Rainbow Equine Hospital

22/06/2024

Rainbow Equine Hospital is proud to be part of your horse's journey!

From foal to seasoned competitor, we're here to support your horse's health every step of the way.

20/06/2024

Summer has officially arrived!

Summer is finally here, and it's time to saddle up for some sun-soaked adventures with your horses!

Whether it's leisurely hacks, competitions, or simply enjoying the warm breeze together, make this season an unforgettable one.

Remember to keep them hydrated, cool and protected from the sun's rays. Here's to a summer filled with hoofbeats and happy memories!

19/06/2024

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18/06/2024

Meet Zuki and her new filly foal who was born on Sunday morning. Her owner is struggling to settle on a name, if anyone can suggest any flower/plant names beginning with A please post them below! We all just think shes the cutest foal - don't you agree!

16/06/2024

Emergencies can happen at any time, but you can rest assured knowing our equine veterinary practice is always ready to spring into action.

We offer a 24/7 emergency service, so we'll be there for your horse when they need us most.

If you are a registered client, save our number- 01653 695743 and have peace of mind knowing help is just a call away.

15/06/2024

🙌🏻 fantastic news following exception care by our equine surgical specialist Rachel Agass over the winter 👇with the case looked after by Richard Jones at Friarly Vets

The tiniest blob with so many emotions attached to it

Avonvalley Ava has been scanned in foal with a heartbeat to Geler Seth

Having been diagnosed with a Granulosa Cell Tumour on her o***y, and having had it removed this winter, she has scanned in foal at the first attempt

Thank you to Rainbow Equine Hospital and Richard Jones Friarly Vets for their work and expertise

14/06/2024

Laminitis risk checker

Laminitis is a painful and potentially debilitating condition in horses that affects the tissues connecting the hoof wall to the pedal bone.

Early detection and proactive management are crucial in mitigating the risks associated with laminitis.

Here's a handy video guide to performing a laminitis risk check.

12/06/2024

Are you searching for a reliable equine veterinary practice?

Look no further! With state-of-the-art facilities and a team of skilled professionals, we're fully equipped to handle all of your horse's medical needs.

Rest easy knowing your horse is in capable hands with us.

Contact us today on 01653 695743 to learn more!

09/06/2024

Optimising equine nutrition: A year-round approach for your horse

Your horse's feeding regime should be reviewed throughout the year.

Horses need different levels of food and nutrition depending on their age, type, workload, current weight and time of year.

It is important to ensure that your horse is getting the right levels of nutrients.

Speak to your vet and equine nutritionist to discuss your horse’s needs.

08/06/2024

Quite a few of our veterinary team are at Defender Bramham Horse Trials working to support the amazing competitors and horses to keep them safe. From the cross-country course, the arenas, stables and veterinary services manager, the expertise of our team can be brought right to where it may be needed (though they are all hoping their skills are not needed!). Please say hi to the team if you see them out and about over the whole event!

08/06/2024

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06/06/2024

Summer hoof care 101
With summer comes dry, cracked hooves.
Summer can bring its own set of challenges for horses, especially when it comes to dealing with hard ground conditions. Here is a video with some tips to help mitigate problems caused by hard ground during the summer.

03/06/2024

Keeping cool: Tips for beating the summer heat with your horse

Here are some tips to help you stay cool and keep your horse comfortable during hot weather:

Ensure your horse has access to clean, fresh water at all times

Provide ample shade for your horse, whether it's natural shade from trees or man-made shade such as a shelter

Ride during the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late evening

Give your horse cool baths to help lower their body temperature. Focus on areas where heat tends to accumulate, such as the neck, chest, and legs

Be mindful of your horse's activity levels during hot weather. Avoid strenuous exercise and reduce the intensity and duration of workouts

01/06/2024

It’s getting to that time of year where we’re thinking about going on our summer holidays.

Did you know that you can call us at the practice and leave a name and contact number for someone who has permission to call the vet out in an emergency situation, on your behalf?

This can help speed up emergency care if you are not available!

Please contact us for further details on 01653 695743 or [email protected]


* Please note we would recommend an email outlining who and what they have permission to authorise. We would need written evidence if consent is being given. A call or whatsapp is not enough!

30/05/2024

Welcome to baby Aurora...special times.😊

29/05/2024

Preparing your horse for summer

Heatstroke

In severe cases, heatstroke can occur, causing symptoms such as rapid breathing, elevated heart rate, weakness and collapse. If you suspect your horse is suffering from heatstroke, move them to a shaded area, apply cool water their body, and seek veterinary assistance immediately.

27/05/2024

This lovely horse presented with lameness localised to the hock region, and had some x-rays ☢ taken, this is one of those... what do you think is going on in this horse?

25/05/2024

Our fantastic hospital team were proud to help care for the lovely Aurora recently, after she had a tough start to life. Whilst hippos 🦛 are not our typical inpatients, the specialist care we are able to provide can often help to support our wider colleagues with more unusual cases!

We’re super proud she is doing much better and is back at Flamingo Land again!

BBC News VetPartners Equine

Flamingo Land keepers are caring for Aurora around the clock.

25/05/2024

Preparing your horse for summer

Dehydration

Dehydration is a serious concern in hot weather and can lead to a range of health issues, including colic and heat stroke. Check your horse's hydration status by monitoring their skin elasticity (a slow return to normal after pinching can indicate dehydration), mucous membrane moisture and capillary refill time. Ensure they have access to ample clean water and consider adding electrolytes to their diet if needed.

