Riverside Vets Equine

07/04/2025

⭐️Quiz time ⭐️

Can you guess what is going on in this radiograph? 🤔

Answer to be revealed tomorrow evening.

01/04/2025

🏇 How to Safely Increase Your Horse's Fitness 🏇

As the weather warms and we are out and about more it's important that your horse is fit and ready for whatever excitement is in store! It’s important to take a gradual approach to avoid injuries and ensure your horse stays healthy! Here are a few tips:

1️⃣ Start Slow – Begin with light, low-intensity work and increase duration gradually. Think walk and trot before you add in more strenuous activities like canter or gallop. Aim to increase duration on a weekly basis

2️⃣ Consistency is Key – Consistent, moderate exercise is more beneficial than overdoing it in short bursts. Aim for regular sessions but allow your horse time to rest and recover. Make a plan and stick to it, a fit horse can work 5 days a week with 2 rest days split apart in the week. Work up to this if your horse currently works a lot less.

3️⃣ Warm Up & Cool Down – Always start with a proper warm-up and end with a cool-down to prevent muscle strain and improve flexibility. 10-15 minutes of walking either end of your session is a must.

4️⃣ Incorporate Variety – Mix up the routines to work on different muscle groups. Groundwork, hill work, poles, and long lining are great for overall fitness

5️⃣ Monitor Health – Pay attention to signs of fatigue, lameness, or changes in behavior. If you are managing old niggles during the fittening process, vet checks are really important to make sure all is going as it should be and your horse is coping with the work being asked of it.

6, Saddle checks! As your horse increases fitness they will also likely increase muscle mass/ reduce fat covering and therefore change shape. So don't forget to get your saddle checked.

Remember, patience and planning are crucial when it comes to fitness. Slow and steady wins the race! If you would like some individual help and advice based on your personal goals don't hesitate to give us a call🐴💪

Pictured is our gorgeous, very fit patient Rebel. A pretty special little thoroughbred who lives to cross country!

31/03/2025

Our wonderful Equine Nurse Anna offers FREE weigh ins, body condition scoring and diet advice. This is a very popular service that we feel gives our clients some extra care and attention. As an independent vets we are proud to be able make decisions to provide extra services such as this. Let us know if you'd like to schedule a yard visit.

28/03/2025

Time to spring forward - don't forget to set your clocks one hour forward this weekend!'

27/03/2025

21/03/2025

🧠 The Equine Brain: A Perfect Match for Their Way of Life! 🐴

Ever wondered how a horse’s brain is wired to help them interact with the world? The size and structure of the equine brain are key to understanding their behavior and instincts.

Horses have relatively large brains compared to their body size, especially when it comes to the regions responsible for movement, balance, and spatial awareness. 🏃‍♂️💨 This is no surprise, considering their ability to navigate vast terrains with incredible agility and coordination. The cerebellum, which controls movement and balance, is highly developed in horses, allowing them to make precise, fluid movements.

The size of the horse’s brain also reflects their heightened awareness of their surroundings—everything from detecting changes in the environment to understanding social cues from other horses. This instinctual need to be aware of threats and respond quickly has been honed over millennia, and it’s part of what makes horses so attuned to their environment. 🌳👀

Their large memory centers also allow them to form long-lasting impressions of people, places, and experiences—no wonder they are so deeply connected to the humans who care for them! 💙

By understanding the structure and function of the equine brain, we can better support their mental and physical health. As always, we’re here to help with any concerns you have about your horse’s well-being.

19/03/2025

This is genius! Vanessa used a webbing drum harness and some wire/ cable ties to make a likit harness so she can more easily do Dottie's eye drops on her own. We love this, and thought it deserved to be shared 👌🏻

19/03/2025

Anyone else's horse feeling spicey and spring like? 🐎💨

We would love to see your spring pictures of your horses 🐎💨

17/03/2025

15/03/2025

Rider Biomechanics: Why It Matters for Your Horse’s Health 🐴💡

As equine veterinarians, we know that rider biomechanics significantly affect your horse's performance, comfort, and health. How you move and position yourself in the saddle directly impacts your horse's well-being.

Here’s why rider biomechanics matter:

🔹 Balance and Alignment

A balanced rider allows the horse to move comfortably. Misalignment can create uneven pressure on the horse’s back, leading to discomfort, muscle tension, or lameness.

🔹 Reduced Risk of Injury

Proper rider biomechanics promote fluid movement and reduce strain on the horse’s muscles and joints, lowering injury risk. Misaligned riders can cause compensatory movements, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal issues.

🔹 Encouraging Proper Movement

A well-positioned rider helps the horse engage its core, maintain rhythm, and execute commands precisely, enhancing performance in disciplines like dressage and jumping.

🔹 Preventing Long-Term Pain

Rider posture affects the horse's back, neck, and shoulders. Misalignment can lead to painful conditions like muscle atrophy or chronic lameness.

What You Can Do:

• Work with a riding coach to assess your posture.

