsehealthprogramme.co.uk/equine-herpes-virus/

04/11/2024

For November’s Cover Photo Competition we would like to see you and your horses enjoying autumnal rides!

Comment below for the chance to be the cover photo winner for November!

02/11/2024

Most horse owners will dread that time in early November (or New Year’s Eve) when fireworks seem to go on forever. This is especially as horses and fireworks can be a difficult combination to manage.

As bonfire night approaches make sure you take precautions to minimise the impact they have on your horse or pony, such as:

• Find out if there are any displays/fireworks planned near to where your horse is kept. Local press and shop notice boards as well as local radio and Facebook groups are a good source of information.

• Contact organisers to explain your concerns. See if there are any measures they can take – for example, moving to the far end of a site and ask about timings so you can manage your horse appropriately.

• It may be worth asking people living locally if they intend to have any private fireworks so that you can express your concerns and also be prepared.

• Stick to your horse’s normal routine wherever possible as sudden changes may make them more unsettled. If they are usually stabled, keep them stabled. If they are normally out in the field, keep them out there as long as it is safe, secure and not close to a firework display area.

• Wherever your horse is spending the night make sure it is safe and secure. If they are staying in check the stable for protruding nails or loose string they could get caught up on. If out in the field make sure your fencing is secure with no broken rails, no barbed wire and cleared of objects that could possible injure your horse, such as farm machinery.

• Playing music outside the stable can mask bangs. However, make sure you introduce this before firework night to ensure the music itself does not worry them.

• Similarly leaving your stable lights on can help reduce the effect of sudden bright flashes in the night sky.

• Make sure you are with your horse during the scheduled times for any local displays. If you can’t be there ensure you have someone experienced checking on them throughout the duration of any displays.

• Leave clear instructions for them as well as contact information for you and your vet should anything happen. If you know your horse gets very stressed around fireworks consider moving him for the night or talking to your vet about sedation.

• Remain calm and be very aware of your own safety when your horse is stressed. An injured owner is no good to anyone, including your horse!

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween from Wessex Equine!

24/10/2024

Give the correct dose!

If the tapeworm test and risk assessment indicate that you need to worm your horse this winter, it’s important to give the correct dose according to their weight. Not giving enough can reduce how effective it is and may also aid resistance to the ingredients used in the wormer.

You can estimate your horse’s weight by using a weigh tape or, for a more accurate
measure, use a weigh bridge.

If you need help estimating your horse’s weight, our vets are always happy to help.

22/10/2024

***Calling all Horse Health Programme members***

Don’t forget to request your tapeworm saliva test kit this autumn and complete the Worm Risk Assessment questionnaire. Both are included with your membership!

This will help our vets to provide advice as to whether your horse needs to be wormed and if so, with what type of wormer. The form can be downloaded from the Horse Health Programme website or requested from your vet.

Kits are also available to purchase if you are not a member of the Horse Health Programme – or why not sign up? It’s super easy to join and only £15.99 per month with many other benefits and discounts included.

Download your HHP risk assessment questionnaire
https://www.horsehealthprogramme.co.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2024/08/Download-Worm-Risk-Assessment-Form.pdf

18/10/2024

Autumn/winter worming advice is changing.

Here’s what you need to do this autumn:

1. Carry out a tapeworm saliva test
2. Complete out a Worm Risk Assessment

Your vet will then be able to tell you whether you need to worm your horse and if so, what wormer you need to use.

Give us a call to request your test kit and risk assessment questionnaire.

Remember a tapeworm test and worm risk assessment is included with membership of our Horse Health Programme!

16/10/2024

October's cover photo winner is Hayley Thomas with her ponies' funky rugs!

16/10/2024

Worm Risk Assessment – what is it and what factors does it consider?

Knowing whether we need to worm our horses and when can be a minefield, but understanding your horse’s risk profile is a great place to start.

A worm risk assessment enables you and your vet to gain a better understanding of your horse’s parasite risk profile (low/med/high) and will also help your vet to advise you on what you can do to help reduce your horse’s worm burden.

Together with test results from faecal worm egg counts and tapeworm tests, a risk assessment can also help to identify if, when and with what wormer your horse needs to be treated.

A risk assessment looks at:

• Age of your horse
• Clinical/worming history & test results from worm egg counts and tapeworm tests
• The number of horses grazing together
• Pasture management such as poo picking, co-grazing, rotation etc.
• How the herd is managed if your horse is kept with others

Give us a call if you would like a Worm Risk Assessment carried out for your horse.

Learn more here https://www.horsehealthprogramme.co.uk/risk-assessment-for-parasite-control-inhorses/

14/10/2024

Did you know you may not need to give your horse a routine dose of moxidectin wormer this winter? Find out by requesting a worm risk assessment.
Give us a call to find out more.

OR

Take the first step towards helping to combat wormer resistance in horses by requesting a worm risk assessment this autumn – if your horse is at low risk, you may not need to
give your horse their routine winter worming treatment, which is better for your horse and better for your pocket!

11/10/2024

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.

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

10/10/2024

Help in the fight against resistance to the
drugs used in wormers!

Only treat your horse when necessary.

Give us a call to request a Tapeworm Saliva Test and Worm Risk Assessment this
autumn.

08/10/2024

Worming advice is changing!

Resistance to the drugs used in wormers is a huge concern. If we don’t act NOW, we won’t be able to effectively treat our horses in the future. We all need to move to a risk-based, diagnostic-led approach to worming and only worm our horses when necessary.

Read more here https://www.horsehealthprogramme.co.uk/risk-assessment-for-parasite-control-inhorses/