Yes, horses are expensivebut smart budgeting can keep you on trackConsider routine veterinary expenses to be recurring costs just as you would housing, feed, hay, and farrier. | Adobe Stock photoHow many of us have gotten the question: Arent horses expensive? While managing finances is important in all aspects of our lives, its especially crucial when it comes to equine health care. As summer rolls in, we pore over horse show calendars and schedule veterinary appointments, but lack of preparation for our horsey expenses can squeeze the optimism of show season dry. Preparing for recurring expenses, planning for our goals, and preventing health issues with proven products will keep us on track without taking shortcuts in our horse care.Recurring costs with horses typically include housing, feed, hay, and farrier visits, but they should also include routine veterinary expenses. While emergency veterinary expenses often hit as unexpected costs, some services do recur, such as spring and fall wellness exams. These exams include different procedures such as vaccinations, a Coggins (a test vets typically conduct annually to identify the presence of antibodies against equine infectious anemia virus) blood draw, endocrine testing, oral exams and dental floats, and soundness exams, but there are ways to predict the cost of your visit. Review invoices for services performed from the previous year to predict the cost this year. Alternatively, contact your veterinary practice to discuss your horses needs and the current service fees to develop a more accurate estimate. If you board your horse, consider scheduling the farm call for multiple horses to share the farm-call fee.If you see your horse daily, chances are you might not notice subtle changes. To help document your horses health, photograph him in the same place from the same angles twice a year. This will help you detect any physical changes, which you can communicate to your veterinarian. Sharing health changes since the last veterinary visit when scheduling will help your veterinarian plan the appropriate length of time for the farm call and ensure diagnostics are available.For example, if you have an aging horse, be ready to discuss endocrine testing for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, formerly known as equine Cushings disease) and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), rather than crossing your fingers that this isnt the year. Detecting PPID and EMS early offers the benefit of early treatment intervention that can improve the horses quality of life. Your veterinarian might also recommend fecal sampling to determine if your deworming protocol is working. Also, plan to ask your veterinarian what vaccines or seasonal boosters might be recommended so you can budget accordingly.Do you plan to travel with your horse to shows or trail rides? Be sure to let your veterinarian know that as well. He or she might recommend a product to help reduce the chances of equine stomach ulcers occurring. Depending on your horses level of activity and his soundness, your veterinarian might also recommend ways to maximize joint health. Prevention helps maintain overall equine health and potentially helps you avoid more costly treatments down the road.As seasons change you might optimistically pack the blanket wardrobe away and dust off your tack, but have you peeked in the feed room? Horse owners are always searching for products that benefit their horses, but you need to be sure to talk to your veterinarian about those products and any he or she might recommend. The most expensive treatment is one that doesnt work, so youll want to use products that have been proven safe and efficacious. Manufacturers of products approved by the FDA follow stringent guidelines while other businesses might not follow those guidelines and can use misleading marketing language.You could also consider purchasing an equine insurance policy. Prices depend on the horses purchase price, level of achievement, and which type of coverage you choose. Insurance can come in handy for larger expenses such as colic surgery.Are horses expensive? Yes, but you can use strategies to forecast expenses without sacrificing compassionate care. Following three simple principlespreparation, planning, and preventioncan make this year different. Anticipate probable recurrent expenses to get the most from your wellness appointment. Plan time to assess your horses current preventive program with your veterinarian. Be sure the products you use have been proven to work. After all, your bond with your horses is priceless.

On Oct. 14, an unvaccinated Rocky Mountain Horse gelding in Grayson County, Kentucky, tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The horse developed clinical signs on Oct. 6, including lethargy, depression, and muscle fasciculations. He is currently still alive.This is Kentuckys 14thconfirmed equine WNV case of 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.

On Oct. 1, an unvaccinated gelding in Grant County, Wisconsin, tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) after becoming ataxic. The horse is currently still alive.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.

The Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, which took place at the Oxfordshire venue last month, raised 14,000 for its nominated charity, Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).Of the money raised, a total of 6,659 was donated through box office ticket purchases, and more than 2,000 came from Agria who contributed 5 for every member of the public who took part in a virtual ride challenge on the stands mechanical horses.This years horse trials hosted the FEI European Eventing Championships which saw Great Britains Laura Collett and London 52 crowned individual champions while Germany took home team gold. The money raised will go directly towards supporting RDAs work enriching the lives through horses. The charitys programmes improve mobility, boost physical health and mental wellbeing, build confidence, and teach new life skills for people of all ages and abilities, including those with physical and learning disabilities, sensory impairments, long-term health conditions, and neurodiversity.Each year, the charity supports over 39,000 disabled children and adults through activities including riding, carriage driving, and equine assisted programmes. Vital fundsRDA was honoured to be the charity partner for the Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, said Michael Bishop, ceo of RDA.Without the vital funds raised through events like this, our life-changing work, supporting the health and wellbeing of 39,000 disabled people across the UK, would not be possible.The interest and generosity shown to us by visitors throughout the event was truly inspiring. We are incredibly grateful to the organisers for choosing RDA as their charity partner and helping us to continue our mission.Surplus bedding also giftedThe team at Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials also donated excess HorseHage from the event to the charity.Supporting RDA means a great deal to everyone at Agria, and its something weve proudly done since the very beginning of our equine insurance journey, said Vicki Wentworth, ceo at Agria.Being able to stand alongside this remarkable charity at the horse trials was a truly special opportunity to play a small part in the life-changing impact RDA has on disabled people.Congratulationsto Michael and the wonderful RDA team for making it so much fun for visitors to Blenheim to get involved and understand more about the charity.Main image RDA groom Charlotte Williams, Agria coo Vicki Wentworth, This Esme, RDA participant Maddy Hill-Brown, RDA Leo Michael Bishop, event director Katrina Midgley and RDA groom Debra Hookins with RDA ponies Ocean and Aimee Peter Nixon.Related contentEmotional Laura Collett wins the individual gold shes always wanted on horse of a lifetime *Photo gallery*An important milestone: RDA partners with Hartpury on revolutionary research projectMaster saddler wins national shire horse title with harness she handcrafted herselfYorkshire equine hospital performs pioneering stomach surgery to remove tumour from horseClydesdale with 720 colon twist has colic surgery two months after giving birthThe post Blenheim Horse Trials reveals amount raised for charity appeared first on Your Horse.

Category Details Personalized Jewelry Horsehair Jewelry: Includes bracelets, necklaces, rings, and cufflinks. Engraved and Photo Jewelry: Features pendants with names or photos. Ash-Inclusive Keepsakes: Urn-style jewelry for ashes. Handcrafted Art and Sculpture Custom Portraits and Sculptures: Painted portraits or sculptures. Model Horses: Custom models based on photographs. Home and Display Memorials Plaques and Engraved Stones: Visible, permanent reminders. Custom Quilts and Pillows: Made from memorabilia, ribbons. Memorial Benches: Install benches at favorite locations. Personalized Merchandise Key Chains, T-Shirts, and More: Everyday items personalized with your horses name or photo. Creative and Alternative Options Handmade Candles: Custom scents or messages. Memorial Tattoos: Tattoos of name, image, or symbol. Choosing the Right Keepsake Consider your horses personality and your own preferences; think about where and how often you want to see or touch the memorial. Emotional Value Keepsakes provide comfort, help process grief, maintain a connection, with tactile items like horsehair jewelry often found comforting. Finding Quality Keepsakes Reputable Artisans: Look for skilled artists and studios. Customer Reviews: Check feedback for handmade items. Personalization Options: Reflect your horses spirit. Additional Resources Letters and Poems: Writing to channel emotions. Engraved Plaques and Memorial Benches: Visible, enduring places of remembrance. Creating Lasting Memories: Unique Keepsakes to Honor and Remember Our Beloved Horses Losing a horse can be one of the most difficult experiences for any equestrian. These magnificent creatures become cherished family members, and their loss leaves behind grief and a deep longing for lasting ways to