Cambridge Country Veterinary Services LLC

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

As the temperatures rise and the sun stays out longer, make sure your equine friends are adequately protected from harmful UV rays. ☀️

Hot summer weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but also the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn— just like humans.

A lot of equestrians love some chrome on a horse, but it's important to remember that those beautiful white markings and the non-pigmented pink skin underneath are more likely to suffer from sunburn, especially in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and the nostrils.

In addition to the pain and discomfort, horses that are prone to recurrent sunburn may also face other long-term consequences, like the increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common cancer).

If your horse is susceptible to sunburn, contact your veterinarian for more information about sun damage and recommendations to keep your equine protected this summer.

05/10/2026

Intelligent Resistance
When those in positions of power suppress knowledge, restrict progress, and protect financial interests over truth, corruption reaches its highest level of indecency. History shows us that without unified, organized resistance, civil disobedience alone rarely succeeds.

Horses know this reality in their own way. Those who resist injustice or incompetence are often punished, sometimes brutally. Many pay the ultimate price, discarded when their resistance exposes human failure.

We see similar patterns in the human world. Those who stand for truth, for land, for life itself, are often met with force rather than understanding. It is a reminder that the condition of humans is not so different.

And yet, the solution is not rebellion for its own sake.

The greatest horses show us another way.

They possess the power to remove any rider, yet they choose not to. Their strength is matched by intelligence. They work with humans, when those humans are worthy of the partnership.

This is where true responsibility lies.

The equestrian world is not failing because of the horse. It is failing where tradition replaces knowledge, and where authority replaces understanding. Outdated systems persist not because they are correct, but because they are rarely questioned.

Science has already shown us that many long-held beliefs are wrong. The forelimbs, not the hind limbs alone, generate the majority of vertical impulse. The horse’s back is not a loose, swinging structure, but a system designed for stability and protection. Movement is far more complex than tradition allows.

Yet these truths are often ignored.

Why?

Because questioning tradition requires humility. It requires education beyond memorization. It demands the courage to admit that what was once accepted may no longer be true.

Many riders rely on talented horses who compensate for human misunderstanding. But the ones who truly respect their horse choose a different path. They learn. They adapt. They allow the horse to become a teacher.

Greatness in the horse awakens greatness in the human, if the human is willing to rise.

These riders and these horses often move beyond the constraints of governing systems that no longer serve them. Not in rebellion, but in evolution.

They do not need to fight what is broken.

They simply outgrow it.

In the end, stupidity and corruption will always exist. But so will intelligence, integrity, and the quiet power of those who choose to think, to question, and to learn.

And in that space, between strength and understanding—true horsemanship lives.

— Jean Luc Cornille (2016)

05/10/2026

⚠️ DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TELL IF YOUR HORSE IS IN DISTRESS? ⚠️

As a horse owner, it's imperative you know how to recognize problems and respond promptly. It's important to know what conditions require veterinary attention, and how to take appropriate action while you're waiting for the veterinarian's arrival.

Types of emergencies you and your horse may encounter on your journey together include colic; lacerations and bleeding wounds; impaled objects or nails in the foot; acute lameness due to conditions ranging from hoof abscess to fractures, laminitis, tendon injuries and more; eye injuries; allergic reactions; choke; and even foaling emergencies.

No matter what you may face in the future, getting to know your horse's normal vital signs (including temperature, pulse and respiration) as well as its normal behavior patterns will help you become a good observer, so that you readily recognize signs of ill health. Being prepared is in your horse's best interest.

Always remember, your veterinarian is one of your best resources. Talk to them about how they can be reached after-hours, and about recommendations for an emergency plan suitable for your individual situation.

