Auckland Equine Performance Vets

03/09/2026

Why do a Faecal Egg Count (FEC)?

Because not all horses shed the same number of worm eggs, and we want to drench the right horse, at the right time, with the right product.

How much poo do we need?

A glove-full is perfect – we don’t need a bucket!
💩Collect fresh poo (ideally within an hour of being passed)
💩Pop it in a sealed bag, squeeze the air out
💩Refrigerate if you can’t get it to us straight away
💩Get it to us within 24 hours for the most accurate result

Even horses with “low” FECs can be intermittent shedders, so we look at the general trend over time rather than a single result. And remember: FECs don’t detect encysted larvae hiding in the gut wall.

Spring drench tip: 🌱🌱
Spring is a great time to give a moxidectin drench – it’s one of the only products that kills encysted larvae. Use it strategically (usually once a year) as part of your worming plan.

Pasture hack: 🐑🐄
If you can, cross-graze with sheep or cattle. They don’t share the same worms and will help “mow up” each other’s larvae, reducing pasture contamination.

Ticks: ✅
We’re seeing ticks get more resistant every year – some are already on property this season. Many of us are using off‑label topical products with good results.

👉 What have you had luck with for ticks on horses? Share your go‑to products below so we can all learn.

01/09/2026

🌸 EQUINE SPRING FLING CHECKLIST 🌸
Your pre-season vet guide to getting your horse ready for the season ahead

Spring is here and it’s time to think about what your horse needs before you kick off the season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be diving deep into each of these points — but here’s your sneak peek at the big six:

1. 🪱 Worms & Tick – Start with a FEC
Faecal Egg Counts tell us which horses need worming and what to use. No more blanket drenching — test first, treat smart. I’ll walk you through how to collect a sample and interpret results.

2. 🦶 Feet – The Four Pillars
Your horse runs on four hooves. If they’re uneven, out of balance, or at the wrong angle, everything above them suffers. Think about running a marathon in wonky shoes — that’s what we’re avoiding. I’ll cover hoof balance, trim timing, and red flags to watch for.

3. 🦷 Teeth – The Forgotten Performance Factor
A sore mouth = poor contact, head-tossing, and turning issues. Dental checks aren’t just about weight — they’re about performance. Next post: what to look for and how often to check.

4. 🦴 Joints – Supplements That Work
What’s worth your money? What’s just hype? I’ll break down the evidence on joint supplements, pre-season trot-ups, and building a maintenance plan that actually helps.

5. 🏃‍♂️ Fitness – Bringing Your Horse Back Into Work
Spring means fresh energy — and fresh injury risk if you rush it. I’ll share a safe, progressive conditioning plan to build fitness without breakdowns.

6. 🌿 Feeding & New Grass
Lush spring pasture = laminitis risk for some. I’ll cover how to transition safely, manage insulin-resistant horses, and balance pasture with hay and concentrates.

---
💬 Q&A: Anything I’ve missed that you want to know about? Drop your questions below — I’ll answer them throughout the week as we go through each topic!

25/08/2026

24/08/2026

Have you spotted the Winter Wellness Package in amongst the amazing array of donated items being auctioned off?

STARTS TOMORROW 9AM!! Auction Preview is now live at http://www.galabid.com/c4c26 and you can register with GalaBid to bid.

Our Annual Auction for Child Cancer Foundation is back and will be running 21st – 28th August 2026.

We are still accepting donations. Email any donations to [email protected] and visit our website here to read a checklist of what we need from all donors: https://c4c.nz/pages/child-cancer-annual-auction

We are excited to see how this year's auction goes, thank you to everyone who has donated an item or service.

– Nicki and the team at C4C

Child Cancer Foundation

24/08/2026

Our first sport horse foal of the season has arrived — right on his due date last Friday 🐴

This stunning c**t is by Darco Obolensky, out of a Thoroughbred mare, and we couldn't be more pleased with him.

The breeding season is already well underway here too, with mares cycling and our first sport horse mare safely bred. Fingers crossed that next year, her foal will be getting a very similar welcome-to-the-world post! 🤞✨

21/08/2026

New magnets for the cars out at Cambridge Raceway tonight 🏇

19/08/2026

💉 Let’s talk joint injections 💉

Joint injections are a targeted treatment used to reduce inflammation within a specific joint, helping relieve pain and improve comfort and performance.
There isn’t just one type of joint injection. Depending on the horse and the diagnosis, we may use:

• Corticosteroids
• Biologic therapies (IRAP, PRP)
• Polyacrylamide hydrogels (Arthramid)

Each has its own purpose, and the right choice depends on the individual horse and the joint involved.