remember their spirit. Fortunately, there are many unique, meaningful, and creative keepsakes available to honor your horses memoryeach with the potential to comfort, inspire, and celebrate the life you shared together. Why Keepsakes Matter Horses leave an indelible mark on our lives. The human-animal bond is profound, and for horse owners, this connection often runs even deeper due to the trust, teamwork, and countless hours spent together. Creating or choosing a meaningful keepsake is about more than just grief; its about honoring that bond and transforming loss into a celebration of life and love. Types of Equine Memorial Keepsakes Personalized Jewelry **Horsehair Jewelry:** One of the most personal memorials is jewelry made from your horses hair. These piecesbracelets, necklaces, rings, and even cufflinkscan incorporate a braid or tress of mane or tail, sometimes sealed in resin or precious metal. This way, you can carry a physical piece of your horse with you every day. Many jewelers offer customization with engravings or birthstones, adding another layer of personal meaning. **Engraved and Photo Jewelry:** Simple pendants engraved with your horses name, lifespan, or a heartfelt message are timeless options. Photo lockets or silhouettes can capture your horses likeness in a wearable tribute. **Ash-Inclusive Keepsakes:** For those who have cremated their horse, discreet urn-style jewelry exists to hold a small amount of ashes, allowing you to keep your horse close at all times. Handcrafted Art and Sculpture **Custom Portraits and Sculptures:** Commissioning a painted portrait or a hand-sculpted statue of your horse preserves their physical likeness in a way that photographs cannot. These pieces often become family heirlooms and conversation starters, keeping your horses memory alive for generations. **Model Horses:** For a more interactive keepsake, custom model horses can be created to match your horses unique markings and colors, down to the smallest detail, based on your photographs. Home and Display Memorials **Plaques and Engraved Stones:** A commemorative plaque or engraved stone in your garden or stable is a visible, permanent reminder of your horses life. These can be personalized with names, dates, or special messages. **Custom Quilts and Pillows:** Many horse owners treasure ribbons and medals won at shows with their horse. Custom quilts or pillows made from these memorabilia turn achievements into comforting, display-worthy pieces in your home. **Memorial Benches:** Installing a bench at a favorite trail, competition arena, or barn allows you to sit and reflect on the memories you shared. This can be especially comforting for those who want a place to visit and remember. Personalized Merchandise **Key Chains, T-Shirts, and More:** For a more casual or portable tribute, you can personalize merchandise with your horses name or photo. These everyday items keep your horses memory close, wherever you go. Creative and Alternative Options **Handmade Candles:** Light a candle in your horses memorysome artisans even offer candles customized with special scents or messages, creating a soothing ritual of remembrance. **Memorial Tattoos:** Some owners choose to get a tattoo of their horses name, image, or a special symbola permanent, personal tribute thats always with you. Choosing the Right Keepsake With so many options, how do you choose? Consider your horses personality and your own preferences. If your horse was bold and spirited, a horseshoe pendant might feel right. For a gentle soul, a crystal heart or a subtle braided bracelet could be more fitting. Think about where and how often you want to see or touch the memorialjewelry is intimate, while statues or plaques are more public and enduring. The Emotional Value of Keepsakes While there arent specific statistics on horse memorial keepsake sales, the demand for personalized and handcrafted items has grown significantly in the broader pet memorial market. Anecdotal reviews and testimonials emphasize how these keepsakes provide comfort, help owners process grief, and maintain a sense of connection. The tactile nature of horsehair jewelry is frequently cited as especially comforting, as it literally keeps a part of your horse nearby. Where to Find Quality Keepsakes **Reputable Artisans:** Look for skilled artists on platforms like Etsy, or specialized studios such as Equine Keepsakes and Ashes With Art, which have years of experience crafting high-quality, custom horse memorials. **Customer Reviews:** Pay attention to customer feedback, especially for handmade or custom items, to ensure craftsmanship and customer service meet your expectations. **Personalization Options:** The best keepsakes offer a high degree of customization, allowing you to reflect your horses unique spirit in the memorial. Keeping Memories Alive Ultimately, whatever keepsake you choose is a testament to the unique relationship you shared with your horse. These memorials