Freestyle SportHorse Stud

22/08/2026

With breeding season starting this month, now is the perfect time to refresh yourself about diseases that can affect broodmares🐴 🦠

Today we are going to focus on Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) and Strangles (Streptococcus equi, subspecies equi).

EHV-1 is a serious threat to broodmares, known for causing late-term abortions, neonatal foal death, and neurological disease. Prevention is key, and that starts with vaccination, supported by on farm biosecurity.
EHV-1 can linger silently in horses and re-emerge under stress. Staying ahead with proactive care keeps your mares - and foals - safe.
While EHV-1 is particularly serious in broodmares due to the risk of late-term abortion, any horse under stress: whether from travel, illness, social stressors, or environmental changes, can shed the virus. This shedding can occur even in horses that appear healthy, making them silent carriers and a potential source of infection for others in the herd. That’s why biosecurity and vaccination protocols are essential not just for pregnant mares, but for all horses on the property.

Vaccination Matters - Broodmares should be vaccinated at 5, 7, and 9 months of gestation using a vaccine specifically labelled for abortion protection. Annual boosters for all horses on the property help reduce viral shedding and protect the herd.

Strangles is one of the most contagious bacterial diseases of horses and can spread quickly through breeding farms, agistment properties, sales complexes, and youngstock operations. Foals, weanlings, and yearlings are particularly susceptible, and outbreaks can lead to illness, disrupted training and sales preparation, and can have significant management costs.
Strangles spreads easily through direct horse-to-horse contact, as well as contaminated equipment, water sources, vehicles, clothing, and handlers. Good biosecurity practices, including quarantine of new arrivals, monitoring horses for fever, and prompt isolation of sick horses, are essential for reducing the risk of an outbreak.

While young horses are often most affected, any horse can become infected and some may continue to carry the bacteria after they appear clinically recovered. These silent carriers can unknowingly introduce infection into a herd, making veterinary testing and strong biosecurity protocols important for all horses on the property.

Vaccination can help reduce the severity of disease and decrease bacterial shedding, making it a useful tool for properties with a higher risk of exposure. Broodmares should have a strangles (and tetanus) booster four to six weeks before foaling.

06/08/2026

🥶❄ Frosty mornings = higher laminitis risk? Here's why...

As we're sure you've all been feeling, the cold snaps and frosts have well and truly arrived across New Zealand!

Not only does this mean digging out five layers of clothing ... it also means it's time to pay extra attention to your horse's grazing. 🌱

When we get frosty mornings followed by bright, sunny days, grass can accumulate higher levels of sugars (non-structural carbohydrates). During the day, grass produces sugars through photosynthesis. Normally, it uses these sugars overnight to grow. However, when overnight temperatures drop below around 5°C, grass growth slows dramatically, meaning those sugars remain stored in the plant.

The result? Grass can contain significantly higher sugar levels, particularly during the morning after a frost.

For horses and ponies that are overweight, have a history of laminitis, are insulin resistant, or are considered "good doers," this sudden increase in sugar intake can significantly increase the risk of a laminitic episode.

How can you help reduce the risk?

✅ Limit grazing for at-risk horses, especially following frosty nights.
✅Consider using a well-fitted grazing muzzle.
✅ Provide low-sugar hay to reduce the urge to gorge on pasture.
✅ Maintain a healthy body condition and regular exercise where appropriate.
✅ Keep a close eye out for early signs of laminitis, including:
- Reluctance to move
- Increased heat in the feet
- Strong digital pulses
- Shifting weight between feet or standing rocked back

If you're concerned your horse may be at risk, or you'd like advice on managing pasture during winter, get in touch with our team. A few simple management changes now could help prevent a very painful condition later.

Stay warm out there and give those frosty paddocks a little extra respect this winter! ❄💙

27/07/2026

08/07/2026

Oh yes

08/07/2026

Hi everyone. As some of you may be aware, I have recently taken on a part-time role as Head of Equine Services for the NZVA, and as part of that role, I have been involved in communications with both our veterinary members and horse owners across NZ. I just want to reassure you that we are not concerned about a widespread outbreak, but vigilance is still needed around Thoroughbred horses moving from the Waikato. This little flowchart our team has put together should be very helpful. Thank you to all my Worm-Ed clients for your understanding regarding the postponements of my regular appointments this week. A hot tip is to jump onto the New Zealand Equine Health Association's page for the most up-to-date resources and a tally of properties affected.

