608 Equine Vets

28/08/2026

🎉 It’s time for the Bank Holiday weekend!

We’d love to know how you and your horses will be spending yours - have you got exciting plans, or will you be more like client Percy and catch up on some much-needed rest (just look at that bed head 😂💙)

Don’t forget we’ll be closed on Bank Holiday Monday, but our emergency service will be operating 24/7 as always.

📞 If you need us, just call 01564 783404.

We hope you all enjoy the long weekend!

17/08/2026

🔥 Could you get your horses to safety if a fire reached your yard? 🔥

Wildfires have been breaking out throughout the country, including multiple areas across the Midlands.

With some of our friends at neighbouring veterinary practices being called out for fire-related emergencies this month, we’re asking our clients the question:

Do you have a fire safety and evacuation plan in place? 🔥

A few important things to consider:

🐴 Evacuation routes: identify where your horses could be moved to safely. Do you know which horses are where? Do you have alternative routes in case exits are blocked?

🔥 Have a plan for your yard: does everyone who cares for your horses know what to do and who to contact in case of an emergency? Do they know where fire safety equipment is kept?

☎️ Keep emergency contacts accessible: this includes your vet, local emergency services, neighbours, horse owner contacts and people who could help provide transport if needed

💙 Consider reaching out to neighbouring yards and having a reciprocal arrangement for providing emergency space for horses in case full yard evacuation is needed

💧Where are your water points? How could they be accessed in an emergency? Keep buckets or hoses within easy reach of water points

📍Make sure your yard is easy to find - clear signage and an accessible entrance will help the emergency services to find you quickly

⚠️ Most importantly: DO NOT WAIT until there is a fire nearby to make a plan. Talk to your yard owner, neighbours and other horse owners now about what you would do if you needed to evacuate.

Our emergency cover operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call 01564 783404 📞

16/08/2026

💙 We love these photos we were sent in of clients Fynnley and Henry, two lovely boys who are enjoying their retirement - still going out for hand walks and soaking up those summer evenings!

Just because the riding stops doesn’t mean the fun and quality time has to, too. We know your retired oldies are still as big a part of the family as they always have been.

Share your retired horses with us in the comments 👇💙

09/08/2026

Did you spot our team at the British Showjumping National Championships at Stoneleigh this week?

Our vets Anna, Charlotte, Ione and Meredith (and not forgetting special Veterinary Assistant Bolt 🐶) each attended over the course of the show, providing veterinary cover in the event of any incidents.

It was a fantastic show with lots of super partnerships enjoying themselves - well done to everyone who competed! 👏

06/08/2026

We’re delighted to say we’re returning to Canwell Show this year to judge the Horse Trust’s Healthiest Body Condition Awards!

These awards help to celebrate horses who are in a healthy body condition and promote responsible horse management and care on the showing circuit.

Our job was made easy (or difficult, depending on how you look at it!) last year with lots of the horses being in super condition.

Body condition of horses is something we’re very passionate about at 608, as a healthy body weight can often help to manage - or better still, completely avoid - certain health conditions.

📸 Pictured is our vet Gav with last year’s winner Billy Elstone and Maisy.

Canwell Show is returning on Saturday 8th August and we can highly recommend it as a day out with lots to see and do for all the family. Hope to see some of you there 👋

03/08/2026

Our sponsored Diddy One Day Events at Solihull Riding Club have been getting rave reviews this year - it’s been fantastic to see so many of you enjoying them. It makes our sponsorship all the more worthwhile! 💙

Entries are open for the next event but if you want to see what all the fuss is about you need to be quick - they close on Thursday!

Enter here: https://www.myridinglife.com/eventdetails.aspx?id=554728

📣 Entries close this Thursday at 10am for our next 608 Equine Vets Diddy One Day Event! 🐴

Join us on Saturday 8th Augst for a friendly, welcoming day of eventing at Solihull Riding Club, with classes from 40cm to 70cm for both juniors and adults.

✨ Dressage and showjumping on our all-weather surface
💧 The cross-country course will be watered ahead of the weekend to provide the best possible going
🏆 Top 10 in each class qualify for our September Championship Show

⏰ Don't miss out. Head over to our website to enter: https://www.myridinglife.com/eventdetails.aspx?id=554728

And if you can't make the competition, or you'd like another run afterwards...

Our Diddy cross-country course will be available to hire afterwards giving you the perfect opportunity to school over the course following the event.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend! 🐎

📸 Top Shots Photography

29/07/2026

💙 Our vet Anna and her daughter Isabella both recently represented Solihull Riding Club at the British Riding Clubs Area 5 Summer Dressage Qualifier with their horses Nora and Jasper.

Both of them did a fantastic job, but the star of the show was Isabella who won her class 🥇👏

Many of our equine vets don’t just care for your horses - they have their own horses, too. That means they understand exactly what goes into horse ownership, including the worries you have when something isn’t quite right.

For Anna and her three daughters, that love of horses is becoming a family affair! 😍

Fingers crossed at least one of them grows up to be an equine vet so they can eventually take Anna’s place on the 608 team 😜

26/07/2026

⚠️ Hard ground warning ⚠️

The recent extended period of dry weather has really caused the ground to harden up. Are you aware of the risks of riding on hard ground?

🐎 Exercising your horse on hard ground can cause concussion-related lameness issues. When the horse’s hoof meets the ground, it’s subjected to a great deal of concussive force.

When the ground is softer, it absorbs some of the impact and provides cushioning to the foot - but the harder the ground, the less force is absorbed and the more stress on the horse.

It’s not only ridden horses who are at risk of concussive injuries from hard ground - any retired oldies who like to show you they’ve still got it by galloping round their paddock can also do themselves some damage! If this sounds like your horse, consider bringing them in a little earlier than usual.

Shod horses are also at greater risk from hard ground than unshod horses, as unshod horses actually absorb some of the concussive forces through their frogs.

Hard ground can cause injuries like:
🔵 Jarring injuries
⚪️ Tendon and ligament injuries
🔵 Bruised soles
⚪️ Splints
🔵 Concussive laminitis
⚪️ Pedal bone fractures

You can reduce the risk by:
🔵 Trying not to work your horse on hard ground too often
⚪️ Choosing softer surfaces for jumping where possible
🔵 Apply cold water after hard work
⚪️ Maintain your horse’s overall fitness/strength
🔵 Listen to your individual horse