Jackson Equine Independent Veterinary Practice

15/10/2026

💦 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 = 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲?

Not necessarily.

Sweating is completely normal and one of the main ways horses lose heat during exercise. ✅

So a horse coming off a cross country course dripping in sweat? Probably no surprise.
But what about the horse who is soaked after very little work? Or the one who suddenly starts sweating in situations where they normally wouldn’t? 👀

How much a horse sweats depends on lots of things, including exercise, weather, fitness and the individual horse, and some are simply sweatier than others! But unexpected or excessive sweating can sometimes be a clue that something else is going on. 🤔

Pain, stress and some medical conditions can all cause increased sweating. A horse standing in the stable sweating for no obvious reason, particularly in cool conditions, or a fit horse frothing with sweat after a light schooling session, is something we’d want you to notice.

Equally, the opposite matters too. A horse working in warm weather who isn’t sweating as expected, particularly if they’re getting very hot or struggling to recover, also needs attention.

The key question here is: Is this normal for my horse, in these circumstances?

Look at the whole picture. Behaviour, breathing, movement, temperature and recovery all help tell the story. Sometimes a change in something as ordinary as sweating can be an early clue that something isn’t quite right.

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𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, based in 📍 Farnham, Surrey. Proudly delivering experienced, compassionate and ethical equine veterinary care to the Waverley, Woking, Cobham, Guildford, and East Hampshire areas.

12/10/2026

𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 🕷️

Following our post about Ruby at the end of August, we thought it might be useful to explain a little more about one of the diagnoses she was dealing with earlier this year: anaplasmosis.

Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis is caused by a bacterium called Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which is transmitted by ticks.

Although it isn’t one of the more commonly reported equine diseases in the UK, cases have been diagnosed here and the bacterium is known to be present in UK ticks.

Affected horses can show quite a range of signs, including:

• A high temperature
• Lethargy or seeming unusually dull
• Swelling of the lower limbs
• Stiffness or reluctance to move
• Changes to the white blood cells and platelets
• Small areas of bleeding or bruising in some cases

The tricky part is that none of these signs are specific to anaplasmosis. Lots of different conditions can leave a horse feverish, stiff or simply not quite themselves.

That’s where veterinary examination and appropriate testing come in.

Depending on the individual horse, blood tests may include a full blood count to look for characteristic changes, alongside blood smear examination and/or PCR testing to help reach a diagnosis.

And what about ticks?

Because anaplasmosis is tick borne, reducing exposure to ticks is an important part of prevention. Horses can encounter ticks while grazing, so regularly checking your horse and removing any ticks promptly is sensible.

It’s also reassuring to know that anaplasmosis isn’t considered to spread through normal horse to horse contact. Infection is associated with tick transmission rather than an affected horse simply passing it to their field or stable mates.

Thankfully, when recognised and treated appropriately, the prognosis for many affected horses is good. Ruby’s story was a lovely reminder that even after a pretty miserable illness, horses can come back fighting. ❤️

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08/10/2026

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼. ❤️

Nobody likes hearing “no”. 🫣

Especially when you're worried about your horse and you're hoping your vet can fix the problem for you. But there are times when saying no is actually part of doing our job properly.

Sometimes that means:

❌ We can't prescribe something without the appropriate clinical information.

❌ We may recommend examining your horse rather than simply prescribing medication.

❌ We may tell you that a horse isn't fit to do what you had planned.

❌ We might recommend further investigation when you were hoping we'd say everything is fine and to carry on as you are.

❌ We might not be able to fit a non-urgent appointment into an already full diary.

❌ We may disagree with something you've read online or been told elsewhere.

And sometimes the answer is simply:

“I don't think that's the safest option for your horse.”

We know that's not always the answer people want. But veterinary medicine isn't about telling people what they want to hear.

Our responsibility is to the horse in front of us, and sometimes that means having an honest conversation, even when it isn't the easiest one.

You don't have to agree with us immediately.
You can ask questions.
You can ask why.
You can discuss alternatives.

That's all part of good veterinary care.

But our clinical decisions have to be based on what we believe is appropriate for your horse, not simply on what is most convenient at that moment.

So if you've ever heard us say no…

Please know it isn't because we don't want to help, sometimes “no” is exactly how we help. ❤️

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𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, based in 📍 Farnham, Surrey. Proudly delivering experienced, compassionate and ethical equine veterinary care to the Waverley, Woking, Cobham, Guildford, and East Hampshire areas.

05/10/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲? 👀

Some of you might recognise Indi from the time she spent out and about with Adam as a veterinary student.

She joined us on placement a couple of times and, well... you liked her, your horses liked her, and we rather liked her too. So guess what?

𝗦𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝘀!🐴🩺

We’ve been taking our time finding the right person to join our little team. We weren’t interested in adding another vet just for the sake of growing. We wanted someone who shares the way we work and cares about the horses and owners behind every call.

When Indi recently got in touch to ask for some advice about applying for a new position elsewhere, we realised we had to snap her up first! Adam already knew how she worked, we knew she fitted in with us, and we’re absolutely delighted that she’ll be joining the team full time in a few months' time.

Over the coming weeks we’ll be properly introducing Indi, sharing a little more about her background, her veterinary interests and what she gets up to when she isn’t surrounded by horses.

