Agnew Equine Ltd

07/06/2026

A polite reminder! 🙏

We've had a growing number of 'urgent' medication requests recently - so if we could please remind you to keep a proactive eye on your medication stock levels to allow for 2-3 days for our team to go through our medication dispensing processes.

We know sometimes we lose track of these things in our busy lives, but there's quite a process on our end to approve and dispense medication properly (and a high number of people requesting at any given time) so we ask you please do your best to not make same-day requests please. Thank you!

04/06/2026

Agnew Equine - Proudly Independent. Fully Ambulatory. 🚑

Agnew Equine has been proudly independent since Arnie founded the practice in 2001, with Robin joining a few years later, and Stuart in 2019. Over that time, the veterinary industry has changed significantly.

One of the biggest shifts has been the growing number of corporate groups acquiring independent veterinary practices across the country as most of us are aware now. This trend began in small animal practice but has now extended widely into equine veterinary services. In some cases, these changes are publicly announced, but in others they happen more quietly, with familiar names remaining on the door while the structure behind the scenes gradually changes.

At Agnew Equine, we are proud to have remained independent throughout. It means that Arnie, Robin, and Stuart continue to lead the clinical and business decisions with one focus in mind: what is best for our clients and their horses. There are no shareholders to answer to and no corporate directives shaping our policies, pricing, or clinical decisions.

Most importantly, it allows us to stay rooted in what matters: providing trusted, local, and personal veterinary care.

Thank you for continuing to support our family-run practice. 25 years on, we are still here when you need us. ♥

03/06/2026

🐴 Equine microchipping and passports: what every horse owner should know

Keeping on top of equine identification rules is essential for horse welfare, legal compliance, and peace of mind.

Since changes to UK regulations, foals must be microchipped and have a passport by 31 December in the year they are born, or within six months of birth, whichever is later. Importantly, a horse must be microchipped before a passport can be issued, and any sale or transfer should not take place without these requirements being in place.

A microchip is a tiny device, about the size of a grain of rice, that is implanted under the skin of the horse's neck. Each chip contains a unique identification number that can be scanned and linked to the horse's details on a central database.

📌 Helpful facts about equine microchipping:

✔ It is a legal requirement in the UK for most horses, ponies, donkeys and other equines to be microchipped and to hold a valid passport.

✔ The microchip number should match the number recorded in the horse's passport.

✔ When buying or selling a horse, ownership details must be updated with both the passport issuing organisation and the microchip database.

✔ Many owners are unaware that updating passport ownership does not always automatically update the microchip database. These often need to be changed separately, so it is important to check both are correct.

✔ Microchips significantly improve the chances of lost or stolen horses being reunited with their owners.

✔ If your contact details change, always update them on the microchip database. The chip is only as effective as the information linked to it.

Taking a few minutes to check that your horse's passport, ownership details, and microchip records are all up to date can save valuable time and stress if the unexpected happens.

If you have any questions about microchipping, passports, or equine paperwork, the team at Agnew is here to help and happy to advise.

31/05/2026

🐴 Equine Influenza Update – Important Reminder

Due to the current equine flu situation in the UK, governing bodies are tightening enforcement of vaccination and passport checks to help keep all horses as safe as possible.

Many organisations (including British Dressage and other affiliated bodies) are now carrying out strict passport checks before horses are unloaded from horseboxes, to confirm flu vaccination status. Please ensure you always bring your horse’s passport to competitions and have it readily available on arrival.

As a reminder, horses must be fully compliant with vaccination rules to compete, and passports must be correctly completed with all flu vaccinations recorded by a vet.

For horses travelling or competing regularly, if the most recent equine influenza booster was more than 6 months ago, it is strongly worth discussing a booster with your vet. While the official competition requirement is still typically within 12 months, a 6-month booster interval is currently recommended by vets and industry bodies during outbreak periods to improve protection.

Vaccination remains a key part of biosecurity. While vaccinated horses can still become infected, they are generally:

✅ Less likely to become severely ill
✅ Less likely to show clinical signs
✅ Less likely to shed large amounts of virus, therefore reducing spread

Alongside vaccination, good biosecurity is essential to reduce risk. Please continue to:

❌ Avoid nose-to-nose contact between horses
❌ Do not share tack, buckets, or feeding equipment
❌ Wash hands and change clothing between yards where possible
❌ Be cautious at busy events and minimise unnecessary contact

Everyone should continue enjoying training, competition, and outings as normal, but with sensible precautions in place to protect all horses on site.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our Saver Day appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays are a convenient and cost-effective way to keep vaccinations up to date, and we are happy to help you book in.