24/05/2024

This is the very handsome William, wearing our mobile ECG kit during an exercising ECG. Exercising ECGs are performed as part of the assessment of heart murmurs, irregular heart rhythms or potentially to investigate poor performance.
The ECG unit records to an SD card and also to a screen via Bluetooth, allowing horses to be ridden or lunged as normal and even exercised at speed on the gallops if required. Electrodes are gently held in place with sticky pads under the saddle or a roller.
Once the ECG has been recorded, the equipment is removed and the data is reviewed by our specialist internal medicine team to determine the rate, rhythm and pattern of electrical activity in the heart ❤ through the rest and exercise periods!

23/05/2024

Meet our Nurses...

Kiera started with us at Rainbow in May 2021 working on the yard and then progressing onto the nursing team.
Competing in all disciplines including show jumping, eventing and pony racing growing up, she then studied at the Irish Racing College in Kildare after leaving college.
Afterwards working in racing locally and in Ireland, Dubai and Middleham.
She now rides out for a local trainer before starting her day at Rainbow, her interests are in all areas but predominantly lameness and surgery.
In her spare time Kiera enjoys all sports but working out at the gym, running, taking horses to the races and swimming are where her spare time is taken up.
She is now studying at our VetPartners Nursing College in Liphook for her REVN qualification.

23/05/2024

22/05/2024

Meet our Nurses...

Grace is one of our long standing nurses, she joined us at Rainbow in February 2015.

Grace qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2023 after being off on maternity having her little boy Charlie. Grace loves to get involved in all aspects of nursing however over the years has developed an interest in surgical nursing and imaging. Outside of work Grace loves to spend time with her family and friends and taking her 3 Jack Russells out on walks.

22/05/2024

Standing MRI 🧲 here at Rainbow, all under the care of an equine radiology specialist team supported by 4 surgical specialists where required, unparalleled for the North East.

From the feet to the tarsus ('hocks') / carpus ('knee'), we can expertly image horses and ponies alike, and we have other options for regions even higher up the limbs if needed.

Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging

22/05/2024

We would welcome a hardy and experienced horseman/woman to work on our yard assisting the vets, mucking out and feeding including tending to all the in-patients with a firm but compassionate manner, ideally living within 15 minutes of YO17 6SG.
Thursday to Monday with Tuesday and Wednesday off each week
Must be trustworthy, good time keeper and flexible.
We have all types of equines through our hospital and the ideal candidate will have a few years experience and be very confident with difficult horses.
Hours 7 am - 4 pm (weekends) or 8-5pm, 9 - 6pm negotiable but must cover Saturday and Sunday.
Job Types: Permanent
Salary: dependent on age and experience
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: Depending on experience
Expected hours: 30 – 40 per week
Applicants to [email protected] or [email protected] before 31/05/2024 please.

22/05/2024

Preparing your horse for summer

Sunburn

Horses with light-coloured or pink skin are particularly susceptible to sunburn. Watch for signs of reddened or irritated skin, especially on the face, ears and other areas with sparse hair. Provide access to shade during peak sun hours and consider using equine-safe sunscreen or protective fly masks and sheets.

21/05/2024

Jodie started her working life with horses at Beechwood Grange Stud, York for about 5 years every summer and during lockdown. She then went on to work at Minster Equine Vets in York after leaving school.
Jodie joined us at Rainbow in January 2021 working on the yard before progressing onto the nursing team. She is now in her 2nd year studying for her REVN qualification at our own VetPartners Nursing School at Liphook.
Outside of work she enjoys competing her loan horse Merlin, and dog walks with her little border terrier Ruby.

20/05/2024

Ultrasound makes use of high frequency sound waves that pass through the body and then reflects and bounces back to the probe, which transforms it into a picture on the computer. Different tissues are reflected differently, which enables us to visualise structures in great detail.

Ultrasonography is a common imaging tool used in all aspects of equine practice. On the road, it is often used to scan tendons and ligaments. It is used to determine the exact extent and location of an injury.

One of our superb ambulatory vets, Nicoli, was called out to see Jack after he came in from the field with a hot, swollen leg after throwing a shoe two days before. He had a “bowed tendon” which turned out to be tendinitis (inflammation of the tendon). Tendon injuries can range from mild sprains to complete ruptures.

Pictured here are also some normal example ultrasound images (cross-sectional and longitudinal) of a horse’s distal limb structures:

Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT)
Deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT)
Inferior check ligament (ICL) or accessory ligament of the DDFT
Suspensory ligament (SL)

These structures are especially vulnerable to injury due to their superficial location on the back of the leg. If a vet comes out to scan your horse's leg, they will assess each structure individually and often use the horse's other leg for comparison.

20/05/2024

Hats for Headway Day – Monday 20th May

Join us in celebrating Hats For Headway, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and funds for those affected by brain injury. Whether it's a cosy beanie, or a funky baseball cap, wear your favourite hat on May 20th to show solidarity with Headway and its mission.

Our vets prioritise wearing hard hats to significantly mitigate the risk of head injuries, ensuring their safety and enabling them to provide optimal care to their equine patients without compromising their own wellbeing.

If you would like to donate to Headway – the brain injury association, please click on the following link: headway.org.uk/donate

19/05/2024

One of the most common eye problems in horses is a corneal ulcer, where there is abrasion of the surface of the eye, and you may recall having seen another case similar to this a few weeks ago.

Most of the time, healing is straightforward with eye drops at home and some pain relief. However, on occasion, the healing surface of the eye doesn’t stick to the tissue below properly and, in these cases, debridement using a tiny diamond burr can be really useful. These photos show a large superficial ulcer with healthy margins following debridement – the stain (bright green - yellow colour) shows that there is no leakage under peeling edges and defines the size clearly to allow monitoring over time.

Our ambulatory vets and internal medicine team are experts in these sort of cases, so please do contact us if you have concerns about an eye - remember they are often quite painful conditions!