05/06/2026

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fequusmagazine.com%2Fequus-interactives%2Flook-out-the-10-most-poisonous-plants-for-horses%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExQlBvWmp2d3FGSkVzZDZadnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR520DVKYytRYN-xGXoyjvsMn23KsYbikFdrg3ipJnbfZDTOM5pMC0MudBkmZA_aem_G-p0uzCSh-XxSGs89UrhuA%26brid%3DYWdncwHMTZjvdWnWGaB19ZhiOrHK&h=AUAzTGkB3NVLUewL0IfWjlVLfLNEIi42YA7FPBip6C_04x_bnJUdIAd-FqYDIhcWZy2wn4GnmgvzlSh7xbhe33aoyBDXTsA6kpu6116UcKuXWXFMobbZo9x_Pajp9ReQUZz4uJOpOOtTcQ&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AUDheBBLqTKTnt7pCegkg9qcew4Obf3F8kPMXl5-m-FWJ6sZBFMF55mmuwqF2xfTmT5pvrZvWBT3lC1krsUb25of1dXgQj8PG5ohyRwILCjeFjRT1LS4HMCY6UOVikCx6Of8halZpgaxH4uWqQIDZsEwVBvsPTeArxmYm6U6K5yinwTe5Z6cXpnRPYtjsO3V95EujC-xiNnCVSWvNTlSkNBv1CbkGuF3ujkJffEe_bg&c[1]=AUDDeSw6XTVJqMl5n1E1ZGon5os6VWv_9JcdaE29uAk4alCLoXZU9U7efCDHTzByIrBdMV2ePSMYAeppoqIB7pZ6b9eeVPpaXME4MJM_YWt9ImFsWcGEizAQuY6cMH-yTh7D8LPNu3HVGYCuty6p51RzcMyDmQIwz1VwI1IsASMTidFFrHZ_rs5Rk0GMdFWgqhk9X4kJ7UUKo-5GMjnC8FvP1SRwLv_Gi3PI5voi4DU

Hundreds of toxic plants thrive across North America, and the odds are good that at least a few have taken root in your horse's pasture.

04/10/2026

DO YOU KNOW WHAT CAUSES GRASS FOUNDER?

Spring is a wonderful time of the year, but it may be the beginning of some serious problems for horses vulnerable to grass founder — like horses that are over the age of 10, easy keepers, overweight or cresty-necked.

Laminitis or founder, as it is commonly called, is inflammation of the laminae of the horse’s foot. Laminae are the delicate, accordion-like tissues that attach the inner surface of the hoof wall to the coffin bone (the bone in the foot). A horse suffering from laminitis experiences a decrease in blood flow to the laminae, which in turn begin to die and separate. The final result is hoof wall separation, rotation of the coffin bone and extreme pain. In severe cases, the coffin bone will actually rotate through the sole of the horse’s hoof where it becomes infected and can ultimately lead to the horse having to be euthanized.

Laminitis can be triggered by different causes, like repeated concussion on hard ground (road founder), grain overload, retained placenta, hormonal imbalance (Cushing’s syndrome), obesity, and lush grass.

In cases of grass founder, the sugar fructans produced by rapidly growing grass stimulates an overgrowth of bacteria in the horse’s large intestine. The bacteria produce and release toxins (endotoxins) that are carried by the bloodstream to the foot where they cause damage to the laminae and small blood vessels.

The best way to deal with laminitis is preventing and managing the causes under your control. Consult your equine practitioner for further information and to formulate a plan tailored to your horse's individual situation. If you suspect laminitis, consider it a medical emergency and notify your veterinarian immediately.

04/10/2026

Good information....

https://equusmagazine.com/horse-care/eqeyes2521?fbclid=IwY2xjawRF0rpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEzQ3ZvTEpEa3A4azl1VXJDc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHs8dKUf9aggiA2ou_YXKUPgR4chya8Vw62EvZ01pKbHIlwSv-sw2bwl4pEAQ_aem_TvHJzUPYVqlKB_v7ZGpNKA

Total blindness is rarely seen in horses but age-related immune changes may increase your senior horse's susceptibility to eye problems. Cataracts, a common thief of vision in other species, do affect horses but usually not to an obstructive degree.

03/21/2026

Thought this was interesting...

02/13/2026