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...]

By Gemma  Sherlock  BVetMed  MRCVS. Ashbrook Equine Hospital.  The  disease  ‘Strangles’  is  so  called  because  of  the  clinical  signs  that  a  horse  may  present  with;  enlarged  lymph  nodes  which  can  result  in  respiratory  obstruction  and  difficulty  swallowing.  Strangles  is  caused  by  the  bacteria  Streptococcus  equi  equi  and  is  a  highly  … [Read more...]

By Roger Dixon BVM&S MRCVS Ashbrook Equine Hospital. Artificial insemination (AI) is a well-established assisted-breeding technique. It involves a veterinary surgeon or qualified AI technician depositing semen into the uterus of the mare at the optimum time to allow fertilisation of her egg. It is widely used in show-jumpers, dressage, eventing and pleasure horses. … [Read more...]

By Vicky Rowlands Cert. EP MRCVS - Ashbrook Equine Hospital, Cheshire Atypical myopathy (AM, atypical myoglobinuria or seasonal pasture myopathy) is a muscle disease that hit the headlines in 2014 due to a peak in cases. The disease has been documented since 1985 but we have seen a gradual increase in numbers over the last 6 years. It has come under a lot of scrutiny recently … [Read more...]

By Julia Shrubb MA VetMB Cert(AVP)EM MRCVS Ashbrook Equine Hospital. Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome Equine gastric ulcer syndrome, commonly called "stomach ulcers", is a syndrome where the stomach lining becomes damaged. Stomach ulcers can affect any horse but are very common in competing horses. Some reports suggest that 2 out of 3 performance horses and over 9 out of 10 … [Read more...]