Nova Equine Vets, B1/B2 The Courtyard Business Centre Dovers Farm, Reigate (2026)

Nova Equine Vets is an independent equine veterinary practice covering Surrey, SW London, West Sussex & West Kent

Nova represents our vision for the future — a bright, progressive approach to equine veterinary care.

17/03/2026

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀

Scheme Update - As of February 1st 2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴?
Free* diagnostic testing will only be available in Spring (March & April) and Autumn (September & October)

A new free* dose checker is available 4-6 weeks after starting treatment

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴?
Horses currently on treatment will still be entitled to their free* annual monitoring test

*A voucher code is required and is valid for laboratory fees only when run at one of the designated laboratories and does not include a visit fee or blood sample fee.

If you have any questions, please contact our office on 01737 246109 or [email protected]

11/03/2026

𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝘁𝗰𝗵

Sweet itch is a skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva in midge bites. The typical symptoms are itching (most commonly affecting the mane & tail, but also under the abdomen & face). This itchiness may then cause secondary symptoms from self-trauma such as hair loss, reddened & thickened skin, swelling & heat.

Although there is no cure for sweet itch, there are various options to manage & reduce the symptoms:
◾Reduce exposure to midges
◾Use fly rugs, masks & fly repellent
◾Stable at dawn & dusk
◾Turnout away from stagnant water & woods if possible

Managing symptoms
◾Regular washes with colloidal oatmeal based shampoos
◾Soothing barrier creams (containing benzyl benzoate)
◾Topical or systemic steroids
◾Food supplements that contain Nicotinamide

Vaccination
◾The off-license use of the ringworm vaccine, Insol Dermatophyton, can help to reduce symptoms in some cases. We give a course of 2 vaccinations, 2 weeks apart and we recommend administering this before the season to give time for the immune system to respond.

Please call the office on 01737 246109 or email us [email protected]

27/02/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗼!

Margo qualified at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh in 2023, having previously completed a B.S. in Animal Science with a specialization in Equine Sciences the University of California, Davis.

Margo started riding from a young age in the California hills and has had horses in her life ever since. After her studies in Edinburgh, she returned to California to pursue an internship with a strong focus on equine sports medicine and ambulatory care. She then stayed on at the practice as an Associate, where she continued to manage lameness and general practice caseloads.

She has now moved back to the UK and joined Nova Equine in the 2026 new year. Her main clinical interests are lameness, sports medicine, and poor performance cases, however she will get stuck-in in all facets of equine veterinary medicine.

When she isn't working, you can find Margo hiking with her dog, Lucie, making sweet treats, and experimenting with different recipes in the kitchen.

17/02/2026

𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Impaction colic occurs when a firm mass—such as dried feed, partially formed faeces, or occasionally a foreign object eg shavings—becomes lodged in the horse’s gastrointestinal tract. This blockage prevents the normal flow of material through the gut, leading to pain and classic colic signs. In some cases, an impaction can even contribute to more serious conditions like intestinal displacements so it is important to pick the signs up early!

The risk of impaction colic can be higher during the winter months due to reduced water intake and dehydration.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀:
• 𝗗𝗲𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Frozen/colder water in the winter make horses less likely to drink
• 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲/𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: Winter weather usually means horses stay inside for longer and are exercised less
• 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵: Can cause inadequate chewing
• 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀: Dried forage replacing moist grass

𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿:
• Reduced or no droppings (often smaller, nuggets, less moist than usual)
• Mild, persistent colic symptoms
• Reduced appetite
• Flank watching
• Dull/depressed

𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿:
• Monitor daily dropping output
• Offer warmer water where possible
• Check field troughs for frozen water
• Offer electrolytes/salt licks when appropriate
• Ensure adequate forage and slow feeder options if necessary
• Encourage movement
• Regular dental checks

Please don’t hesitate to call us for advice or if you think your horse is displaying any of these symptoms.

Phone - 01737 246109 or WhatsApp - 07576 402651

12/02/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝟯 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀

It is very common for our client care team to request the What 3 Words of your horses address. The app provides 3 words for every 3 meter square of the world!

It can be vital if we are trying to find you in an emergency or if your stables is hard to find. We kindly ask if our clients could send us the What 3 Words where your horse lives to make finding you easier!

We know our office can be hard to find, as an example please see our W3W here - gives.care.exchanges

Please follow the link below or the link on the post!

https://what3words.com/products/what3words-app

10/02/2026

𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 - 𝗠𝘂𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Mud fever (also known as pastern dermatitis) is a painful skin infection that thrives in wet, muddy winter conditions. It affects the heels and lower limbs, causing scabs, swelling, and soreness—and can quickly worsen without attention.

𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿:
• 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲; Rinse off heavy mud and dry thoroughly - but avoid aggressive scrubbing as this can disturb the skin barrier and increase infection risk!
• 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀; Applying a suitable barrier cream to clean, dry skin can help repel moisture and mud - Ask us which products are safest for your horse.
• 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗺 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀; Where appropriate, light trimming can help keep the skin clean and dry. Heavy feathers can trap moist and bacteria.
• 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴; If light mud, allow to dry and brush off thoroughly.
• 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗱𝗱𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀; Rotate pastures and location of hay bales to avoid over-use of certain areas. Gateways/feeding areas can be kept dry with rubber matting.

Check your horses legs daily. Look for early signs such as pink/inflamed skin, scabby patches over the back of the pastern/lower limbs and sensitivity to touch.

Some severe cases might need vet treatment, with various options including topical medicated washes, creams and occasionally antibiotics are necessary.

If you think your horse has symptoms of mud fever, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or book in for a check-up!

Phone - 01737 246109 or WhatsApp - 07576 402651

Address

B1/B2 The Courtyard Business Centre Dovers Farm
Reigate
RH27QT

Telephone

+441737246109

Website

https://www.novaequinevets.co.uk/

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