help transform grief into something beautiful and lastinga celebration of love, loyalty, and partnership. As you navigate loss, having a physical reminder of your horse can bring solace, keep memories vivid, and honor the legacy of your beloved companion. Additional Resources **How to Write a Letter to a Horse Who Passed Away** and **Horse Death Poems & Memorial Quotes** can help channel emotions into written tributes, complementing physical memorials. **Portraits, Sculptures, and Custom Quilts** can preserve your horses legacy as both art and family heirloom. **Engraved Plaques and Memorial Benches** offer visible, enduring places of remembrance for years to come. For more inspiration on memorial ideas and support, consider visiting specialized resources and communities online, where fellow horse lovers share their stories and the keepsakes that mean the most to them. By choosing a keepsake that resonates with your heart, you ensure that your horses memory gallops onforever close, forever cherished.```html```

Heal Your Horse by Healing Yourself with Nika Vorster (Just Horse Riders Podcast Ep 30)Hosted by Aaron Englander Guest: Nika Vorster International animal chiropractor, former GB dressage rider & ex-flat jockeyWatch now on YouTube Listen now on SpotifyThis episode is a must-watch for anyone whos ever wondered why improving their own health can transform their horses way of going and yes, we go there: biomechanics, mindset, female hormones, rider fitness, saddle myths, and the power of simply paying attention.Our guest, Nika Vorster, opens with a mission statement that neatly sums up the hour: Im on a mission to help over a million horses around the world, and she believes any horse can be healed by healing yourself.Meet Nika: competitor, chiropractor, horse-first humanNikas equestrian CV reads like three careers in one Pony Club beginnings, international flat racing, and British Dressage up to PSG which is exactly why her take on horse-and-rider wellness lands with authority. In her words: I have a masters in horse chiropractic ex flat jockey GB rider on a mission to help over a million horses.But the heart of her approach is deceptively simple: pay attention to patterns, start from the ground, and remember your horse is always communicating long before anything explodes under saddle. As she puts it: You need to learn to listen to your horse get off their back and watch them.The big idea: rider wellness is horse wellnessIf you only take one idea from this conversation, make it this your body, brain and habits show up in the saddle long before your aids do. Nika argues that performance problems often start with the riders nervous system and daily choices, not just the horses topline or training plan. Were hardwired for connection horses mirror everything we do, she explains.Thats why her rider coaching focuses on three pillars nutrition, movement, and what she cheekily calls brain gym (stress resilience). She works exclusively with female riders online and ties all three pillars to each riders hormonal age and stress load because we cant bring stress to our horses they feel it.Quote: I find one of the myths I want to really burst is that riding is enough to keep me fit and its not weight training has to be part of your weekly routine.Translation for the yard: your fitness plan needs more than hacking and mucking out. Think short, consistent strength sessions (23/week), smart fueling, and basic stress hygiene your horse will thank you for the quieter, more balanced seat.Ask Assess Adjust: a practical method you can try todayNikas hands-on framework is wonderfully no-nonsense: Ask, Assess, Adjust. First ask better questions (whats normal for this horse? what changed?). Next assess patterns (breath, neck tension, eye whites, ear lock). Finally adjust one thing at a time so you can actually see what works.Quote: Ive created a method the ask, assess, adjust method, because anyone can do this when we get out of our heads and into our bodies.This is refreshingly achievable and it starts before you tack up. Notice how your horse greets you, how they breathe, whether they subtly brace when you approach with the saddle. If you find a pattern, change one variable (e.g., girth, pad, time-of-day routine) and reassess.One bolter, three clues: the Dusty storyAmong the episodes most gripping moments is the story of Dusty, a habitual bolter with a terrifying backstory a slipping dummy rider had taught him that anything on his back meant panic. Instead of riding the problem, Nika walked him in-hand for weeks, learned his tells, and rebuilt trust.Quote: He would hold his breath go really stiff in his neck lock his inside ear then the whites of his eye would show.The lesson for all of us: even dramatic behaviour often has a discoverable pattern. Your job is to spot the early cues and change the picture while the horse is still thinking, not after adrenaline takes over.Chiropractic, pain signs & the team your horse