Being prepared can help you avoid making common mistakes when buying a horse. | Adobe StockWhether youre buying your first horse or purchasing again after a break, its important to remember the basics to find the horse thats the best fit for you. In this excerpt from Ask TheHorse Live, Wendy Krebs, DVM, of Bend Equine Medical Center, in Oregon, explains common mistakes that buyers make when purchasing a horse and how you can avoid them.This podcast is an excerpt of ourAsk TheHorse Live Q&A, So, You Want to Buy a Horse? Listen to the full recording here.About the Expert: Wendy Krebs, DVMWendy Krebs, DVM, is a partner at Bend Equine Medical Center in Oregon. She grew up in Western Oregon, where she participated first in 4-H and later in eventing. She graduated from Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine, in Corvallis, in 2002 and performed a yearlong equine internship, followed by a four-year American College of Veterinary Surgeons equine surgery residency. Her practice interests include surgery and performance horse care, as well as comprehensive preventive care. She lives on a small working ranch in Tumalo with her husband, two young children, and a bevy of animals, including nine horses. She enjoys riding her Oldenburg mare, Aria, emergency-schedule permitting.

Three horses in Kentucky recently tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The cases are located in Grayson, Fayette, and Lyon counties.In Grayson County, a 10-year-old Belgian mare tested positive on Sept. 18. The unvaccinated mare developed clinical signs on Sept. 13, including lethargy and ataxia. She is alive and improving.In Fayette County, a 10-year-old Quarter Horse mare tested positive on Sept. 18. The mare, whose vaccination status is unknown, developed clinical signs on Sept. 15, including lethargy and mild muscle fasciculations. She is recovering.dIn Lyon County, a yearling Quarter Horse filly tested positive on Sept. 18. The unvaccinated filly developed clinical signs on Sept. 9, including lethargy and ataxia. She is alive and improving.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.WNV 101West Nile virusis transmitted to horses via bites from infected mosquitoes. Not all infected horses show clinical signs, but those that do can exhibit:Flulike signs, where the horse seems mildly anorexic and depressed;Fine and coarse muscle and skin fasciculation (involuntary twitching);Hyperesthesia (hypersensitivity to touch and sound);Changes in mentation (mental activity), when horses look like theyre daydreaming or just not with it;Occasional drowsiness;Propulsive walking (driving or pushing forward, often without control); andSpinal signs, including asymmetrical weakness; andAsymmetrical or symmetrical ataxia.West Nile virus has no cure. However, some horses can recover with supportive care. Equine mortality rates can reach 30-40%.Studies have shown thatvaccines can be effective WNV prevention tools. Horses vaccinated in past years need an annual booster shot, but veterinarians might recommend two boosters annuallyone in the spring and another in the fallin areas with prolonged mosquito seasons. In contrast, previously unvaccinated horses require a two-shot vaccination series in a three- to six-week period. It takes several weeks for horses to develop protection against the disease following complete vaccination or booster administration.In addition to vaccinations, owners should work to reduce mosquito population and breeding areas and limit horses mosquito exposure by:Removing stagnant water sources;Dumping, cleaning, and refilling water buckets and troughs regularly;Keeping animals inside during insect feeding times (typically early in the morning and evening); andApplying mosquito repellents approved for equine use.

On Sept. 18, a Quarter Horse mare in Stanislaus County, California, tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The vaccinated mare developed neurologic signs on Sept. 14. She is alive and recovering.This is Californias third confirmed equine WNV case in 2025.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.WNV 101West Nile virusis transmitted to horses via bites from infected mosquitoes. Not all infected horses show clinical signs, but those that do can exhibit:Flulike signs, where the horse seems mildly anorexic and depressed;Fine and coarse muscle and skin fasciculation (involuntary twitching);Hyperesthesia (hypersensitivity to touch and sound);Changes in mentation (mental activity), when horses look like theyre daydreaming or just not with it;Occasional drowsiness;Propulsive walking (driving or pushing forward, often without control); andSpinal signs, including asymmetrical weakness; andAsymmetrical or symmetrical ataxia.West Nile virus has no cure. However, some horses can recover with supportive care. Equine mortality rates can reach 30-40%.Studies have shown thatvaccines can be effective WNV prevention tools. Horses vaccinated in past years need an annual booster shot, but veterinarians might recommend two boosters annuallyone in the spring and another in the fallin areas with prolonged mosquito seasons. In contrast, previously unvaccinated horses require a two-shot vaccination series in a three- to six-week period. It takes several weeks for horses to develop protection against the disease following complete vaccination or booster administration.In addition to vaccinations, owners should work to reduce mosquito population and breeding areas and limit horses mosquito exposure by:Removing stagnant water sources;Dumping, cleaning, and refilling water buckets and troughs regularly;Keeping animals inside during insect feeding times (typically early in the morning and evening); andApplying mosquito repellents approved for equine use.

