Iron Gait Horse Farm

09/08/2025

Laminitis is not just a spring/summer issue....

As we approach the start of fall and the temperatures start to drop, here is some important information to know regarding fall laminitis.

Fall laminitis refers to cases of laminitis or founder that occur in the autumnal months. Although laminitis can happen in any season, anecdotally there seems to be an uptick in the number of cases in the fall.

Why could this be?

• As the days get shorter and colder, grasses have been shown to respond to this stress with higher sugar concentrations. Diets with higher simple sugar concentrations may increase the risk of laminitis.

• Decreases in exercise may cause increases in body condition. Fat or obese horses are at risk of developing laminitis.

• Horses naturally have increased levels of certain hormones in the fall. If you have a horse with PPID (previously referred to as equine Cushing’s), the increase in their cortisol levels could put them at risk for laminitis.

If you have questions concerning fall laminitis or are concerned that your equine companion may be at an increased risk, contact your equine veterinarian so that they can properly evaluate your unique situation.

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

08/29/2025

They are finally buddies and can co-exist on the porch together 🙏🏻

08/20/2025

Today he turns 5 months old (50 pounds)— my LGD pup in training! I love seeing him relax with the animals and choose to ignore them. Every morning, he stays with them while I clean the fields to build his exposure. He’s still very much a puppy, and when they run, he wants to join in and play, so we’re working on teaching him that’s not his job.
Oh and he had his 5 month check up with Dr Heidi so will see how big he is when he returns in a year or so!

08/08/2025

As mentioned in our post earlier this week about EEE, summer and fall are the peak time for arbovirus infection as these diseases (which include Eastern Equine Encephalitis [EEE], West Nile Virus [WNV], Western Equine Encephalitis [WEE] and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis [VEE]) are transmitted by several different species of mosquitoes and biting insects.

Let this graphic serve as a source of more information about West Nile Virus (WNV) as well as a reminder to keep your equines up to date on vaccinations with the guidance of your veterinarian to best protect your animals from infection.

Learn more about West Nile Virus and find downloadable resources on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website at: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/west-nile-virus

08/08/2025

Next Wednesday, Pocahontas State Park will be hosting the release of 2 bald eagles! Staff from Wildlife Center of Virginia will give a short educational presentation about the eagles before release 🦅🦅 Come check it out!

08/06/2025

08/03/2025

17 weeks old and learning the rules—he’s starting to understand that the chickens are off-limits and that the porch is a shared space where Eli is welcome.

Anatolian Shepherds are naturally territorial, so we’re being intentional about shaping a healthy dynamic between him and Eli. Poor Eli is such a gentle soul—more lover than fighter—and has struggled to put the pup in his place. But we’ve seen real progress this past week. Just a week ago, Suley wasn’t willing to share that space at all.

We’re grateful he’s starting to come around. It’s wild how strong that protective instinct is at such a young age!

07/31/2025

I am always fascinated by herd dynamics and wonder what these stallions/mares are thinking (other than they want to go back out in the wild)....

Here is a breakdown of the process when the Ponies Swim to Chincoteague:

1. The ponies swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island during the annual Pony Swim, usually in late July. This is managed by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, who own and care for the Virginia herd of ponies on the southern end of Assateague.
2 Auction: Once they arrive, the foals (typically around 6 months old) are auctioned off to manage the size of the herd and raise funds for their care and for the fire department.
3. Return Swim: A couple of days after the auction, the remaining adult ponies and any unsold or buyback foals swim back to Assateague Island, where they will live in the wild for another year.
This event helps maintain the health and size of the herd (keeping it around 150 ponies, per U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regulations), while also continuing a cherished local tradition and raising money for good causes.

07/30/2025