Wasser Farms

10/30/2025

We have an exciting show season coming up before you know it. Grab your calendar now and be sure to add these shows in!! We can't wait for you to be there with us.

10/30/2025

The 2025 show season has come to an end! What a great weekend - congratulations to all of our exhibitors! Mark your calendars for 2026!

06/12/2025

🧊 Why 48–72 Hours of Hoof Icing To Treat Laminitis 🐴

When it comes to laminitis, a quick soak won’t cut it. For ice therapy to be effective, a horse’s feet must remain in ice water for 48 to 72 continuous hours—not just a few hours intermittently. That consistent cold is what truly helps prevent further damage. Here’s what you need to know:

🔹 It’s a commitment.
The water temperature needs to stay between 41–50°F, which means frequent ice additions (about every two hours) and constant monitoring. It’s labor-intensive, but it matters.

🔹 Why so long?
Sustained icing slows down damaging enzymes in the hoof and reduces inflammation by lowering tissue metabolism. A few hours isn’t enough to create the full protective effect.

🔹 It’s not a cure—but it’s powerful.
While icing helps alleviate pain and inflammation, your veterinarian must also diagnose and treat the underlying cause, which is often related to metabolic or dietary issues.

🔹 Do it right.
The ice water must cover the entire hoof and lower limb. Poor application = poor results.

🔹 Consider where it’s done.
Because of the intense monitoring required, long-duration icing is often most effectively done at a horse hospital or equine clinic. These facilities offer around-the-clock care, systems to maintain ice at critical low temps, and safe, confined spaces to keep your horse comfortable and secure.

🔹 Talk to your vet first.
Laminitis is serious. Talk with your veterinarian immediately to develop a unified treatment plan.

Long-duration ice therapy can mean the difference between recovery and irreversible damage.

06/05/2025

🚨 Suspect Laminitis? Here's What To Do Before the Vet Arrives
Laminitis is a painful and dangerous hoof condition that can escalate fast. Take immediate action if your horse begins standing with its weight shifted to the hind legs ("founder stance"), or shows reluctance to move. Every minute counts.

Here's your step-by-step action plan:
🔹 1. Call your vet right away.
This is an emergency.

🔹 2. Ice the feet immediately.
Icing is the only intervention proven to reduce damage in the early stages.
Use cold water AND ice in sturdy buckets or tubs deep enough to submerge the hoof and lower leg up to the middle of the cannon bone.
Keep the water cold—add more ice as needed.
If a tub isn't available, use heavy-duty ice boots or large bags of ice and water tied around the legs as a backup.

🔹 3. Provide soft, deep footing—right away.
Minimize movement and reduce pressure on the hoof by standing the horse on:
At least 8 inches of shavings or straw in a stall, or
Deep, soft sand if outside

🔹 4. Take your horse's temperature.
An elevated temp could signal a systemic issue. Share this info with your vet to help guide treatment.

🔹 5. Keep your horse calm and as still as possible.
Do not walk the horse. Movement increases damage. Let them lie down if they choose. If they must be moved, keep the path short and soft.

Fast, thoughtful action gives your horse the best shot at recovery.

05/28/2025

PPID (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction)—formerly known as Equine Cushing’s Disease—is a hormonal disorder that affects middle-aged to older horses. It’s caused by dysfunction in the pituitary gland, which leads to excessive production of hormones, especially ACTH.

Common signs include:
🧶 Failure to shed winter coat
🍬 Increased thirst and urination
💤 Lethargy
🥕 Muscle loss (especially along the topline)
🐴 Laminitis

Left undiagnosed, PPID can significantly impact your horse’s health and comfort. The good news? A simple blood test can detect it—and with the right treatment plan, horses with PPID can live full, active lives.

✅ If your horse isn’t shedding out normally this spring, don’t wait—schedule a PPID test with your vet.



Photo Credit: University Veterinary Hospital Zurich

02/13/2025

We're recruiting participants for a NEW study of adaptive horsemanship for autistic youth! Call (720) 432-9574 or email [email protected] if you'd like to participate!

01/25/2025

It's !

01/24/2025

Trailering! Teach your horse to load before you have to do it in the dark, in the rain, in an emergency!!‼️

Though we wish our horse doctors could be there for our equine friends in any emergency, the reality is that our horses' primary veterinarian cannot be available 24/7 and still juggle the needs of their own personal lives, health and happiness.

The most significant pain point for many veterinarians is caring for their clients during regular business hours and then also being on call for emergencies after hours. For single-doctor or small practices, this traditionally has been the case most nights of the week.

However, private veterinary practices and veterinary schools have more recently focused on developing new models for emergency care which ease the strain on individual practitioners. This includes the growth of emergency cooperatives where two or more practices in a geographic area work together to share after-hours care, as well as more emergency-only practices and the use of tele-triage services to address client concerns after normal business hours.

As equine veterinarians reevaluate what after-hours care looks like for their practices, the support of their clients is critical to creating a balance that works for both parties. If your horse doctor talks with you about changes in how after-hours care is delivered, we hope you’ll welcome the adjustments. This evolution of emergency care must take place in order for equine veterinarians to avoid burnout and continue to be at their best to treat all of your equine friends.