Germany remains at the top of the leaderboard in both the team and individual events at the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace after the conclusion of the dressage phase but Great Britain are not far behind.There was a big shake up of the leaderboard on Friday afternoon as four of the final round of riders produced tests good enough to leave them in the top five at the end of the dressage phase.It was reigning Olympic champions Michael Jung and Fischerchipmunk FRH who received the best score from the dressage judges, recording the only sub 20 score of the competition to lead home favourites Laura Collett and London 52 by 2.3 penalties.Germany boasts three riders in the top six to leave them in gold medal position in the team competition just 1.4 penalties ahead of Great Britain. France is third while Switzerland sits fourth.1, Michael Jung and Fischerchipmunk (GER)The highly anticipated clash between Fischerchipmunk FRH and London 52 saw the 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding prevail after he produced a stunning test under the legendary German rider for a mark of 18.3.Im very proud of us. Its just lovely to ride this horse every day and to enjoy him, said Michael who has won multiple world, European and Olympic titles.Im very pleased and very happy about FischerChipmunk. He was very good, fun to train, very good collected in the beginning. I can start to ride him really well through the test with my leg. I had a little mistake after the first medium trot, this was like a wake up. I know hes amazing horse and I really enjoy to ride him every day,2, Laura Collett and London 52 (GER)Britains final rider Laura Collett and the 16-year-old bay gelding London 52 delivered an impressive test under huge pressure to sit second at this stage on 20.6.The overwhelming emotion is just relief to be honest. Theres quite high expectations on horse like him, but hes just a total showman. He goes in there and he just absolutely loves showing off to a crowd, said Laura who took team gold and individual bronze with this horse at the 2024 Paris Olympics.I just cant believe a horse can give as much as he does. He owes me absolutely nothing, yet he just keeps delivering.3, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin (GBR)Tom McEwen sits in third place on JL Dublin, who won the European Championship title in Avenches in 2021 under Nicola Wilson, on a score of 26.2He [Dubs] loves the dressage, so its just up to me to make sure we get everything polished, said Tom.The trot work was brilliant. Its hard work, especially for these big moving horses, its all so packed and collected and as its a D test, which is meant to be a bit quicker, everythings quick and efficient.In some of the five-star tests, if you make a little mistake you have time to make it back up a little bit later, whereas this is bang, bang, bang.It was a shame to have the obvious mistake on the centre line. We were just trying to get a bit straighter. I could see Sandy [Phillips] judging every bit of it, so I was like, ooh, straight, and then made a little mistake.To have that mistake and then get back and get his [flying] change in, Im really pleased with him and he finished brilliantly.4, Lea Siegl and Van Helsing P (AUT)Lea Siegl and Van Helsing P produced a personal best in the first phase to occupy fourth on 26.9 for Austria who are in sixth position in the team event.It was justamazing. He came in and really tried his best. Im so proud of him. Im just super happy. I cant be more happy with him. I have problems in the flying changes in Luhmuhlen, he was really good in the trot work there but I lost lots of points in the canter because of the flying changes so we worked a lot on the flying changes and we improved them, said Lea.5, Lara De Liedekerke-Meier and Honey DArville (BEL)Luhmuhlen winners Lara De Liedekerke-Meier and the homebred grey mare Hooney DArville lie fifth on 27.7. This result has helped Belgium into fifth in the team competition.Im so glad. Shes not a dressage horse and she really tries really hard, said Lara. When Lea [Siegl, the previous competitor] went out of the arena, it felt a touch electric which may at the end of helped me because she bought a little bit up and above the bit which I think is now the image really the judges want to see. But shes staying with me, which was really, really nice, and it was our test. Theres still much more to come but for today, Im over the moon. 6, Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlos Quidditch K (GER)Thursday dressage leaders, Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlos Quidditch K end the first phase in sixth place on 27.8. Blenheim has been a happy hunting ground for Malin and the 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding as the pair won the CCI4*-L title here in 2022.Im really