Gil Riley Equine Vets

Gil Riley Equine Vets We are a friendly & experienced equine ambulatory and clinic based practice in Dale Abbey, DE7 4PL.

24/11/2025

🐎 Do You Know What Your Horse Really Weighs? ⚖️

Accurate weight matters more than you think—and it’s not just about condition. Monitoring your horse’s weight is essential for:

✅ Correct worming dosage
✅ Tailored feed plans & rationing
✅ Tracking health and weight changes over time

💭 Weigh Tape vs Weighbridge
Weigh tapes are a useful tool for regular checks, but did you know they can be inaccurate by up to 50kg? Such a margin can make a big difference when it comes to worming or medicating.

A weighbridge is the gold standard, offering fast, safe, and highly accurate readings. Until now, they’ve often been hard to access or expensive to use.

🎉 We’re excited to announce that a weighbridge is now available at the clinic!
Whether you're managing a good doer, supporting a horse in rehab, or just wanting peace of mind, we’re here to help you take the guesswork out of weight management.

📞 Contact us to book a weigh-in or to find out more!

🐴💦 MUD FEVER: What Every Horse Owner Needs to Know 💦🐴As the wet and muddy season sets in, so does the risk of mud fever ...
19/11/2025

🐴💦 MUD FEVER: What Every Horse Owner Needs to Know 💦🐴

As the wet and muddy season sets in, so does the risk of mud fever – a painful and often persistent skin condition affecting horses' lower legs. 😟

Here’s what to watch for and how to help your horse stay mud-fever free this autumn and winter:

🧼 What is Mud Fever?
Also known as pastern dermatitis, mud fever is caused by bacteria entering through broken skin – often from persistent wet and muddy conditions. It can lead to scabs, swelling, soreness, and, in some cases lameness.

👀 Signs to Look Out For:
✔️ Scabs or crusty areas on the lower legs
✔️ Red, sore skin
✔️ Swelling or heat
✔️ Hair loss
✔️ Reluctance to move or signs of discomfort

💡 Top Tips for Prevention & Management:
1️⃣ Keep legs clean and dry – If possible, turn out in a mud free field! Alternatively, turn out wearing mud boots/chaps.
2️⃣ Wash mud off legs and thoroughly towel dry and consider stable wraps or bandages overnight.
3️⃣ Barrier creams/oil – Apply before turnout to help protect against moisture (Ask your vet for a recommendation)
4️⃣ Good drainage – Ensure turnout and stable areas aren’t waterlogged.
5️⃣ Clip feathered legs (if suitable) to keep the area cleaner and drier.
6️⃣ Speak to your vet – If you notice signs or if it’s not improving.

🐴 Prevention is easier than treatment – so staying proactive is key!

10/11/2025

🐴 Name the Nag! 🐴

Our most recent animal needs a name — and we want YOUR ideas! 💭✨
Drop your best (and funniest!) name suggestion in the comments below 👇

The winning name will be picked by Team GREV and announced on Monday 1st December 2025.

🎁 Winner gets one free vaccination for a horse registered with Gil Riley Equine Vets! (Visit charges still apply)

Ready, set… NAME THAT NAG! 🐎💬

‘Name the Nag’ Competition – Terms & Conditions

• To enter the ‘Name the Nag’ competition, you must be a registered client of Gil Riley Equine Vets (visit our website to register).
• You may submit one suggested name only in the comments. If multiple names are provided, only the first suggestion will be considered.
• The winning name will be selected by Team GREV and announced on Monday, 1st December 2025.
• The winner will receive one free vaccination (Flu or Flu/Tet) with Gil Riley Equine Vets either at your yard (within our visit area) or at the practice.
• The vaccination is valid for 12 months.
• Please note: additional fees, such as visit charges, will still apply.

03/11/2025

🎆🐴 5 Top Tips to Keep Your Horse Calm on Bonfire Night 🐴🎆

Bonfire Night can be a great celebration for us — but a stressful experience for our horses and ponies. Here are some essential tips to help our friends stay calm, safe, and stress-free:

1️⃣ Keep your horse where they feel most relaxed — ideally with a calm buddy. Sudden changes in routine or location can increase anxiety.

2️⃣ Manage the noise. Alternatively, attempt to dampen the noise with soft, calming music in the stable and keep the lights on to lessen the impact of flashes.