deservesWorried your horse might be uncomfortable? Nika points riders to the Sue Dyson ridden-horse pain ethogram as a practical first step: If your horse is showing 8 of the 24 behaviours, the horse needs a vet. Keep notes, count behaviours, and use that checklist to guide next steps.Shes also clear that no single professional has all the answers not vets, not bodyworkers, not saddle fitters. Thats why a WhatsApp group with your vet, dentist, farrier, saddle fitter plus your therapist can accelerate the right diagnosis and save money, time and tears.Quote: There are no quick fixes adjust one thing at a time. Otherwise you throw the kitchen sink and cant tell what worked.And if youre wondering whether adjustments hurt, Nika answers with humour and science: horses are ultra-sensitive; the art is minimal effective input for functional soundness, not textbook symmetry at any cost.Tack first: hard truths about common pain triggersOne of the episodes braver moments is Nikas call-out on ill-fitting tack. She argues that poor fit is the number one preventable cause of pain and your horse is usually telling you before the girth even goes on (turning away, tail swishing, biting at the air).Actionable takeaway: get an independent saddle check, record video of tacking up, and log any small reactions in a notes app. Share that log with your pro team so youre not guessing in the dark next time something feels off.Women, cycles & performance: the data, the honesty, the hopeNikas candour about womens health is a breath of fresh air in equestrian sport. Shes lived severe period pain and PCOS, took the lifestyle route, and now coaches riders to train and fuel with their cycles instead of fighting them.Quote: When you have bad period pains, it feels like someone is ripping out your insides but women, you have a gift. We have a cycle feed it good food know when to back off.More intriguingly, she cites research in other sports showing women had their fastest reaction times during menstruation (i.e., clearer cognition despite unpleasant symptoms) food for thought when planning training blocks and show calendars.Her practical pillars are simple: more protein and fibre, elimination of ultra-processed seed oils (to reduce inflammation), steady strength work, and genuine stress downshifting not the six coffees and a croissant routine many of us survive on.Quote: Ive removed my bloat my periods are normal not on contraception all through lifestyle changes.Rider fitness: sorry, riding isnt a gym membershipFile under things we know but avoid: Riding is not enough to keep me fit walking isnt enough either. After 30, we all lose muscle mass faster so short, regular resistance sessions keep your seat stable and your aids quieter.Pro tip for busy horsey lives: 2535 minutes, 23 a week, with simple compound moves beats all or nothing plans every time and yes, your half-pass will feel different when your core and glutes clock in for work.Mindset matters: a quick breathing reset that changed a rideOne arena story sums up the riderhorse nervous-system loop perfectly. Faced with a tense mare and a tight, anxious rider, Nika didnt start with the horse she had the rider drop the reins and box-breathe. The change? Immediate softness, freer movement, and (yes) a few happy tears.Try it before your next school: inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4 three rounds. Then pick up your reins and notice how your horse feels about this version of you.Shop the basics that support better ridesSmall upgrades to comfort and consistency go a long way if youre leaning into strength work, more hacking, or groundwork blocks, make sure your kit keeps up:Jodhpurs & Riding TightsComfort you wont think twice about on long schooling days.Shop jodhpursRiding BootsStable, supportive footwork = quieter lower leg.Shop bootsGloves & SocksGrip and comfort you actually notice by minute 40.Shop gloves Shop socksHorse Treats & GiftsReinforce the good moments (and bribe the cheeky ones).Shop treats & giftsEveryday SupplementsKeep routines simple, consistent, trackable.Shop supplementsStable & Turnout RugsComfort is training even on rest days.Stable rugs Turnout rugsFly ProtectionLess tail swish, more focus.Shop fly protectionWhy this conversation matters (and who should watch)If youve ever felt stuck chasing bits, gadgets, and miracle routines, this episode hands you something rarer: a way to think. Stop guessing, start noticing, and change one thing at a time. Your horse will tell you when youre getting warmer you just need to be the kind of rider whos listening.And if youre a female rider, this might be the first time you see your physiology framed as a performance advantage, not a monthly hurdle. Plan your training with your cycle, fuel properly, lift smartly, and breathe then go enjoy the ride.Listen & follow Just Horse RidersCatch the full conversation (and the many laughs between the golden nuggets) and if it helps you or your yard bestie, share it with