happy. I was a little bit afraid that hes too much on because when I came down [to the arena] he was just getting up and up with the head and just looking around but then I really pushed him forward and he was okay, explained Malin.Its really special [to be back here]. I didnt feel the pressure to be on the team or not because I just thought, okay, I was a winner here so it doesnt matter if Im coming back or not, because it wont be better than that. I had just a fabulous week here. I think with Kentucky together last year, it was one of my greatest competition weeks.7, Libussa Lubbeke and Caramia 34 (GER)In seventh position is German rider Libussa Lubbeke, who is making her senior debut this week, and her homebred mare Caramia 34. They are pathfinders for the German team.I was really happy with the walk and how concentrated the horse was. Its just a pleasure to be here with her, said Libussa.8, Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time (GBR)Bubby Upton made her senior championships debut on home soil an impressive one when she piloted Its Cooley Time to a score of 28.9 and ninth place.Its Cooley Time was fantastic in there. Hes a very sharp, sensitive horse so the timing of the warm-up was really important with him today, said Bubby.We were lucky enough to have test practice at Burghley a few weeks ago which was incredible because we were able to realise where we missed things and what we need to do more of or less of and I feel like we really got it right today, me and my coach, Amy Woodhead. Im so grateful to her for everything shes done. Shes seen him right from the start and knows what weve come through to get here.He had a very big stumble into his halt which was a real shame, because his trot halts are a big highlight for him. That obviously interrupted the halt and then also the rein back as well so that was a real shame but obviously no fault of his own. Its just one of those things.In his medium canters, he saw the [hospitality] boxes, saw the crowds, and was like oh! I was like no, concentrate, and Im just so proud of him. Honestly, its such a fine line with him because of his sharpness and sensitivity so overall were thrilled with how he coped and I guess, more than anything, how exciting it is for the future.Its so special [to be competing here]. Its been a dream of mine for forever. I grew up watching Pippa [Funnell] and Piggy [March] doing all the championships and Ive been pushing like mad over the last few years to try and get here. Weve come close a few times and been a bit unlucky with the timing of accidents and things like that which have kind of prevented it from coming true so to be here is just incredible and on home soil as well is even more special.9= Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ (GBR)Yasmin Ingham pilotedthe 15-year-old geldingRehy DJ into equal ninth along with Frances Sebastien Cavaillon on Elipso De La Vigne.His test was great today. I thought there was lots of highlights in there and he tried super, super hard, so I was delighted, said Yasmin, who is the reigning world champion with Banzai du Loir.Weve been working super hard with Chris Bartle and Sarah Higgins on the flat. Theyve been instrumental in my dressage training just trying to gain those small margins, because thats all it takes. Im not riding a big, flashy horse, so I need to be accurate and try and maximise each mark for each movement the best we can.9= Sebastien Cavaillon and Elipso De La Vigne (FRA)Sebastien, who is making his senior championship debut for France this week, was disappointed with his dressage mark with the 11-year-old Selle Francis gelding he has been riding for six years, but it is still good enough for him to sit in the top 10 at the end of the dressage phase.Everybody tells me that is was a fantastic test but the score was not good for me, 29 is a bad score for him. This year in Bramham he made a score of 26 and here was better for me, said Sebastien.The remaining British team rider Piggy March and Halo are 12thon 29.4 while British individual Caroline Harris and D Day sit 30thon 34.4.Cross-country will get underway tomorrow (Saturday 20 September) at 1100 when Switzerlands Nadja Minder and Toblerone take to Mark Phillips cross-country track.For the full list of resultsclick here.Images by Tim Wilkinson/Your Horse.Related contentI did my first BE90 after Covid: Hungarys debutante has only been eventing for five yearsGermany dominates on day one of dressage at Blenheim EuropeansGerman debutante leads dressage at early stage of Blenheim Europeans with a Brit in secondHow to watch this weeks European eventing championshipsBritish squad announced for FEI Eventing Europeans combines experience and new talentThe post Germany head team and individual standings at Blenheim Euros but Britain are hot on their heels appeared first on Your Horse.