28/04/2026

YOU ARE BEING LIED TO ABOUT GRASS LENGTH !!!

Long grass is not lower in sugar and fructan for horses and ponies than short grass in terms of WHAT THEY EAT.

An attention grabbing headline?

Yes! I am getting really frustrated with this persistent nutribaloney that short grass is bad for horses, not suitable for laminitics, not suitable for weight loss or healthy weight maintenance.

This is Simply Not True.

Worryingly, it's not just uneducated people I've heard saying this, or writing it.

Even if short, overgrazed grass IS higher in sugar and fructan and lower in fibre per kilo, it is the TOTAL AMOUNT that the horse eats and the RATE they eat it that matters, not what is in the forage per kilo.

Capitalised because this is the key and why so many horse owners and even vets get this wrong.

Well-or over-grazed, short grass will generally provide more suitable grazing for a good doer or EMS / laminitis prone horse or pony.

On this type of grazing they will get LESS nutrients (less sugar, less fructan, less calories) per hour of grazing compared to the longer, stemmier grass, simply because of how much they can eat.

I cannot tell you how many owners I've had come to me for advice, and reported in my Facebook comments that their horse or pony has piled on the pounds (gained body fat) and sadly in some cases succumbed to laminitis, when they have tried putting them on free choice longer grass.

Now, the horse on overgrazed, sprouting pasture will likely need more fibre e.g. from a strip of the longer stemmier grass and/or supplementary forage like soaked hay BUT! grazing very short grass is sometimes the only way to keep a good doer slim and healthy (if they don't wear a grazing muzzle).

The key is to monitor the individual horse or pony and adjust their grass access from their bodyweight and condition, and any signs of metabolic disturbances or laminitis.

Some take home tips:
> always monitor your individual horse or pony and adjust their grass access accordingly
> never assume that long meadow grass is safe for your horse or pony prone to weight gain and laminitis
> over-grazed pasture with supplementary forage (if out 24/7) is a method used successfully by thousands of owners of good doers and laminitis-prone horse and pony owners
> if you have no option but to graze bottle-height grass (about 3" or 10cm) for overweight horses or ponies, good doers or those prone to laminitis, I recommend using a grazing muzzle (and potentially strip grazing as well)
> always monitor your individual horse or pony and adjust their grass access accordingly (yes, I meant to repeat myself!) - you can monitor their weight and condition (body fat), any signs of laminitis, their gut comfort and their droppings

Feel free to share!
🐴🍏🌱

22/04/2026

Hold that wormer!!!
FECC is recommending putting down the wormer and waiting until late autumn/early winter. In the past we have recommended waiting for the "first frost" we do this because it's an easy visible reminder for horses owners in our part of Australia.
BUT..... we need to wait for consistent cooler nights of zero or below, I know in my region we have had some light frosts but overall nighttime temps are not low enough yet or consistent for worming to start so put down the wormer!!!
Why wait? Because we are trying to target as many parasites as possible for this worming treatment. The parasites listed below are the main targets, but we are also treating parasites not listed.
Bot Flys. We are trying to break the bot fly lifecycle which will lead to a reduction of the adult bot fly population. So, we wait until the entire bot fly population is inside your horse - no longer flying/laying eggs on coat, and they are in the correct place in the gut to be susceptible to the wormer.
Tapeworms should be treated for once a year and waiting till late autumn/ early winter is the lifecycle stage they will susceptible to the worming treatment.
Encysted Strongyles - if present will begin emerging slowly at this time of year and this is preferable. If you worm too early you may trigger a mass emergence which may lead to medical complications.
If you are in warmer areas, northern Australia, tropical areas that dont experience the cooler temps - feel free to message us for advice on what to do in this situation.