An equine soundness examination is a comprehensive evaluation that might include a physical exam, lameness assessment, flexion tests, and diagnostic imaging to identify potential causes of lameness or discomfort. Because subtle changes can impact long-term health, collaboration between veterinarian and owner is vitalowners provide history and ongoing observations, while veterinarians guide decisions on diagnostics, management, and preventive care.In this video Dr. Sherry Johnson of Equine Sports Medicine, shown at the practices Scottsdale, Arizona, location, explains the importance of regular equine soundness exams and what veterinarians are looking for during each portion of the exam.Sponsored by American Regent Animal Health.

On Sept. 19, a yearling filly in Marion County, Florida, tested positive for strangles. The filly developed clinical signs on Sept. 7, including nasal discharge, cough, and enlarged lymph nodes. She is recovering, and 12 horses have been exposed.This is Floridas 27thconfirmed strangles 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.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

Delighted to see the class horse klaas jan b winning the cci3* in ballindenisk in Ireland this super horse ridden by Emily Young jamieson since the start for his owners who bought him from us as a 3yo.well done all connections!#bshgraduate

Beet pulp comes in two physical forms; shredded (as seen above) and pelleted. | Erica Larson/The HorseQ. I have some questions about feeding beet pulp.Is it a forage or concentrate?Should it have added molasses or should it be plain? Should it be in flake- or pellet-form? Whats the correct water to beet pulp ratio? How much should a horse eat per pound of body weight, and do you measure it with the beet pulp soaked or un-soaked? What supplements should be included if any to ensure balanced nutrition?Id appreciate any input you have on the pros and cons of feeding beet pulp.A. Beet pulp has long been a mainstay in many feed rooms, especially during the winter months. People often incorrectly think of it as a concentrate because in many cases it is fed instead of or alongside grain; however, in reality, it is actually a forage. Relatively high in hemicellulose, a fermentable fiber, beet pulp digestion relies on microbial fermentation in the hindgut. This makes it a feed closer to pasture and hay than traditional concentrates such as oats, which are high in starch and require enzymatic digestion in the small intestine. Yet, when it comes to the calories supplied per pound it compares more closely to oats than hay. This is what makes it such a good choice for hard-keeping horses.A by-product of the sugar beet industry, beet pulp is what remains after the sugar is removed. Therefore, despite the name the sugar content is low. In fact, it is low enough to be safe for horses with insulin resistance (IR) or polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) as long as it does not have any added molasses. Beet pulp with molasses is often less dusty and might be more palatable, but its not safe for horses with IR, PSSM, or hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP). If you cannot find molasses-free beet pulp, you can soak beet pulp and then rinse it before feeding to wash off the molasses.The low-sugar and -starch content means there are no concerns of overwhelming the small intestines ability to absorb these nutrients. Theres also no concern about them entering the hindgut and disrupting microbial fermentation as can happen if large amounts of high starch grain are fed. By feeding a product that requires microbial fermentation and provides a form of complex carbohydrate thats relatively easy to ferment, the beneficial microbial populations in the hindgut are supplied with abundant substrate.Beet pulp comes in two physical forms; shredded and pelleted. The pellets tend to be very hard and some are quite large, whereas shreds are exactly as the name implies thin strips of pulp about half- to three-quarters of an inch long and about one-sixteenth of an inch wide.Some shreds are very dusty and soaking helps reduce the dust. Shreds swell and absorb water more quickly than pellets. | Photo: The Horse StaffContrary to popular belief it is not necessary to soak beet pulp before feeding. The horses stomach will not explode if fed dry beet pulp and it will not suck all the water out of the gastrointestinal tract and cause impaction colic. It is one of the biggest myths in equine nutrition. Just think about all the commercial feeds that contain beet pulp and recall whether any of them state that soaking is required before being fed.That being said there are some good reasons to soak beet pulp prior to feeding. Because of beet pulp pellets hardness and size, I always recommend soaking beet pulp pellets. And, given that it is always beneficial to increase your horses water intake, my preference is to soak shreds, too. So while soaking is not required, it is something I always do and recommend doing.Some shreds are very dusty and soaking helps reduce the dust. I personally prefer triple-screened beet pulp if youre using shreds. I have found them to be a much cleaner and more consistent product and worth the slightly higher cost. Dust is also one reason why some manufacturers add molasses, plus it aids in palatability.Shreds soak far more quickly than pellets. A good general rule that results in a good consistency of finished soaked feed is one part beet pulp to two parts water. You should weigh your pellets dry because weight at the end once soaked will vary with the amount of water you added. Plus, a pound of dry beet pulp is far more nutrient dense than a pound of wet beet pulp, which is nearly all water. Shreds swell and absorb water more quickly than pellets. You can put shreds in a bucket, add water and go ride and they will be ready to feed by the time you return in barely an hour. To speed up pellets soak them in hot water; just make sure it has cooled before feeding. Soaked beet pulp typically remains good for about a day; however, in hot, humid climates it might go bad in less than 24 hours. If it smells like wine or vinegar, it has spoiled and should not be fed.How Much Beet Pulp Should I Feed?As for amount to feed, this will depend on your horse. If you are needing to stretch hay or have a hard keeper or a horse with poor dentition you can feed up to 50% of the dietary forage as beep pulp (dry weight). So for a 1,200-pound horse being fed 2% of body weight as forage, you would feed 12 pounds of beet pulp per day.Also, if you have an easy keeper, remember that beet pulp provides more calories per pound than an equal amount of grass hay. This means that if you are going to feed beet pulp to an easy keeper you will likely find yourself feeding less total forage per day, as youll need to reduce total intake to prevent the horse from gaining weight.Beet pulp has a lower potassium level than most grass hays making it a useful substitute for horses with HYPP, where dietary potassium should be less than 1%. Beet pulps calcium content is good, as well, being higher than most grass hays although lower than alfalfa. As such, it compliments traditional grains such as oats that tend to have low calcium and higher phosphorus levels. The protein content is comparable to grass hay at about 8 to 12%. However, because it is not a fortified feed, a mineral and vitamin supplement will be needed to ensure adequate intakes of trace minerals and necessary vitamins, such as vitamin E.