them:YouTube Watch nowSpotify Listen nowFollow & say hello we love hearing which ideas you tried this week:Website justhorseriders.co.ukFacebook @justhorseridersInstagram @justhorseridersTikTok @justhorseridersofficialYouTube Channel @JustHorseRidersOfficalSelected quotes to tempt your earsOn listening before riding: You need to learn to listen to your horse get off their back and watch them.On the method: Ask, assess, adjust anyone can do this when we get out of our heads and into our bodies.On rider fitness: Riding is enough to keep me fit? Its not weight training has to be part of your weekly routine.On cycles & performance: Women, you have a gift. We have a cycle feed it good food know when to back off.On tack & pain: Tack is the number one cause of pain your horse is communicating with you the whole time.Has this episode nudged you to try one small change this week? Do the breathing before you ride, swap in one strength session, or film your tacking-up routine. Then tell us how it went and if you havent yet, watch now or listen now.#justhorseriders #equestrianpodcast #justhorseriderspodcast

For the first time, the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) Studbook Series for Eventing ran in a league format rather than standalone events. This allowed competitors choose any events throughout the season to gain points. The league ran from the 22nd of June to the 21st of September, and competitors could earn points at all national Eventing Ireland competitions during this time with the best four results counting towards the final league standings.Throughout the league, Eventing Ireland posted the league standings under the Stats Centre section of their website. In the seven-year-old league, participation was rewarded for Patrick Byrne taking the win on board Belline Castle ONR Candy (ISH) on 21 points from 4 outings. Runner up was the KWPN gelding, Noa W ridden by Ian Cassells on 20 points with third going to Noel Dunne with Kief Rhapsody of Belline (ISH). All three of these horses will in attendance at the WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Eventing in Le Lion dAngers starting the 16th October.Patrick Byrne with BELLINE CASTLE ONR CANDY (ISH) Copyright photo: Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing TimesThe six-year-old section was topped by Ciara Power on board Stonehavens Dreaming (ISH) on 53 points. She was followed closely by young rider Caitlin Woods with Greygrove Delight (ISH) on 50 points. The ever-consistent Stephen Smith finished in third place with Annaghmore Cornoko (ISH) on 44 points, earning points at each outing.Ciara Power with Stonehavens Dreaming (ISH) Copyright photo: Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing TimesThe five-year-old league was extremely tight with the top three having only two runs each throughout the league, winning points at both. Robbie Kearns came out on top with a total of 25 points riding Belline Kasparov (ISH), second place went to the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland Lollypop PH, ridden by Isla Coad on 23 points. The podium was complete with Luca Bortolamei riding Fernhill Pop Ice (ISH) on 20 points.Robbie Kearns with Belline Kasparov (ISH) Copyright photo: Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing TimesBreeding:Belline Castle ONR Candy (ISH). 2018 gelding by Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) out of Castle Roller Coaster (ISH), by High Roller (ISH). Bred by Noel Ruane, Co. Sligo.Kief Rhapsody of Belline (ISH): 2018 gelding by Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) out of Lissangle Lux The Business (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Bred by Kieran Fahey, Co. Cork.Noa W (KWPN). 2018 gelding by Baltic VDL (KWPN) out of Gucretia (KWPN), by Indoctro (HOLST). Bred by G. Wierts, Netherlands.Stonehavens Dreaming (ISH). 2019 gelding by Querlybet Hero (SBS) out of Ballinamonapark Jody (ISH), by Jack Of Diamonds (SWB). Bred by Vahe Bogossian, Co. Waterford.Greygrove Delight (ISH). 2019 gelding by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan (BWP) out of Great Delight (ISH), by Loughehoe Guy (ISH). Bred by Thoms Ryan, Co. Clare.Annaghmore Cornoko (ISH). 2019 gelding by HHS Cornet (ISH) out of Annaghmore Temptress (KWPN), by IROKO (WESTF). Bred by Aoife Healion, Co. Offaly.Belline Kasparov (ISH). 2020 gelding by Quality Time (HOLST) by Chestnuthill Lady Milbrook (ISH), by (). Bred by Ian Norris, Co. Wexford.Lollypop PH (WSI). 2020 mare by Cormint (HOLST) out of Desir De LEsprit m2s (KWPN), by Desire Du Chateau (SF). Bred by Paul Hughes.Fernhill Pop Ice (ISH). 2020 gelding by Kassanova Hero B Z (ZANG) out of DS Aphrodite (AES), by Darrara Achilles (ISH). Bred by Dermot OBrien, Co. Cork.The DAFM Studbook Series League is delivered by Horse Sport Ireland and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) under National Breeding Services.The post DAFM Eventing Studbook Series League appeared first on .