28/05/2026

Follow Agnew Equine's Sponsored Rider Sam and her young horse, Nessy, to their first competition!

27/05/2026

Important advice on pre-competition health checks during this equine flu outbreak 👇

⚠ Movement of horses is one of the biggest risk factors for spreading equine influenza.

With outbreak numbers currently very high, it's important to implement strict health checks if you're planning to travel your horse. Look for the following signs of equine influenza...
😷 Dry, harsh cough
🤒 Fever
🤧 Nasal discharge
😴 Lethargy
😖 Enlarged lymph nodes
🤐 Loss of appetite

🌡️ We advise checking your horse's temperature twice a day in the 72 hours leading up to your outing. Do not travel if they show a reading above 38.5˚C

🦠 If your horse has been in contact with another horse suspected of having flu, it's important not to travel them, even if they aren't showing symptoms themselves. Infected horses can spread flu before they appear ill, so not seeing signs doesn't necessarily mean your horse is safe to travel.

For more information about equine influenza, visit our website 👉 https://bit.ly/BEF_EquineInfluenza_Info

22/05/2026

☀ With hot weather forecast for at least the next 10 days, it’s important to remember many horses haven’t had time to properly acclimate to the sudden rise in temperatures. Even horses that normally cope well can struggle when the heat arrives quickly, so extra care and monitoring are essential.

1️⃣ Choose cooler turnout times - early mornings and overnight turnout are ideal. Avoid turnout during the hottest parts of the day where possible.

2️⃣ Keep your horse hydrated - provide constant access to fresh, cool water and consider adding electrolytes for horses sweating heavily.

3️⃣ Provide adequate shade - if your horse lives outside, make sure there is reliable shelter available throughout the day.

4️⃣ Keep air moving - use fans safely in stables to improve airflow and help horses cool more efficiently.

5️⃣ Cool horses down regularly - frequent rinsing with cool water can help lower body temperature effectively.

6️⃣ Adjust exercise routines - consider skipping ridden work during extreme heat, or work during cooler parts of the day only. Reduce intensity and allow plenty of breaks.

7️⃣ Prevent sunburn - pink-skinned and light-coloured horses are particularly vulnerable. Use fly masks with UV protection, sunscreen, or limit prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

8️⃣ Clip wisely - long, thick coats trap heat and make cooling difficult. Clipping can help, but avoid clipping too close.

9️⃣ Stick to routine where possible - sudden management changes alongside hot weather can increase the risk of stress and colic.

🔟 Watch closely for signs of heat stress or heat stroke - know your horse’s normal temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate so you can recognise when something isn’t right.

⚠️ Also be extra vigilant for laminitis during this hot weather spell - warm conditions, rich grass growth after rain, dehydration, and metabolic stress can all increase the risk.

Remember that flies, dehydration, heat stress, and dietary changes can also increase the risk of colic during prolonged hot spells.

If you are worried about heat stroke, dehydration, laminitis, or your horse simply seems “not quite right,” contact us promptly for advice!

22/05/2026

Training Reflection: When Life Gets Loud from Agnew Sponsored Rider Rachael Shubotham

Things have been pretty up and down recently — and very quiet on the surface — whilst trying to navigate life stresses, emotions, self‑critique, and horses. It can all feel difficult and overwhelming at times.

There is no weakness in admitting that. In fact, this felt like the right moment to pause and look at some wider thoughts.

When we reflect on training, we often focus solely on our horse’s technique, style, consistency, work ethic, and why things may or may not be going to plan. But there’s rarely a simple answer.

Horses — and staying active — are so important for the mind. Yet when you’re not feeling your best, even the things that usually help can feel like a hard task to juggle.

Think of your horse as a barometer.
They read you instantly. Not in a dramatic way — just in the tiny details:

• a slight hesitation when your mind is drifting
• tense moments when your breath shortens
• questioning your decisions when your confidence flickers

They often reflect the emotional static you didn’t realise you’d brought with you. That’s the thing about horses: they don’t judge your emotional landscape, but they do respond to it.

Three things stand out to me — and they’re worth carrying forward if any of this resonates with you:

1) Emotional load isn’t a weakness — it’s information.

Your body tells the truth long before your brain catches up.

2) You can ride well even when you’re not feeling your strongest.

Not by forcing it, but by acknowledging where you are and adjusting with compassion.

3) Your horse doesn’t need you to be perfect — just present.

They meet you where you are, as long as you meet them honestly.

🤍🤎