A livery yard in Scotland made strangles vaccination an essential part of its yard policy following local outbreaks of the contagious disease, which is the most common equine infectious disease affectinghorse healtharound the world.Meadowhead Equestrian near Kilmarnock in Scotland is home to around 30 horses and has required all its liveries to be vaccinated against strangles since 2023.The proactive approach meant that when a new horse tested positive for strangles during its isolation period, despite showing no clinical symptoms, it did not spread to the rest of the yard.It gave us peace of mindYard managers Catriona Balish and Jordan Crowe originally made the decision to vaccinate all their horses due to welfare concerns after a neighbouring yard lost three equines during an outbreak three years ago.We have a very close relationship with our vets, MBM Vets in Kilmarnock, and explained to them our concerns, said Catriona.Following extensive conversations about the benefits of the strangles vaccine and its success during local outbreaks it gave us some piece of mind that, should an outbreak occur, we would have fewer symptomatic horses, lower contraction rates and hopefully quicker eradication of the disease. The entire yard of horses was vaccinated in October 2023, with additional biosecurity measures also remaining in place, including strict isolation and testing for new arrivals.Devastating positive strangles testThese procedures proved vital in November last year, when a new livery horse tested positive for strangles during its isolation period after showing no clinical symptoms.Following the diagnosis, we went straight into lockdown, with no horses moving on or off the premises, said Catriona. I was devastated when the positive result came back. You never think it will happen to you.Strangles is a highly infectious condition caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi and it affects a horses upper respiratory tract. Catriona explained that it is not only the physical impact of the disease that takes its toll, but also the stigma surrounding strangles, which made life especially difficult for the business owners.We followed the procedures recommended by our vets which included the ongoing isolation of the affected horse, footbaths, minimal contact and temperature monitoring, she said.The importance of vaccinationThanks to the centres proactive strangles policies, there was no spread of the disease among the rest of the horses on site.Catriona stressed the importance of vaccination and encourages horse owners to have the discussion with their vet.This whole experience has shown me how important vaccination is. I was extremely thankful that the rest of our yard was vaccinated, she said. It doesnt give total protection, but it reduces the risks and the severity if a horse does get strangles.Main image supplied by Meadowhead EquestrianRelated contentStrangles in horses: equine vet explains how to prevent, manage and treat this contagious diseaseStrangles bacteria lingers on webbing headcollars and tack much more easily than leatherNorfolk horse charity restarts rehoming scheme after strangles outbreak forced shutdownNew RVC study advances knowledge around strangles transmission significantlyThe post Scottish livery yard makes strangles vaccination a permanent policy appeared first on Your Horse.

As a leading equestrian store and online retailer, our dedication to providing top-quality products, exceptional customer service, and unrivalled expertise has been recognised by industry experts and loyal customers alike. We are proud to share our exceptional journey of success and the numerous awards Redpost has earned over the years. Awards 2025The Betas Online Retailer of the Year AwardAwards 2024The Betas Online Retailer of the Year Award Awards 2023The Betas Online Retailer of the Year Award The Betas In Store Retailer of the Year Award55th in THE GROWTH 100 FEBE AwardsLuxGlobal Excellence Equestrian & Country Clothing Retailer of the YearUKAwards 2022The Betas Marketing Effectiveness Award29th in the 2022 Lightning 50 AwardsAwards 2021The Betas Online Retailer of the Year Award 24th in the Brightpearl Lightning 50 AwardsAwards 2020Awards 2015The Betas Medium Retailer of the YearAwards 2005BETA Feed Merchant WinnerThe post Redpost Awards first appeared on Redpost Equestrian Blog.

The final for the 2025 Foal Championship, and final for Loose Jumping, will take place at the inEmerald EquestrianCentre, Co Kildare on Thursday 2nd October, from 12pm.All spectators, breeders and connections of competitors are welcome to attend.19 foals and 12 fillies will compete in their respective categories for the coveted champion titles. One foal in each section of the Horse and Pony qualifiers was selected to compete at the final in Emerald; while the top three at each of the Loose Jumping qualifiers earned a spot in the grand final.Start List for Foal Championship final:HEREStart List for Loose Jumping final:HEREThe 2025 Foal Championship and Loose Jumping are funded under National Breeding Services with thanks to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.The post Foal Championship & Loose Jumping Final appeared first on .

Ocala, FL The 2025 Summer Series concluded in thrilling fashion on Sunday at World Equestrian Center Ocala with the $50,000 AdventHealth National Grand Prix. Twenty-eight top horse-and-rider combinations entered the ring, each hoping to secure one final victory for the summer. In the end, it was Vicente Guillen (VEN) who claimed the win aboard his longtime partner, Evolene De Carles (Kannan xSource