Western performance horses can have signs of bone stress in their fetlocks similar to those in racehorses. | Adobe StockResearchers recently found that Western performance horses can show signs of bone stress in their fetlocks similar to those seen in Thoroughbred racehorses, even though they compete in a very different sport.In the largest study of its kind, scientists reviewed radiographs (X rays) from 90 Western performance horses with lameness isolated to the fetlock joint and found bony lesions in about 97%. Most of these changes appeared to result from exercise-induced bone remodeling that went awrythough not typically in ways that cause catastrophic fractures like those sometimes seen in racehorses. The findings highlight the need to recognize the fetlock joint as a common source of lameness in Western performance horses and to better understand bone changes unique to their disciplines, said Gabrielle Solum, DVM, MS, of the Orthopaedic Research Center in Colorado State Universitys Department of Clinical Sciences, in Fort Collins.My biggest practical message is to just not overlook fetlock pain in general, Solum said. I speak with clients a lot whove had their horses coffin joints injected multiple times, and theyre not seeing results. Often, those horses just need a little further workupincluding a closer look at the fetlock.Solum said she and her colleagues have noticed many Western horses go sound after an intra-articular block in the fetlockpointing to fetlock-specific pain. Yet most of the research on this topic focuses on Thoroughbreds, whose high-speed, straight-line work creates very different stresses on the fetlocks than the tight turns and repeated maneuvers of Western performance horses.Reviewing Western Performance Horse LamenessTo fill that knowledge gap the team reviewed 11 years of health records from 90 Western performance horses diagnosed with fetlock lameness at Equine Sports Medicine in Pilot Point, Texas, from 2012 to 2022. Two-thirds of the affected joints were in the forelimbs. The horses, mostly Quarter Horses with some Paints and Appaloosas, underwent detailed radiographic exams that were later reevaluated by a board-certified equine radiologist.Common Causes of Lameness in Western Performance HorsesOnly three horses had no visible changes on radiographs, Solum said. The most common findingsseen in more than half of the horsesincluded areas of increased bone density (sclerosis) in either the lower cannon bone or the top of the long pastern bone (P1). These changes can make bone less able to absorb shock and suggest maladaptive remodeling. Many horses also had extra bone growth along joint margins and thickened soft tissues around the area, which could indicate tendon or ligament strain or inflammation. The researchers often saw changes in the bone layer just beneath the joint surface, too.While Western horses dont tend to develop the stress fractures that can precede catastrophic injuries in Thoroughbreds, said Solum, the lesions most often seen in them resembled the maladaptive bone remodeling seen in racehorseslikely reflecting how their own sports challenge the fetlocks.Most of these horses will compete several times, or even every day, during a two-week horse show, she said. Theyre not competing at speed like racehorses, but theyre doing more repetitions per day, and I think they just have way more repetition on those joints than other sports do.Radiographic findings didnt always match the horses lameness scores. Thats not surprising, said Solum, because radiographs cant always show how activeor painfula condition really is. Still, horses with sclerosis or fissures in P1, or with subchondral bone cysts, tended to show more severe lameness. These kinds of changes might develop when bone doesnt adapt well to chronic stress, she added, and could be key areas to examine closely during lameness workups in Western performance horses.Applications in Practice and Future ResearchThe study results could help veterinarians better recognize underdiagnosed fetlock problems and improve how they image and assess these cases.Just look for those more subtle changes in fetlock joints, because things like P1 sclerosis can be a really painful thing, Solum said. I hope that this is just a jumping-off point for this topic, and that its not the end of the topic because I really think that its just scratching the surface of a knowledge base here.The study, Western performance horses with fetlock lameness demonstrate radiographic evidence of chronic exercise remodelling, appeared in Equine Veterinary Journal in May 2025.