• See a physiotherapist to correct imbalances.

• Try Pilates to strengthen your core and improve flexibility.

• Take breaks during long rides.

• Stay mindful of your posture.

13/03/2025

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a very common cause of poor performance and is a complicated multifactorial disease. Stress, pain, management, and nutrition can all play a part. It's amazing how many horses that have low grade musculoskeletal discomfort also have gastric ulcers as a result of the stress that being uncomfortable causes.

Common signs are...
1) Changes in their performance
2) Behaviour changes
3) Reactivity t o girthing
4) Low grade colic usually after eating
5)Loss of appetite or weight

The symptoms can be vague as well as also wax and wane.

If you have noticed any of the above signs and its playing on your mind, Give us a call to discuss. Its always better to know than to worry!

EGUS is diagnosed via a simple gastroscopy done at your yard, The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes from set up to finish, and you can look around your horses stomach with us.

For anyone wondering this is Charlotte pictured on her mums horse Brody. If you haven't met her when she comes out and about with us, this is the face of Riversides' resident fixer who takes your calls and solves your problems with grace and good humour!🥰

12/03/2025

08/03/2025

Happy Saturday, We hope you have a wonderful time doing what you love with your horses. Life is just better viewed between a pair of your favourite ears, right?
Show us your best betwixt the ears pics!

08/03/2025

🌸 Happy International Women’s Day! 🌸

Today, we celebrate the incredible women who make a difference in the world of veterinary care. From compassionate vets to dedicated veterinary nurses, and supportive receptionists, women are the backbone of the veterinary profession. 🐾

Thank you to all the amazing women who care for our pets, big and small, with dedication, expertise, and love. Your passion and commitment help create healthier, happier lives for our furry friends.

Let’s continue to break barriers and inspire the next generation of female veterinarians and animal care professionals. 🌟

06/03/2025

Why is a properly fitting saddle so important? Here's what the reearch tells us.....
Scientific research has consistently shown a significant connection between poor saddle fit and equine lameness. A poorly fitting saddle can create a range of issues that negatively affect a horse’s musculoskeletal system, leading to pain, discomfort, and even lameness. Here are some key points based on scientific studies:

Studies have shown that excessive or uneven pressure on the back can lead to tissue damage, muscle atrophy, and inflammation. For instance, a study by Warren-Smith et al. (2012) in the Equine Veterinary Journal found that horses with poorly fitting saddles often developed muscle soreness and tightness, which can ultimately lead to compensatory movement patterns, resulting in lameness.

•A study published in The Veterinary Journal by McGowan et al. (2004) highlighted that improperly fitting saddles are associated with altered movement patterns and increased loading on certain joints, which can result in musculoskeletal injuries. Chronic overloading from poor saddle fit can increase the risk of joint wear and tear, causing conditions like arthritis or tendon injuries.

Henderson et al. (2018) published a study in The Journal of Equine Veterinary Science that noted horses with ill-fitting saddles often exhibit altered gaits due to discomfort or pain in the back. These gait changes can exacerbate existing lameness or create new issues as the horse compensates.

According to a study by Pollitt et al. (2010), improper saddle fit can lead to irritation and damage to the soft tissue around the spine, and in more severe cases, can contribute to the development of conditions like kissing spine, which is directly associated with lameness.

A clinical study by Hodges et al. (2006) found that horses with saddle-related back pain often show signs of front limb lameness because of altered biomechanics. The discomfort caused by poor saddle fit makes the horse change its movement pattern, which can affect its limb alignment and lead to secondary lameness.

Conclusion
The scientific research underscores that saddle fit is crucial to a horse's soundness and overall health. Ill-fitting saddles can lead to direct physical issues such as muscle soreness, joint strain, and back pain, all of which can contribute to lameness. Over time, these problems may exacerbate, leading to chronic conditions and more severe musculoskeletal issues. Therefore, regular saddle assessments and adjustments, ideally by a professional saddle fitter, are essential for maintaining optimal equine health and preventing lameness associated with poor saddle fit.
It's important to work closely with a veterinarian and saddle fitter to ensure that the saddle is appropriately designed and adjusted for your horse’s body shape, riding style, and performance needs.

05/03/2025

Here we have the lovely Caitlin and her horse Pulo, having their very first slightly spicy trot after a long recuperation from surgery to cut Pulo's annular ligament. Pulo is a big cheeky character and its not been easy, but Caitlin has followed the rehab so well and now its showing ,as they get to pick up the pace. 4 weeks of increasing trot work and 4 weeks of canter work ahead and then this boy can re-join his friends back in the field.
Well done Caitlin and Pulo you're both doing so well!

04/03/2025

This is our lovely client, Finn Hutton with his horse Flint having a fantastic time jumping at Oliva, Spain. Finn has seen equine practice with us and is starting his degree in equine veterinary nursing in September. Finn is going to be a fantastic addition to our industry. Great to see them flying and having fun!