For four riders at this weeks Agria FEI European Eventing Championships there may be a sense of dj vu, as they all competed at Blenheim Palace the last time the European Championships took place here 20 years ago.Belgiums Karin Donckers, Italys Vittoria Panizzon, Austrias Harald Ambros and Lithuanias Aistis Vitkauskas all represented their nations in that competition which faced torrential rain on cross-country day and was won by Zara Phillips (now Tindall) and the great Toytown back in 2005.Two decades later, we asked the quartet of returning riders what it feels like to be back again and what has changed in that space of timeKarin Donckers: The weather was badKarin Donckers and Ceres De La BrasserieKarin has been a stalwart of the Belgian team for years and this is her 15th European Championships.The 2005 event was a successful competition for the 54-year-old rider, who narrowly missed out on a place on the podium, piloting Gormley to fourth place individually.I feel like its been a very long time, said Karin. It was quite a wet year. That was a quality of Gormley, because he was Irish Thoroughbred and he handled it well.I finished fourth, so its tough to do better individually this time. I know the weather was bad, the ground was tough, and the conditions were really an effort.Karin rides Ceres De La Brasserie this time, a 13-year-old daughter of her former consistent champion campaigner Gazelle De La Brasserie.Vittoria Panizzon:I was on the fastest horse Ive ever riddenVittoria Panizzon and DHI JackpotVittoria secured a top 20 finish on what was her senior championship debut when she completed in 17thposition in 2005 aboard Rock Model (Bug). The Italian team finished fifth. Its special to be back here again for the next Europeans, several horses later. Weather wise it might end up being similar; I remember it was very wet cross-country, said Vittoria, who recalled sitting in her lorry listening to the heavy rain outside before her round. I was on Rock Model, who was probably the fastest horse Ive ever ridden when the brakes worked. He was very different to ride cross-country, because he was speedy and could get quite strong. I struggled a lot with what bit to use, whereas now Im in a snaffle.We had a fun team and we had a good laugh. Bug gave me a great showjumping round. Id ridden here once before, which is always helpful.DHI Jackpot is Vittorias mount this time and he has also been campaigned here before in the eight- and nine year olds CCI3*S two years ago. Its good to have a bit of a feel for the place, added Vittoria.Harald Ambros: I remember galloping through the lakeHarald Ambros on Vitorio Du MontetHarald, a full-time dentist, also completed on Miss Ferrari, with whom he went to the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2006 World Equestrian Games. The pair finished 48thin 2005 and helped the Austrian team to ninth.Yesterday, I talked to Karin Donckers because she was also wondering how many riders are here who competed 20 years ago, said Harald. We have to look at the list because a lot of them are too young. Twenty years ago I had a young horse, now I have an experienced horse.Its changed a little bit. I think out of the woods there was a big drop down and now its two hills with skinnies. The water was the same, for sure over the lake. Its interesting because a lot of horses are not used to this. They just know jumping in and going out, not [going through] a lake, but the last time it was no problem, so I hope its okay.Haralds partner this time is Vitorio Du Montet, the 16-year-old Selle Francais gelding whom he partnered at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Aistis Vitkauskas: I cant remember!Aistis Vitkauskas on Baladin De LOcean LAAistis also made his senior championships debut at Blenheim two decades ago. The Lithuanian rider sadly failed to complete onHojagergards Candis on that occasion, but hopes for a different outcome this time on Commander VG, the 14-year-old Danish warmblood who finished 37th at Badminton earlier this year.My first Europeans was here 20 years ago. Its funny, it was so many competitions ago that I cant remember, said Aistis. Now Im here, I started to walk across country, started to ride, and the memories came back. In the beginning I said to my wife its so strange, I have been there, but I cant remember much. Of course, its a great venue, and last time it was amazing.It was a lot of stress, because it was my first championship, added Aistis.Lea Siegl: I remember watching my fatherLea Siegl on Van Helsing PLea is 27 years old, making her too young to ride at Blenheim in 2005 but she does remember her father, Harald, competing here for Austria. He had also ridden at the previous years Olympic Games in Athens.I was too young, so I was at home, said Lea, who rides for the armed forces and studied history, philosophy and psychology at university in Linz.Her father is accompanying her at Blenheim this week.He told me the cross-country was tough, very up and down, so be prepared. We did a lot of condition training to get my horse fit.Lea made her senior team debut at the European Championships in Avenches, Switzerland, in 2021, where she finished 16th.This year, she was 15th at the Luhmuhlen CCI5* in Germany aboard Van Helsing P, the same horse she is campaigning at Blenheim.Images by Tim Wilkinson/Your HorseRelated contentHow to watch this weeks European eventing championshipsI did my first BE90 after Covid: Hungarys debutante has only been eventing for five yearsGerman debutante leads dressage at early stage of Blenheim Europeans with a Brit in secondBritish squad announced for FEI Eventing Europeans combines experience and new talentThe post We rode here 20 years ago! These riders rode at the first Blenheim Europeans and theyre back again appeared first on Your Horse.