By Roger Dixon MRCVS - Ashbrook Equine Hospital, Cheshire To the frustration of many owners, some mares appear to be constantly in season. This can make ridden work very difficult and may affect the horse’s performance at competitions. The behaviour may be due to completely normal physiological events related to the mare’s oestrus cycle, or may be a sign of a more serious … [Read more...]

Pay Special Attention To Worming Young Horses Says Zoetis In May Zoetis Inc. announced that whether breeding a Thoroughbred for a career on the track or a crossbreed leisure horse for a life as a hack, good worm control is essential to help produce healthy youngsters. Currently, information on best worming strategies for foals and yearlings remains largely anecdotal but … [Read more...]

Roger Dixon BVM&S MRCVS - Ashbrook Equine Hospital, Cheshire Introduction Throughout spring and summer we frequently take phone calls from owners who find that their mare’s behaviour has changed. The mare may suddenly become difficult to handle. Ridden work, especially at competitions, may be impossible! These behavioural changes may be associated with the mare’s oestrus … [Read more...]

By Stuart Pearson BVM&SCertAVP(ESO)MRCVS - CHESHIRE EQUINE CLINIC Common causes of traumatic injuries to the stifle of the horse include kicks from a field companion or collision with an obstacle, especially when attempting to clear fixed fences during cross country events. These are painful injuries, and initial assessment may not reveal the true extent of damage. More … [Read more...]

By Roger Dixon BVM&S MRCVS Ashbrook Equine Hospital. This article follows on from last month’s introduction to Artificial Insemination, which discussed the advantages of A.I. and the differences between fresh, chilled and frozen semen. Once the initial Breeding Soundness Examination has been performed the mare is assessed to establish whether she is in oestrus (‘season’) … [Read more...]