Rocky Bay Equine Veterinary Clinic

15/10/2025

Happy birthday charlie. We will continue your work you have given us just

23/07/2025

Rocky Bay Equine and friends have put together a team for the 15th Annual 2025 Team Seattle Kart Challenge! We are racing to help support the Uncompensated Care Fund at Seattle's Children's Hospital, a nonprofit organization. The event will take place on August 15th from 4 to 8 pm at PGP Motorsports Park. Team Diaper Drifters invites you to help support those who do not have the funds to acquire the care that they need. Click the link below to learn more and donate to an incredible cause!

Racing for Children's

04/02/2024

I thought I would post this to give you a smile. Read it out loud to the theme.

(recited to Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham written by me);
I do not like it Starr I am, I do not like white paste in a can,
Would you like it here or there? I much prefer it in your hair,
I pull my head, I pull your arm, there is NO WAY, I tell no yarn,
I do not like WHITE PASTE I scream, to you I say "that you are mean"

But when it’s done you scratch my face, you talk real soft, I have no case,
I can tell your love is dear, I can tell when you are near,
White paste, white paste is not so bad, to you I say “Mom, I’m not mad”
Now give me food and go away, we’ll do this again some other day.

I do not like it day 1 to me, I do not like it day 2 or 3,
Day 4 day 5 I do detest,
I WILL NOT DO, I DO PROTEST!
I know you'll slip! I'll spin around,
And hope you fall flat on the ground.
I do not like white paste I say,
NOW GIVE ME FOOD AND GO AWAY!!!

15/02/2023

Can't reinforce this too much!! All about timing and nutritional consequences, metabolism matters! .... also keep those water troughs open and enjoy the sunshine!

While we might enjoy sneaking our horses peppermints and other sweet treats, we need to understand how it can reinforce good or bad behavior and how it fits into your horse's dietary scheme.

13/01/2023

This is so important to understand about how animals (not just horses) respond to their environment. You are training, or being trained at ALL times. Being "smarter than the animal" is not as easy as it sounds!

//Friday Fact - Displacing humans//

Because horses are so adept at learning by negative reinforcement, trainers need to be careful that the horse does not learn to successfully displace them in any way through its actions. For example, the horse may, by accident, move their head toward you causing you to step away. This is inherently reinforcing for the horse and it is likely to learn to start pushing you away and displacing you. This is also why under-saddle, a stable and consistent body position is fundamentally important in every style and discipline of riding. Top-level coaches are very aware of just how adept horses can be in learning to displace riders even to the point where they can learn to tip the rider’s seat to one side.

Here are more examples of inadvertent negative reinforcement in the horse:
▪️ You apply your rein aid and your horse rears, causing you to fall off, thus removing the pressure
▪️ The horse makes you tilt forward in the saddle and loosen the reins when it reefs, therefore reefing is rewarded
▪️ You remove your hand when the horse is head-shy or leg-shy
▪️ You touch a foal on the rump and it responds by kicking out and running away, so the first lesson the horse learns may be to remove people

This is an excerpt from our latest textbook, "Modern Horse Training: Equitation Science Principles & Practice, Volume 1", available to purchase from our website: https://esi-education.com/shop/

24/12/2022

A simple thing, but you know horses, they can get into trouble in bubble wrap!

A very important reminder courtesy of the horse doctors at Miamitown Equine Veterinary Services:

"When securing blankets, make sure that the snaps/clips are facing inward, toward the horse! If they are facing out, they can easily become stuck on something, like the hay net in the picture."

10/12/2022

What do you have in your first aid kit?

DO YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN IN PLACE FOR YOUR HORSE?

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to be confronted with a medical emergency. Are you prepared to act? Having a clear emergency action plan will help you stay focused and effective if a crisis strikes.

Below are some basic guidelines that can help you prepare for an equine emergency:
1. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours. Ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available for emergencies.
2. Have a plan for transporting the horse is necessary and know in advance the most direct route to an equine surgery center.
3. Prepare a first aid kit (see graphic for a short list of essential items) and store it in a clean, dry, readily accessible place. Keep a first aid kit in your horse trailer or towing vehicle as well, and be sure to check your supplies periodically and restock as needed. First-aid kits can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like; seek your horse doctor's advice on what to add, especially regarding any drugs that could be included and how they should be administered.

03/12/2022

Hay burners, fuel to keep their engines warm!

: Did you know a horse with a moderate hair coat starts requiring additional calories for body temperature regulation when the outside temperature drops to approximately 50°F?

Cold weather prompts special considerations for your horse's diet and care, particularly when it comes to the older members of the herd; consult your primary horse doctor to formulate a plan to keep your horses happy and healthy this winter! For more tips, visit https://aaep.org/horsehealth/cold-weather-nutrition

01/12/2022

https://conta.cc/3OSlSLD Integrative Medicine, it takes a village!

It takes a village! Rocky Bay Equine Newsletter December 2022  THE MANY FACES OF MEDICINE; Alternative, Integrative, Complementary, Mainstream, Conventional (Western), Traditional (Eastern)…… Medicin