Two big myths I hear all the time:

1️⃣ “Once you start injecting, you have to keep doing it forever.”
In reality, many joint therapies can last 6–12 months, but that doesn’t mean injections should automatically be repeated every year. Horses change over time, so it’s important to re‑evaluate the horse, not just inject on a maintenance schedule.

2️⃣ “Steroids damage joints.”
When used appropriately, corticosteroids are a safe, well‑studied tool to reduce joint inflammation. If a horse becomes more sore over the years, it’s usually because the underlying condition has progressed (e.g. osteoarthritis or another source of joint pain), not because the injections are causing damage.

🙆‍♀️🏃‍♀️
On a personal note, I’ve had a game‑changing experience with PRP in my own knee after a linear tear of my patellar ligament. Seeing the reduction in pain and the improvement in function firsthand reinforced how powerful these biologic therapies can be when used in the right cases. That experience absolutely influences how I approach joint and ligament injuries in horses – especially when we want to support healing and long‑term joint health, not just switch off inflammation.

When used appropriately, joint injections can play an important role in keeping horses comfortable, performing at their best, and enjoying their job.

If you have questions about joint injections or biologic therapies like PRP and IRAP leave them in the comments – I’d be happy to answer! 🐴

16/08/2026

🚨 Strangles vaccines are BACK! 🚨
If you’re on our waiting list, we’ll be in touch soon to book your horse in. 💉🐴

Vaccination Protocol: 3 strangles vaccines given 2-4 weeks apart, with a yearly booster thereafter. 📅✅
Now’s the perfect time to be proactive rather than reactive—especially if another outbreak comes around. 🛡️

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Get in touch today to book your horse’s strangles vaccination. 📞🐎

14/08/2026

Herpes virus and horses 🐴🦠

I recently met with Zoetis to discus the role of herpesvirus vaccination in horses during periods of increased stress—such as weaning, yearling sales, transport, racing, competition and major changes in management. 💬

Equine herpesvirus (EHV-1 and EHV-4) is extremely common in horses. Like other herpesviruses, it can remain in the body for life in a latent, or “hidden,” state, including within nerve tissue. Stress may allow the virus to reactivate, resulting in respiratory disease and viral shedding. Vaccination does not eliminate the virus or prevent latency, but it may help reduce the severity of respiratory disease and, in some circumstances, reduce viral shedding. 🫁
The vaccination course involves two vaccines given one month apart, followed by a yearly booster. 💉📅

I have also long wondered whether herpesvirus could play a role in some cases of seasonal headshaking. The theory is that viral reactivation might contribute to irritation or painful lesions within the nasal passages. However, this has not been proven, and the relationship between EHV and headshaking still needs further investigation. 🤔🐎
We are keen to investigate this by collecting viral swabs from affected horses. 🧪

If your horse:
• Suffers from seasonal headshaking.
• Currently has active lesions or irritation inside the nostrils.
• Has nasal discharge or other signs that may be associated with active respiratory disease.
…please get in touch with us. We would be very interested to see whether these lesions are herpesvirus-related and whether vaccination might help reduce the problem. We have a limited number of swabs we will process at a discounted rate📞

Please also contact us if you would like to discuss vaccinating your horse against herpesvirus, particularly before known periods of stress such as weaning, sales, travel, racing or competition. 🏇✨

Vaccination plans should be tailored to the individual horse, its age, health status, travel and exposure risks, and the relevant product recommendations. Good biosecurity, quarantine and monitoring for fever or respiratory signs remain important parts of herpesvirus prevention. 🧼🌡️

12/08/2026

🌸 Breeding season is just around the corner! 🌸

Now is the perfect time to start thinking about your mare’s breeding plans and the stallion that best suits your goals. Whether you’re breeding for performance, temperament, conformation or to produce your next special partner, careful planning early can help set you up for a successful season.
Fresh, chilled and frozen semen all require different approaches, so getting organised early is important.
Mare preparation, selecting the right timing and having a clear breeding plan can all make the process smoother.

We offer both per-scan pricing and fixed scan-per-cycle packages to suit different breeding programmes.

If you’re considering breeding your mare this season, get in touch early to discuss your options and make a plan. 🐴🌿