Irongate Equine Clinic

11/11/2024

We have so much to be grateful for when it comes to our veterans, and we would like to thank you for your service.

We wish you and your family a Happy Veterans Day!

11/07/2024

We offer Shock Wave Therapy?

Shock Wave Therapy (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Technology or EWST) is a non-invasive, high-intensity pressure wave treatment that has been shown to be effective in treating and alleviating the symptoms associated with many bone, tendon, ligament and joint conditions.

11/07/2024

Think it’s safe to say most all horse owners can relate!

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOUR HORSE IS ACCIDENT-PRONE...🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency. There are several behavioral traits that make horses especially accident-prone: one is their instinctive flight-or-fight response; another is their need to establish the pecking order within a herd; and a third is their natural curiosity. Such behaviors account for many of the cuts, bruises, and abrasions that horses suffer. In fact, lacerations are probably the most common emergency that horse owners must contend with.

Do you know what to do if your horse is cut or bleeding? The initial steps you take to treat a wound can prevent further damage and speed healing, and maintaining your presence of mind could save your horse's life. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind in case of emergency; how you will ultimately proceed will depend on your horse's individual circumstances, and on the advice you receive from your veterinarian.

11/05/2024

What to do if this is your horse:👇
* Do not put yourself or others at risk of injury or death when trying to assist your horse
* Contact your local veterinarian
* Contact your local animal support team: this is the group that you have created of neighbors, stable owners, and local animal professionals
* Contact non-emergency dispatch for your area to get to the fire department and or law enforcement agencies
* Wisconsin Large Animal Emergency Response (WLAER) can be contacted for availability to respond with emergency assistance by phone at 608-561-7640. This is not a direct number to speak with an individual but your call will be returned as soon as resources become available.

**thankfully this horse recovered with only a few minor abrasions**

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween 🎃

10/30/2024

Great seasonal reminders for our equine friends! 🐴🍂

10/29/2024

Spots are filling up fast!

Interested in learning more about Equine Nutrition?

Join us at our upcoming client educational seminar on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:00 pm. This seminar will take place at Irongate Equine Clinic. Friends are welcome & dinner will be provided.

Please RSVP to [email protected] or by calling (608)845-6006.

10/22/2024

Great information on 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 horse may be at an increased risk, contact your equine veterinarian so that they can properly evaluate your horse's unique situation.

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

10/17/2024

Happy Vet Tech Appreciation Week!
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We are so grateful for the hard work and care our techs put into the health of our furry babies!
🩺💉🐴

10/17/2024

Attention horse owners who are interested in breeding your mare.

Join board-certified theriogenologist Dr. Dale Kelley for an informative session that will cover the basics of reproductive biology of the horse, the logistics of breeding season, and what to expect when breeding your mare.

If you are a horse owner/manager who is either new to breeding horses or possesses limited experience, here’s your chance to get up to speed. Join board-certified theriogenologist Dr. Dale Kelley for an informative session that will cover the basics of reproductive biology of the horse, the logist...

10/16/2024

Important grazing information during this time of the year 🍁🍂

❄🐴🌾 Is it safe to graze horses after a hard freeze? What do I need to consider before turning them back out on pasture? Also, what defines a hard freeze?

🌡 A hard freeze refers to a frost that is severe enough to end the growing season. The National Weather Service defines a hard freeze when temperatures fall below 28ºF for a few hours. Cool-season grasses commonly found in Midwest horse pastures go into dormancy for winter and conserve their energy stores (starches and sugars) following a hard freeze.

❄️ We recommend keeping horses off pastures for at least 7 days after a hard freeze. Frost-damaged pastures are higher in nonstructural carbohydrates (starches and sugars) because plants can not use up their energy stores as efficiently. It can take plants 7 days to return to more normal nonstructural carbohydrate levels. Higher levels of nonstructural carbohydrates can lead to an increase risk for laminitis, especially in horses diagnosed with or prone to obesity, laminitis, Cushings, and Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

The decision to graze again after a hard freeze depends on the condition of your pasture. After a hard freeze, no additional regrowth of the pasture will occur, even though the pasture might appear green in color. If your cool-season grass pasture is

✅ taller than 3 to 4 inches, then grazing can resume 7 days after a hard freeze and can continue until the pasture is grazed down to 3 to 4 inches.
❌ shorter than 3 to 4 inches, then no grazing should occur after a hard freeze. Grazing below 3 inches can harm the plant and may be a health concern for horses sensitive to nonstructural carbohydrates.

🌾 Plants rely on stored nonstructural carbohydrates in the lower 3 inches for energy. Therefore, the 3- to 4-inch minimum height recommendation is necessary to help maximize winter survival and can help predict a vigorous and healthy pasture come spring. We do recognize horses rarely graze uniformly and pastures tend to have areas of both over and under grazing. You will need to base decisions on the average appearance of your pasture

10/15/2024

Irongate Equine Clinic is hosting a Food Drive to benefit Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin.

Nonperishable items will be collected throughout the first part of November. (November 1st - November 13th)

Please drop off nonperishable items at the below locations:
-Irongate Equine Clinic 1848 Waldorf Blvd Madison, WI
-At your scheduled appointments
There will be totes at the entrance of our office to place your nonperishable food items.

10/10/2024

Interested in learning more about Equine Nutrition?

Join us at our upcoming client educational seminar on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:00 pm. This seminar will take place at Irongate Equine Clinic. Friends are welcome & dinner will be provided.

Please RSVP to [email protected] or by calling (608)845-6006.

10/08/2024

It's a hoof abscess! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♂️

Abscesses often open at the coronet band, as this one did shortly after this radiograph was taken.

Do you know how to bandage a horses hoof with a poultice?