For now, we just wanted to share the exciting news, and to let you all know how very excited we are that Indi will be joining us later this Winter!

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𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, based in 📍 Farnham, Surrey. Proudly delivering experienced, compassionate and ethical equine veterinary care to the Waverley, Woking, Cobham, Guildford, and East Hampshire areas.

01/10/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗻, 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 🐴

Ben is a handsome Welsh Section D with some very accomplished relatives behind him. His father, grandfather and great grandfather all did clever things in the show ring. Ben, however, had other ideas. 😄

Dressage? Not really his thing.
Jumping? Also no.
Agility? Thanks, but he’ll pass.

These days, Ben is living his best life in retirement in Worplesdon, where his preferred activities include eating, playing, posing for photos and keeping a close eye on anyone who might be carrying treats.

At Jackson Equine, we’re very happy to play a small part in keeping this lovely gentleman enjoying his retirement, with owner Jan telling us that Adam provides the kind of “drama-free veterinary care” Ben approves of.

Thank you to Jan for sharing this gorgeous photo and a little bit of Ben’s story with us.

We’d love to feature more of the horses and ponies we’re lucky enough to look after, so if you have a favourite photo and a story to tell about your horse, send it our way. They might just be our next 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. 📸🐴

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𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, based in 📍 Farnham, Surrey. Proudly delivering experienced, compassionate and ethical equine veterinary care to the Waverley, Woking, Cobham, Guildford, and East Hampshire areas.

28/09/2026

“𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗴.” 🦵

Maybe. We all know the classic scenario: your horse has spent the night standing in one place and comes out of the stable with slightly puffy legs that improve once they start moving.

That can happen.

But sudden swelling in one limb is different. Things that make us more interested include:

🔥 Heat
😣 Pain or sensitivity
🦵 Lameness
🌡️ A raised temperature
🩹 A wound or skin lesion
📈 Swelling that comes on suddenly or continues to increase

Cellulitis, infection, trauma, inflammation and problems involving deeper structures can all cause limb swelling, and they don't necessarily start with a dramatic looking injury.

Sometimes the wound that caused the problem is tiny and tucked away somewhere you haven't noticed. 🔍

And if your horse has a very swollen, painful leg and is suddenly lame, “he must have knocked it” isn't always a good enough explanation. (This is particularly important with cellulitis, where horses can become very uncomfortable and significantly swollen quite quickly.)

So next time you notice a puffy leg, don't panic.

But do have a proper look.
Compare it with the other leg.
Feel for heat.
Watch how your horse is moving.

And if something doesn't look or feel right, particularly if the swelling is sudden, painful, hot or accompanied by lameness or a temperature – 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹.

Sometimes it's just a bit of stable filling. And sometimes that swollen leg is giving you a very useful clue. 🕵️

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𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, based in 📍 Farnham, Surrey. Proudly delivering experienced, compassionate and ethical equine veterinary care to the Waverley, Woking, Cobham, Guildford, and East Hampshire areas.

26/09/2026

Never has there been a better excuse for MORE biscuits! 🍪

If anyone is passing Waitrose Cobham before next Thursday, please grab a few of those green tokens to support our lovely clients at Horsley, Bookham and Leatherhead RDA. 💚

Did you know we’re in Waitrose & Partners Cobham at the moment? 🛒

Well, not literally. We haven’t taken the ponies shopping.

But you know those little green tokens you get at the checkout? That’s where we are. 👇

Horsley, Bookham & Leatherhead RDA is one of the local causes in the green token scheme, so if you are popping in for your milk, bread or emergency biscuits, please grab a handful and look out for our box on the way out.

Drop your tokens in and it will help HBL RDA. 💚

It won’t cost you a penny, but all those little tokens can add up to something very useful for our riders and ponies. There isn’t long left in the campaign, so if you happen to be passing Waitrose Cobham, we would be very grateful for your support.

And if you need an excuse to buy biscuits, you’re welcome.

24/09/2026

𝗪𝗼𝘄… 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆! 📮

Not one, but TWO nominations for this year’s Petplan Equine Veterinary Awards! 🥹

And as if that wasn’t enough, we’re already heading into the Equestrian Business Awards 2026 as a Veterinary Practice of the Year finalist.

What an incredible honour. ❤️

We genuinely don’t do what we do for awards or recognition. We do it because we love what we do, we care deeply about the horses entrusted to us, and we want to provide the very best veterinary care and support we can to the people who love them.

But that doesn’t mean recognition like this doesn’t mean an awful lot.

As most of you in the horse world will know, it isn’t always the easiest place to exist! Veterinary work can be demanding, emotional and exhausting at times, but we honestly wouldn’t change it for the world.

So to whoever took the time to nominate us, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂. And to all of our wonderful clients who recommend us, support us, trust us with your horses and show us so much kindness along the way, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 too. We’re incredibly lucky to work with so many genuinely lovely people.

Moments like this are a very welcome reminder of why we do what we do.

Two Petplan nominations AND an Equine Business Awards final in one year…
We’re feeling very humbled, and very grateful. 🥹

Thank you. ❤️

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𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, based in 📍 Farnham, Surrey. Proudly delivering experienced, compassionate and ethical equine veterinary care to the Waverley, Woking, Cobham, Guildford, and East Hampshire areas.