Meddleton Equine Hospital

Meddleton Equine hosted our first Farrier Clinic on Saturday Dec 3rd with 20 participating farriers. We addressed a horse with Navicular Disease using the principles of the Equine Lameness Prevention Organization (E.L.P.O.).  We evaluated conformation, hoof balance, hoof distortion, and then mapped out the foot using E.L.P.O. guidelines and Leverage Testing using the Cross-Check System to determine shoeing protocol.

We are inviting farriers, horseshoers, and blacksmiths to join us on Saturday, December 3, 2011 starting at 8:00 AM and ending early afternoon for a Farrier Clinic with Brad Dirickson and Isaac Kerr. We will be addressing lameness in a horse using the principles of the Equine Lameness Prevention Organization (E.L.P.O.).

Do you think your horse may have stomach ulcers? Do you know someone who worries that their horse may have ulcers? The only way to know for sure if your horse has stomach ulcers is still to pass a long endoscope and look into the horse's stomach. This is your chance to have an advanced diagnostic procedure for almost no cost. To learn more about gastric ulcers read Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

Hindlimb lameness in the horse can be a very frustrating experience. It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact anatomical location of the lameness because the joints of the rear leg of the horse move together in unison and are not easily isolated from one another. The hock, stifle, hip, and lower limb joints and associated tendons and ligaments are all structures that can contribute to a hindlimb lameness. One common cause of lameness in the rear leg is Proximal Suspensory Desmitis.

Adult (mesenchymal as opposed to embryonic) stem cells are primitive, non-differentiated cells that are located in the bone marrow, adipose (fat) tissue, and the circulatory system. They are part of the bodies repair system, and are able to transform into nearly any type of cell in the body. When normal tissue is diseased or injured, these stem cells are signaled to migrate to the area of damage.

GRADUALLY bring your horse back into work! Every horseperson knows to go slow. But what does that mean? "Taking it slow" varies considerably among trainers and riders. Bringing your horse back from an injury, or reconditioning, is a form of conditioning which is distinct from and must precede conditioning specific to your sport.

This is a progressive work schedule that will take 60 to 90 days. The ideal schedule is to work 6 days per week.The first two weeks entails road work (the ditch bank works well). Begin at a walk and slow trot. Work in a long and low frame. This will stretch the horse’s top-line and back muscles. Ride for one hour (3-6 miles). Start slow and gradually build.

You are an athlete. Your horse is an athlete. Your safety depends on you and your horse being in condition. Your horse's safety depends on you both being in condition. Lack of condition (yours or your mounts) leads to poor performance and injuries. Consider what you would do with your horse if he has a career (but not life) ending injury.

In recent years the problems stemming from the horse's foot have gained renewed attention. This is in a large part due to pioneering diagnostic imaging work done in England at the Animal Health Trust, Washington State University School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Maison Alfort school of Veterinary Medicine in Paris, France.  Clinicians at these institutions started looking at the structures of the foot with MRI, CT, Nuclear scintigraphy, and high quality ultrasound.

Bring Back to work SLOWLY!!!! Monitor closely for signs of lameness or swelling and call if seen. Ride in sport medicine boots for support. 4 weeks of walking under saddle. Start out at 10-15 minutes daily, then add 5 minutes of walking each week. Then 4 weeks of trotting under saddle. Before trotting start out with a long walking warm up.