Epona Equine Veterinary Care, LLC

15/04/2025

It’s easy to see that a fractured tooth or sharp points can crate pain in a horse’s mouth but did you know that periodontal disease can cause pain as well? This is another reason that a sedated mouth exam is so important every year.

Horses are stoic animals, especially when it comes to dental pain. They often show us only minor signs of discomfort, which can quite commonly show up as behavioral problems.

27/03/2025

Chiropractic care improves your nervous system function. Your nervous system controls EVERY function in your body! It is the same for your horse! VSMT isn't just for treating back pain, it is to improve your horse's health!

23/03/2025

Looking forward to helping my Northwoods clients! Give me a call, text, email, or FB message to get on my schedule!

17/03/2025

It is a little like finding a four-leaf clover! 🍀 Did you know that a horse can have up to FOUR "wolf teeth"?! Last week I found a young lad with every possible wolf tooth- one in front of each row of molars. Wolf teeth are typically found against the upper row of molars, and the bottoms ones are so rare that most diagrams and drawings of horse teeth don't even include them! Not all wolf teeth need to be removed, but some of these were loose and we decided to remove them. He was a lucky gelding (see what I did there.. 🍀😉) to meet me because I made the areas numb and very carefully removed these teeth. The ones from the bottom were shaped like a sickle! A bit could have caused pain against these teeth, but we have totally prevented that now! He is well on his way to becoming a perfect little unicorn of a riding horse! 🦄

10/03/2025

It is a Monday, it might get to 60F today, and the sun will be out till almost 7pm!!! Sure tough to go to work instead of play with horses!

27/02/2025

Do you own a QH and want to help? The UW teaching hospital is a relatively short drive to Madison.

We are conducting a study to establish normal heart measurements in adult American Quarter Horses using echocardiograms and ECGs.
Healthy adult American Quarter Horses who are able to tolerate 30-45 minutes of handling are eligible for this study.
You’ll receive a free physical exam and echocardiogram, all while contributing to important equine health research.
Clinical research allows us to develop new and more effective diagnostic and treatment options. UW Veterinary Care clinicians and staff are dedicated to raising the standard of care by using the latest technologies while also performing research to advance veterinary and human medicine now and in the future. All studies at the School of Veterinary Medicine are voluntary.
Contact [email protected] for more information!

05/02/2025

I'm proud to say I learned Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy at the Healing Oasis! There is a clip of the cool things going on there! You'll recognize me in the video! ;-)

29/01/2025

Winter in Wisconsin has so many fun surprises, right? If you suddenly notice your horse as red urine, it is likely just a normal chemical reaction which is more visible in the snow. If you have more questions, of course you should contact me or your primary veterinarian. (Yes, the photo on the right is courtesy of my own gelding! He is fine!)

29/01/2025

Happy New Year!

Happy Year of the Snake from Chi University! 🐍

The Year of the Snake begins on January 29th, 2025! In Chinese culture, the snake represents wisdom, intuition, and transformation. May this year bring you prosperity, positive Qi, and exciting new opportunities. Wishing our Chi family and friends a joyous New Year! 🎉✨🐍

20/01/2025

Hang in there horse owners! At least the bugs are dead, right?!

08/01/2025

Is your horse’s nighttime vision better than your daytime vision?

When comparing equine vision to human vision, the horse has a smaller visible spectrum (see image) which means they see a smaller range of colors than we do. However, horses have a structure in the back of their eye—called the tapetum lucidum—that humans do not have. This enhances vision in low light conditions and allows a horse to see better in the dark than a human does. However, reflections from the tapetum lucidum can also blur images and lead to poor depth perception at night.

Dilation of the pupil allows all species to see better in the dark. This process takes longer in a horse (45 minutes) than it does in humans (25 minutes). So, when a horse is asked to do something in a dark environment, it’s important to allow their vision proper time to fully accommodate.

Overall, the nighttime vision of a horse is better than the nighttime vision of a human. However, the horse’s nighttime vision is NOT better than the daytime vision of a human. Anytime you are asking your horse to function in a dim light situation, give them time to adjust. And if they are fearful, be patient and try to understand how things look from their perspective!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

19/12/2024

This 3-yr old gelding is a prime example of why an oral exam must include using a mirror. The first picture is what you see when you look in his mouth. It doesn't look like much is wrong other than some sharp enamel points and one tooth that appears to "stick out" a little bit. That is actually a deciduous tooth (aka a "baby tooth" or "cap") and totally normal. However, with the mirror you can see that he has a big defect in his gums and food is getting stuck. Without proper sedation, a mouth speculum, rinsing out all the food, a strong light, and a dental mirror many problems in the mouth are easily missed. This horse got all his needs addressed today including removing a loose wolf tooth and a loose cap. He is on his way to being a great riding horse with a good attitude about the bit!

12/12/2024

I had a fabulous time at the annual AAEP convention in Orlando! I love continuing education and this year it was like the lecture topics were made just for me! Dentistry, ophthalmology, saddle fitting, back pain, and joint injection techniques were presented by the top equine veterinarians in the country! I bought some new tools too! Look out for Sure Foot pads and some new accessories for my x-ray equipment! Neck and back x-rays will be so much easier! Don't worry, I had some fun too. Check out my pint-sized friend brimming with Christmas cheer!

07/12/2024

Please make sure that strings of lights are not where horses can nibble on them! Yes, that can happen! Yikes!

29/11/2024

Check your supply! If you buy medications like Equioxx, Chinese Herbal medications from Jing Tang or Herb Smith, or Standard Process supplements now is the time to reorder from me. Fulfillment and shipping times are longer with the holiday season, and we wouldn’t want your horse to go without!

03/11/2024

Keep in mind that riding without stirrups or ba****ck can put your body weight in the wrong place on your horse’s back! Practice with shorter amounts of time so you are still riding correctly.

Every year on November 1st, riders around the world drop their stirrups and commit to the challenge of No-Stirrup November. The intention behind this initiative is to improve the seat and leg. But is committing to sore inner thighs for an entire month really worth the hype?

Riding without stirrups is a valuable tool for enhancing your seat, as long as it’s done correctly. However, just as with any physical training, you can’t jump from zero to a hundred overnight and the quality of the exercise is far more important than the quantity for your own body’s sake, but also for your horse’s!

The problem is that when pushing yourself to ride without stirrups beyond your ability, you will end up gripping with your thighs in an attempt to maintain balance. This will lead to tightness in your hips and rigidity in your lower back, making it impossible to achieve a supple seat. Not only does this have a detrimental effect on your own back health, but it affects your horse too...

Remember, a pliable seat is crucial for allowing your horse's back to oscillate and if you’re stiff through your pelvis, hips, and thighs, it will interfere with your horse's movement and overall comfort.
A sudden and drastic shift in your seat like this will result in tension in your horse’s body in an effort to compensate for your instability in the saddle.

So, rather than pulling the stirrups off of your saddle for the entire month of November, consider gradually increasing your tolerance for riding without stirrups throughout the year. Focus on strengthening your body and core, and work on your proprioception out of the saddle if you're looking to develop a better seat.

You can enhance your seat without risking your horse's comfort and health.

So let's rethink No-Stirrup November - Don’t be a pain in your horse's back!