Cotts Equine Hospital

05/06/2026

🍃 The cooler weather has finally arrived, and we're sure many horses (and owners!) will be enjoying the more comfortable temperatures this weekend.

Our veterinary team on duty this weekend are:
📍 Kelly - Cardiff
📍 Ilaria - Swansea
📍 Jack - Pembrokeshire

Meanwhile, our hospital team of Chiara, Anna and Nikita will be on duty providing care for our inpatients and referral cases throughout the weekend.

Whether out on the road or at the hospital, our team is available 24/7 to provide emergency veterinary care and support whenever it's needed.

📞 If you require veterinary assistance, please contact the practice directly on 01834 860871 rather than calling a vet's mobile phone, allowing us to prioritise emergencies and coordinate the most appropriate response.

We hope you and your horses enjoy the welcome break from the heat and have a wonderful weekend!

05/06/2026

Some people get 15 minutes of fame and some get 15 seconds! Who caught our very own John Edwads on ITV news this week?

Watch the latest from ITV News - An outbreak of equine flu is continuing to grow across the country. Vets in Wales are urging horse owners to get their animals vaccinated.

03/06/2026

Lights, camera, prevention!

Action behind the scenes today as we talk Equine Flu with the TV crew. Keeping your horses healthy is always our leading role, tune in to ITV Wales at 6pm this evening, to see what our very own John Edwards has to say.

ITV News ITV Wales

02/06/2026

Meet the newest face at Cotts Equine! We’re thrilled to welcome Kate to the team. Kate has joined our team as a Pre-Trainee Equine Veterinary Nurse and she’s already diving in to help provide the best care for your horses. 🐴

Kate has previously completed a Bsc(hons) degree in Equine Science with Aberystwyth University. Kate has always aspired to work with horses and is excited to embark on an equine veterinary nursing qualification to increase her knowledge within the equine veterinary industry.

When Kate isn't in work she spends most of her time with her pony Honey. Together they enjoy competing locally and exploring their local forestry. When she's not with Honey she's entertaining her puppy Jesse.

Drop a comment below to say hi and give her a warm welcome! 👋✨

29/05/2026

Friday is finally here, and we’re certainly looking forward to some slightly cooler weather this weekend ☀️🐎

Our vets on duty this weekend are:
📍 James covering Cardiff
📍 Chiara covering Swansea
📍 Jack covering Pembrokeshire

Meanwhile, our hospital team of Shaun, Hanna and Ffion will be on duty providing care for inpatients and referral cases throughout the weekend.

Whether out on the road or in the hospital, our team is here 24/7 to keep your horses covered.

If you require veterinary assistance, please contact the practice directly on 01834 860871 rather than calling the vet’s mobile, so we can ensure emergencies are prioritised appropriately.

28/05/2026

🐴 Siani’s journey has been a long one but seeing her back out doing what she loves makes it all worthwhile.

Siani was treated by our team following a traumatic kick to the face, which resulted in a complex fracture involving the left frontal bone. During her recovery she also experienced some complications with difficulty eating and changes involving the right nasolacrimal duct.

Siani was one of the first horses to be scanned by our machine and the full extent of her injuries could not have been identified without advanced CT imaging, which we were able to perform under standing sedation at our new clinic in Cardiff. This allowed us to assess not only the external fractures, but also significant changes deeper within the sinuses, suture lines and around the nasolacrimal duct which would otherwise have been impossible to fully appreciate. Repeated CT scans also allowed us to monitor the progress and healing of the injury.

It has been a challenging rehabilitation process, but Siani is now looking and feeling fantastic, thanks to her dedicated and devoted owners.

We have also shared a fascinating 3D reconstruction of the fracture, along with CT images demonstrating some of the pathology identified during her investigation, check out the comments for details about each image.

A big thank you to Siani’s owner for allowing us to share this case with you.

26/05/2026

☀️ Helping Your Horse Stay Cool During the Heatwave

With temperatures remaining high this week, it’s important to take a few extra precautions to help keep horses comfortable, hydrated and safe in the hot weather.

We’d love to hear what you’ve been doing to help keep your horses cool over the weekend.

Here are some practical ways to help reduce the risk of heat stress:

- Ensure constant access to fresh, clean water: ideally, drinking water should be below 25°C where possible, adding ice can help keep buckets and troughs cooler throughout the day.
- Replace lost salts and electrolytes: providing electrolytes and salt blocks can help replace salts lost through sweating. Some horses may dislike the taste of electrolytes in water, so adding 2-3 tablespoons of table salt to feed daily can help.
- Provide plenty of shade and airflow: if fields offer little natural shade, some horses may benefit from being stabled during the hottest parts of the day. Stable fans can also help improve ventilation and keep stabled horse’s cooler.
- Consider clipping horses with heavier coats: even partial clipping can make a noticeable difference for some horses during prolonged hot weather.
- Exercise during cooler parts of the day: early mornings or later evenings are best during periods of extreme heat.
- Cool horses effectively after exercise: use plenty of cold water to encourage active cooling. Buckets of water with added ice can also help cool horses more rapidly when needed.
- Don’t forget sun protection: horses can suffer from sunburn too, particularly on blazes, pink skin, white socks, hairless areas and old scars.
- Fly control: stabling during the day can help alongside use of insect repellents and thin fly sheets and masks.
- Avoid unnecessary travel during peak temperatures

And finally… helping to keep your vets cool on the road is always appreciated - cold drinks and ice lollies go a long way during a busy heatwave🍦!

If you are concerned your horse may be struggling in the heat, please contact the office on 01834860871 for advice.

22/05/2026

Equine flu is something every horse owner should be aware of - not to panic about, but to understand.

The virus is highly contagious and can spread in several ways, including through the air, shared equipment, clothing and direct horse-to-horse contact. Some horses may only show mild signs, making early awareness and good yard hygiene especially important.

In this carousel, we’ve shared some key facts about:
- How equine flu spreads
- How long the virus can survive
- Signs owners should look out for
- Practical steps that can help reduce transmission on yards

Good biosecurity, sensible precautions and staying informed all play an important role in protecting horses and reducing disruption to yards and events.

If you have any concerns about your horse showing symptoms such as coughing, nasal discharge, lethargy or a temperature, please contact your vet for advice.

Please share with your communities.

20/05/2026

We’re delighted to welcome Jasmine to the team at our Cowbridge Clinic as a Pre-Trainee Equine Veterinary Nurse 🐴

Having recently completed her degree in Equine Science at Hartpury University, Jasmine is excited to continue developing her practical skills and expand her knowledge within the equine veterinary industry.

Outside of work, Jasmine enjoys producing her young horse, Nero, and is hoping to begin competing in eventing in the near future - so she certainly understands the dedication and care that goes into keeping horses performing at their best!

Please join us in giving Jasmine a very warm welcome to the practice ☺️