Leisure Horse Services
We leave no stone unturned, utilising modern diagnostic and therapeutic tools, we provide accurate information and advice on the most appropriate treatment.
Lameness Evaluation
Our team of vets have a strong understanding of lameness and how it can manifest as poor performance. A lame horse can’t do his job and soundness, balance and freedom of movement is of paramount importance.
A full lameness evaluation may require your horse to be trotted up on a hard, flat surface, lunged on a hard and soft surface and have flexion tests performed and can involve a ridden assessment.
We may then perform diagnostic analgesia (nerve blocks) or imaging such as radiography or ultrasound to futher localise the lameness and reach a diagnosis. This allows us to develop a management plan to help get your horse back to being sound and pain free.
Radiography
Our vets are all equipped with portable digital radiography equipment enabling us to perform radiographs when indicated as part of a lameness investigation or when dealing with an emergency.
We regularly perform foot balance radiographs as part of routine management, good foot balance is key to keeping horses doing their jobs pain free and preventing injuries occurring higher up the limb. Foot balance images allow the farrier to see and act on any imbalances present.
Ultrasonography
Ultrasound is incredibly useful for evaluating the musculoskeletal system, particularly for the diagnosis and monitoring of soft tissue injuries.
We are experienced at performing ultrasonography and carry top quality portable ultrasound machines with us to allow us to perform scans quickly and accurately at the visit.
Shockwave therapy
An ever-popular therapy used to treat a range of orthopaedic injuries including suspensory ligament injuries and thoracolumbar back pain.
Shockwave is a non-invasive therapy that involves sending soundwaves through the skin and underlying tissues to increase blood flow, aid healing and provide pain relief.
We have portable machines that allow us to carry out the treatment at the yard and it is a quick and effective treatment that can be invaluable in the management of certain cases.
Laser
Our multifrequency Class IV laser provides a non-invasive method of treatment for a variety of injuries and wounds. It can be beneficial for almost any condition where there is an inflammatory component and is particularly useful when managing difficult to heal wounds. The Class IV laser is the highest power laser available and penetrates the tissues effectively to increase cellular turnover (therefore healing), increase blood flow and provide pain relief.
Gastroscopy Services
Gastric ulcers can affect all horses and the only way to know if they are is to perform a gastroscopy. We have two fully portable gastroscopes that allow us to efficiently perform gastroscopes at the yard with minimal stress to the horse. A gastroscope requires the horse to be starved overnight as the stomach needs to be free of food for us to be able to assess whether there is ulceration present.
Endoscopy
All horses need their airways to be in optimal condition for peak performance. There are multiple problems that affect both the upper and lower airways that can have a significant impact on the horse’s ability to breathe and therefore perform well.
All of our vets are equipped with endoscopes to allow us to perform endoscopic exams at any routine visits if indicated. Any horse that is showing reduced performance, coughing or poor recovery rate could be suffering from inflammatory airway disease (equine asthma) or a respiratory infection, both common problems in equine athletes.
To assess the lower airways we carry out post exercise tracheal washes where we take a fluid sample from the airways and analyse it in the lab for the presence of mucus, blood, inflammatory cells and bacteria. Performing a tracheal wash helps us to advise on the best treatment and management to get your horse’s airways back to optimum condition.
We also use endoscopy to perform guttural pouch washes, either to diagnose strangles infections or for pre-movement testing.
Pre-Purchase Vetting
We understand that buying a horse can be an incredibly stressful purpose and our team are massively experienced at performing PPEs and helping guide you through the process. A PPE is designed to assess the suitability of a horse for the prospective purchaser and it’s intended job.
We are happy to perform PPEs on behalf of new or existing clients and will travel long distances when needed!
A standard vetting consists of a thorough clinical examination made up of five stages. We can perform additional imaging if needed, including radiography and ultrasound. If you are planning on insuring your horse please check what their requirements are as they sometimes request specific radiographs.
For more information on PPEs please see our information sheet.
Dentistry
Our vets are happy to perform routine dentistry for your horse and have high quality equipment to allow us to provide a great service. We are also happy to work alongside EDTs where required, either as part of a treatment plan or providing sedation.
Export Certification
We have multiple vets that are trained Official Veterinarians allowing them to perform pre-export testing and certification for you to transport your horse abroad. We have a good working relationship with many transporters and exporters along with years of experience completing export work which will help make your experience as seamless and stress free as possible.
We are able to assist with both permanent exports and temporary export for competitions to a wide variety of destination counties.
If you have any questions regarding exporting your horse then please get in touch with our office who will be able to advise you further.