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. However, … [Read more...]

By Julia Shrubb MA VetMB CertAVP(EM) MRCVS, Ashbrook Equine Hospital. Laminitis is a very common condition that is always painful, potentially life-threatening and causes suffering even in mild cases. This preventable condition is often costly, difficult to manage and can result in long term damage. Traditionally, laminitis has been associated with grass and overweight ponies; … [Read more...]

By Vicky Rowlands BVM&S CertEP MRCVS, Ashbrook Equine Hospital. Equine herpes virus (EHV) is a contagious viral disease commonly found in horses.  Despite this virus having had such a high profile recently, it has been continually endemic in the equine population.   Types of EHV There are multiple different types of herpes virus that affects equines.  EHV-1 is probably the … [Read more...]

By Julia ShrubbMA VetMB CertAVP(EM) MRCVSAshbrook Equine Hospital It is not surprising that many people are confused about worming. There is no one plan that is suitable for every yard and best practice for worm control in horses, ponies and donkeys has changed over the years to a more targeted approach - worming only when necessary, with a suitable product, at a suitable … [Read more...]

By Roger Dixon BVM&S Cert AVP(ESM) MRCVS Ashbrook Equine Hospital The Normal Foal The normal newborn foal will attempt to right itself within the first few seconds following birth and should stand by 1 hour. The foal will then start to search for the udder and should suck from the mare by 2 hours. The normal foal will nurse 5-7 times an hour and often lie down between … [Read more...]