3️⃣ Stay informed, check social media and local forums for firework displays in your area so you can prepare ahead of time.Alternatively, consider moving to another stable yard while a display is on close by.

4️⃣ Talk to Your Vet
If your horse has previously struggled, speak to your vet about professional options to reduce stress — oral sedation can be a very helpful way to reduce stress.

5️⃣ Remember: Stay calm yourself. Horses are incredibly sensitive to our energy. If you're relaxed, they're more likely to be, too.

🎃👻 Happy Howl-o-ween from Gil Riley Equine Vets! 🐴🕸️No tricks here — just treats, top care, and terrifyingly good servic...
31/10/2025

🎃👻 Happy Howl-o-ween from Gil Riley Equine Vets! 🐴🕸️

No tricks here — just treats, top care, and terrifyingly good service for you and your horses! 🦴🧹

As the nights draw in and the weather gets spooky, don’t let hidden health issues creep up on your four-legged friends…

👁️ Keep an eye out for colic gremlins, rug goblins, and the dreaded mud fever monster! 🧛‍♂️💦

🕯️ Need a worming plan that doesn’t come back to haunt you?
⚖️ Want to weigh your horse without the horror of guesswork?
🩺 Due for a check-up before winter truly bites?

We’re here to help — no skeleton staff here! ☠️

📞 Call us... if you dare... or message to book your next visit!

Today we welcomed veterinary students from Nottingham University. They all enjoyed an afternoon with Gil discussing poor...
22/10/2025

Today we welcomed veterinary students from Nottingham University. They all enjoyed an afternoon with Gil discussing poor performance and hearing all about Gil’s career so far! He shared some of his top tips on how they can love being a vet as much as he does!

17/10/2025

Poor Performance Special Pt 10

If Treatment Isn't Successful.

📞 0115 778 6997 to discuss booking your horse in with Gil for an assessment.

13/10/2025

🦄🔍 Equine Ultrasound: A Window Inside 🔍🦄

Ultrasound scanning is a safe, non-invasive way to examine soft tissue injuries, monitor tendons and ligaments, check internal organs, and even track pregnancy in mares! 🩺

It’s a key tool for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning.

10/10/2025

🍂 It's that time of year again – Watch Out for Acorns & “Helicopter” Seeds! 🌳🐴

As autumn rolls in, so do some hidden dangers in our paddocks – namely acorns and helicopter seeds (those spinning seeds from sycamore trees). While they might seem like harmless bits of nature, they can be toxic to horses and ponies.

🟤 Acorns and oak leaves can cause:

Colic

Diarrhoea

Kidney damage

While dependent on how many acorns the horse eats, some can become seriously ill.

🍁 'Helicopter' seeds (particularly from Sycamore trees) can cause a deadly condition known as Atypical Myopathy, which damages muscle tissue and is tragically often fatal.

⚠️ Signs to look out for:

Sudden weakness or reluctance to move

Dark or reddish urine

Sweating, trembling, or colic-like symptoms

Breathing difficulties

👀 Top Tips:
✅ Check turnout areas daily for fallen acorns and seeds
✅ Fence off or limit access to areas with heavy oak or sycamore coverage
✅ Rake up and dispose of the seeds/debris where possible
✅ Keep an eye on your horse’s behaviour and condition - remember, early action can save lives!

🍁 A beautiful autumn doesn’t need to turn into an emergency—prevention is key.

📞 If you suspect your horse has ingested anything harmful, contact your vet immediately.

08/10/2025

Poor Perfomance Special Pt9

Managing Client Expectations

📞 0115 778 6997 to discuss you concerns with our office team.

04/10/2025

🐴 Equine Health Tip with Elisha! 🩺

Regularly checking your horse’s TPR (Temperature, Pulse, Respiration) is one of the simplest—and most important—ways to monitor their health. Knowing your horse's normal TPR can help you catch early signs of illness or discomfort before they become serious.

✅ Temperature: 37 -38.5°
✅ Pulse: 28–48 bpm
✅ Respiration: 8-12 breaths/min

Get to know what's normal for your horse! 💙

29/09/2025

Poor Performance Special Pt 8

How We Relay Info To Clients

📞 0115 778 6997 you can contact our friendly office team to discuss any concerns you have.

Address

Woodpecker Stables The Moor
Dale Abbey
DE74PL

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+441157786997

Website

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