Central Lakes Equine Ltd

29/05/2026

Even young horses need their teeth checked thoroughly. Today we found this overgrown lower cheek tooth in a 5 year old mare. Loss of the opposite upper tooth meant it had nothing to wear against. Remarkably she was showing minimal signs of discomfort.
Call us to book your dental!

26/05/2026

22/05/2026

𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 & 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲’𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄?

Did you know your horse’s annual dental is also the perfect opportunity to check his sheath and p***s health?

Many geldings and stallions are understandably sensitive about this area, and a proper examination can be difficult — and sometimes unsafe — when they are fully awake. When your horse is already sedated for his dental, it allows your vet to comfortably and thoroughly examine the sheath and p***s with minimal stress for everyone involved.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

Regular checks are important because horses can develop issues that often go unnoticed until they become painful or serious. These may include excessive sm**ma build-up (“beans”), irritation, swelling, infections, cuts, growths, melanoma, sarcoids, or other tumours. Early detection means treatment can often be simpler, more effective, and less costly.

𝗔 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵

Combining a sheath examination with routine dentistry is an efficient way to support your horse’s overall health and wellbeing while avoiding the need for additional sedation later.

✅ 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁.

Preventative care plays a big role in keeping our horses happy and comfortable.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 3
Large sm**ma “bean” removed during a routine sheath examination. These can cause irritation, discomfort, difficulty urinating, and swelling if left unnoticed.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 1
After cleaning — healthy tissue visible and much more comfortable for the horse.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 2
Before cleaning — build-up and irritation present prior to examination and cleaning.

15/05/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝗱?

With winter just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about preparing our horses’ feet. While we often dread the wet, muddy months, a bit of mud isn’t all bad — it can actually have some surprising benefits!

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?
Mud that packs into the soles of your horse’s feet can act like natural sole support, helping to encourage and maintain healthy sole thickness.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲… 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:

• 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀: Consider removing any pre-existing pads, especially from hind feet, to reduce the risk of slipping.

• 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵: Look out for a dark, smelly discharge around the frog.

• 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗲: Horses prone to this can worsen in damp conditions — small stones can also creep in and cause problems: See the photo on today's post of an advanced seedy toe lesion Becci treated

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗳𝗳?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer — it depends on your horse and the ground conditions.

• On stoney ground, weak hoof walls can crack without protection.

• Horses with soft soles or pr*****ed frogs may be uncomfortable barefoot.

• If your horse has strong, healthy feet and is on soft footing, a barefoot break can be beneficial.

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵

“My horse has wedge pads on her hind feet — should I remove them for winter?”

𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿:
It depends on the foot balance your farrier has achieved. The best way to know for sure is with radiographs — they show how the angles have changed over the season

𝗧𝗶𝗽: Wedge pads should ideally be a temporary measure until they’re no longer needed.

In summary: Keep an eye on hoof health this winter, and when in doubt, chat with your vet or farrier

08/05/2026

𝗗𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗗𝗦𝗣𝗜), commonly referred to as 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲,

Thanks for all of your questions following Tuesdays post….. happy reading

𝗗𝗦𝗣𝗜 is a condition in which the dorsal spinous processes of the thoracic or lumbar vertebrae are positioned abnormally close together. This proximity can lead to inflammation of surrounding soft tissues or 𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 (𝗯𝗼𝗻𝘆) 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁, resulting in chronic axial skeletal pain.

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
Affected horses may exhibit:
• 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 range of motion through the thoracolumbar region
• 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 to collection, bending, or engagement of the hindquarters
• 𝗔𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 gait mechanics and shortened stride length
• 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 changes under saddle, anxiety, or hollowing of the back

𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀:
A thorough diagnostic work-up typically includes:
• 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and dynamic assessment of the back
• 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 imaging

𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀:
• 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰: corticosteroid injections into the interspinous spaces to reduce inflammation and pain (PHOTO ATTACHED)
• 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰: Structured rehabilitation programs focusing on core strengthening, topline development, and postural correction.
• 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Optimizing saddle fit, rider balance, and training techniques to reduce axial loading.

𝗜𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀….
• 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹: Interspinous ligament desmotomy or partial ostectomy in refractory cases, often followed by intensive post-operative rehabilitation.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀:
With early detection and a multimodal treatment approach, many horses can return to full athletic function. Chronic or advanced cases may require ongoing management to maintain comfort and performance.

Get in touch if you would like Becci to help you with any issues you have.

05/05/2026

Busy bee this week;

Our newly painted clinic has had a lot of use this week.
Becci continues her work helping out the sport horses of Central Otago 🥰

02/05/2026

Facebook Friday Post Missing…..

So sorry everyone, this poor little boy has taken up my time this weekend meaning I haven’t written an education post.

Colitis…. Hind Gut Diarrhoea…
Let’s discuss next week but for now wish this poor boy all the best in the next 24 hours
💕💕
Night and day we care for him until he recovers!!

24/04/2026

𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙋𝙇𝙄𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎 𝙊𝙁 𝙒𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘿 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙇𝙄𝙉𝙂

Sometimes it isn’t the size of the wound that worries us; the smallest of wounds can become the most challenging to treat.

The photo below shows a small puncture wound to the hock which is causing no lameness and should have healed well as the horse received appropriate care initially. Sadly, this small wound would not heal and kept discharging.

🔍 𝙁𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:
Radiographs show some fragments of devitalised bone. This bone needs removing!

🛠️ 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨?
1️⃣ Under heavy sedation and sterile conditions, we use radiographs to guide a special sterile bone curette to remove the damaged bone.
2️⃣ The second step is to use a pressure pump to flush the wound with sterile water and remove the last bits of debris.
We wish this lovely girl a speedy recovery! 🥰

📲 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙?
Don’t wait for lameness to appear. If you notice persistent discharge, unusual swelling, or a wound that just won't close, give us a call! We’re here to help ensure your horse gets back on track.