Wollondilly Equine

21/09/2026

Let’s all remember safety around the covering shed and dummy this breeding season !!

15/09/2026

03/09/2026

Guess who’s back ! Dr Drayton has returned and is ready for breeding business ! Feel free to contact her or the clinic about the upcoming breeding season 🙂

02/09/2026

It’s that time of the year again !! IYKYK! If you have any queries regarding breeding your mare or collecting your stallion please feel free to give us a shout 🙂

07/08/2026

💥𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐑 𝐒𝐧𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭!🐴 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Heat stress is a well-recognized cause of testicular & epididymal dysfunction, yet the underlying molecular events driving these changes remain poorly understood. This study used transcriptomic analysis to characterize early gene expression responses in testicular & epididymal tissues following acute scrotal insulation in stallions.

Study Design:
• 10 normos***mic adult light-breed stallions: control & scrotal insulation
• Scrotal insulation applied for 24 hours via insulation bag; stallions castrated immediately upon removal
• Tissue biopsies collected from te**es, epididymal head, body, & tail
• RNA sequencing & differential gene expression analysis performed; differentially expressed genes identified

Key Results:
• Differentially expressed genes in te**es, epididymal head, epididymal body, epididymal tail
• Te**es: Spermatogenesis pathways downregulated; upregulated pathways associated with oxidant-antioxidant balance, immune activation (innate & adaptive), lipid & amino acid metabolism, & amyloid deposition
• Epididymal head: Dysregulation of s***matogenesis, energy metabolism, antigen presentation, & immune cell signaling
• Epididymal body: Differentially expressed genes associated with microtubule formation, s***m flagellum components, & cell motility
• Epididymal tail: Differentially expressed genes linked to energy metabolism & cell respiration

Conclusions:
• Acute scrotal heating rapidly dysregulates oxidant-antioxidant balance, energy metabolism, & immune homeostasis across testicular & epididymal tissues
• Region-specific gene expression patterns reflect distinct functional vulnerabilities within the reproductive tract
• Findings establish a molecular framework for understanding heat-induced reproductive dysfunction in stallions

(Ferrer M, Barletta M, Williams J, Moran K, Bilbao G, Bartolome J. 2025. Changes in equine testicular & epididymal homeostasis in response to scrotal heating. JEVS 145:105284 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105284)

19/07/2026

Researchers found horses hauled about 186 miles experienced biochemical signs of oxidative stress for up to 48 hours after transport, while a shorter trip produced only minor changes.

More in the comments.

19/07/2026

Broodmares are at increased risk of gastrointestinal colic. However, researchers have not previously investigated colic risk factors specific to this population. ⁣
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In a recent study, researchers investigated horse- and management-level risk factors for postpartum colic. They concluded that maximizing turnout for postpartum broodmares might reduce colic risk. Broodmares that have recently received NSAIDs, have a history of colic, or are receiving a calcium-based supplement might be at increased risk of postpartum colic.⁣

Read more at the link in the comments.

06/05/2026

When caring for our horses, everything we do should be based on the concept of the 3Fs...

💕 Friends – As highly social herd animals, our horses should have contact with other on a daily basis. Ideally, this would come through being turned out in a group, where they can perform behaviours such as mutual grooming, playing and building bonds. If this isn't possible, they should still be able to see and touch each other while turned out or in a stable.

🌱 Forage – As grazers, our horses should have a forage-based diet, which could comprise grass, hay, haylage, chaffs and forage replacers. To aid digestive health and mental wellbeing, this should be trickle fed throughout the day, alongside adequate vitamins and minerals. Forage can also be fed in a variety of ways to provide enrichement.

🐎 Freedom – Horses should be able to move freely, ideally for extended periods of time. They should also have freedom of choice, which could be through going where they want, choosing between forage options or making decisions about their environment.

While yard set-ups and individual circumstances may dictate some of how we keep our horses, encorporating the 3Fs where you can will boost your horse's mental and physical wellbeing.

Find out more about the 3Fs and how to apply them to your horse's life by listening to this morning's podcast episode with Roly Owers and Janet Douglas from World Horse Welfare. You can find it on your chosen podcast streaming platform or via the Equine Health Week 2026 hub on our website 👉 https://bit.ly/BEF_EHW26

13/03/2026

Bon voyage to Dr. Drayton who has gone to do a breeding season in the UK! We look forward to her return in September and wish her all the best for this exciting learning experience. Please do not call on her work mobile as that is temporarily not in use for all veterinary matters please contact the clinic directly on 46597322

08/02/2026

🔗: https://equimanagement.com/research-medical/sports-medicine/update-on-the-use-of-triamcinolone-as-a-joint-therapy-in-horses/

During the 2025 AAEP Convention, Dr. Erin Contino described two studies assessing the effects of intra-articular triamcinolone (TA) on normal horses and how that could potentially impact horses with metabolic issues. ⁣
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According to the research, TA might not be safe for use in any horse with metabolic dysfunction. Practitioners should perform insulin testing prior to treating a horse’s joints with triamcinolone.