Guardia Equine Sports Medicine

08/06/2026

🐴Every horse has a story. My job is to find it. 🕵🏻

•Some injuries aren’t obvious, and some of the most important structures are also the most challenging to evaluate.

•Advanced musculoskeletal ultrasound allows us to look beyond the surface, but obtaining meaningful images requires more than simply placing a probe on the leg. It takes patience, precision, experience, and an understanding of how each structure functions within the athletic horse.

•No two horses are exactly alike. That’s why every lameness evaluation begins with listening—to the owner, the rider, and the horse itself. I take the time to build a complete picture before recommending treatment because an accurate diagnosis is the foundation of a successful recovery.

Whether I’m evaluating a subtle performance issue or a significant injury, my goal is always the same:
✔️ A thorough and accurate diagnosis
✔️ An individualized treatment plan
✔️ A rehabilitation program tailored to that horse’s discipline, goals, and lifestyle

Helping horses return to comfort, confidence, and performance is the most rewarding part of what I do.

08/05/2026

SIRE is an incredible organization. If you know of a horse who meets these criteria, especially if they’re ready to step down from the show life, they are in need of new horses and take impeccable care of their equine partners. Contact Stephanie Twellman at [email protected] if you know of any horses that may fit their needs!

We are looking to grow our herd!

If you have a horse, or know of someone with one, that would be a good fit for our program, please fill out the form below and contact Stephanie for our Spring location or Helen for our Fort Bend location.

https://form.jotform.com/232326414271145

07/31/2026

So incredibly proud of this team!!!! Congratulations USDF Region 9 JR/YR 🎊🎉 🥈🥹👏🏻

07/30/2026

🌟I’m honored to be speaking this week at the Texas Equine Veterinary Association Summer Symposium as part of the Ambulatory Medicine Panel.🌟

When I started Guardia Equine Sports Medicine exactly one decade ago, I never imagined I’d one day have the opportunity to share that journey with a room full of colleagues. Building a mobile equine sports medicine practice has been equal parts rewarding, challenging, and humbling, and I’ve learned countless lessons along the way.

I’m grateful to TEVA for the invitation and for creating opportunities where veterinarians can learn from one another. If sharing both the successes and the setbacks of my practice helps another veterinarian build a career they love, then it’s well worth it.

Looking forward to a great few days of learning, reconnecting with friends and colleagues, and giving back to a profession that has given me so much.

07/29/2026

Big updates on drug rules for Zyrtec and Methocarbamol!

07/26/2026

⚡️ SHOCKWAVE THERAPY IN HORSES: FACT VS. FICTION ⚡️

One of the most common questions I hear:

❓ “Is shockwave therapy the same thing as PEMF?”

🚫 No. They are completely different therapies.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) uses high-energy acoustic pressure waves that are delivered directly into tissues. PEMF uses pulsed electromagnetic fields. Different technology. Different biological effects. Different indications.

So what does shockwave actually do?

Research has shown that ESWT can stimulate biological responses within musculoskeletal tissues and supports healing in selected injuries when used as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program. It is commonly used in horses with certain tendon, ligament, bone, and soft tissue injuries, as well as some cases of deep muscular pain.

✅ When I use shockwave, it is typically one tool within a larger treatment plan that may include:
• Accurate diagnosis
• Controlled exercise
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Corrective management
• Follow-up monitoring

What shockwave is NOT:

❌ A performance enhancer
❌ A substitute for a diagnosis
❌ A shortcut around rehabilitation
❌ Something that should be repeated endlessly because “it seemed to help”

One of the most important concerns with shockwave therapy is its analgesic (pain-reducing) effect. Multiple studies have demonstrated that shockwave can temporarily reduce pain perception after treatment. In some horses, measurable improvement in lameness can occur for approximately 48 hours after treatment.

Why does that matter?

Because pain serves a purpose; Pain can be protective.

If we repeatedly numb an injured area and then ask the horse to continue working, we risk masking important warning signs and potentially allowing further injury.

Shockwave should be used to support healing—not to hide pain.

The best outcomes occur when shockwave is used thoughtfully, for the right diagnosis, at the right time, and combined with an appropriate rehabilitation program.

The goal is to help the horse heal❤️‍🩹🐎.

06/26/2026

🌟Student Spotlight 🌟

We had a fantastic student shadow Dr. Guardia this week! Anne rode eventers and hunter/jumpers is currently an undergraduate student at Colorado State University. She wants to go to vet school to be a horse doctor when she graduates. She is originally from France, but has grown up in Houston and was able to shadow while visiting her family for summer break. She has a bright future ahead of her and we are grateful for her help this week!

Dr. G and her husband also enjoyed the homemade pastries she gave us on her last day. She’s going to be a great doctor someday!

06/08/2026

1️⃣ Don’t panic. Period.

2️⃣ Monitor your horses as you normally would and schedule an exam if any new wounds arise. We are solidly in fly season with “summer sores” (habronemiasis) abounding. Don’t assume a non-healing wound is simple “proud flesh” until you have had a veterinarian examine it.

3️⃣ Do not blindly deworm your horse to “prevent” this parasite. Only deworm under the guidance of your veterinarian.

4️⃣ If you notice a new wound, a non-healing wound, an infection, or anything else suspicious, schedule an exam. If this parasite is present, your veterinarian needs to collect samples to send to the state veterinarian for surveillance and the wound needs to be debrided appropriately. Contact our office with any questions you have.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has provided an important update on New World Screwworm which has been detected in a bovine in Zavala County, Texas. Read the full press release here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-presence-new-world-screwworm-united-states

General information about New World Screwworm (NWS) can be found in the text below and in the attached infographic.

The adult screwworm fly is about the size of a common housefly (or slightly larger), with orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes along its back. It gets its name from the behavior of its larvae (maggots) as they burrow (screw) into the wound, feeding as they go. The maggots (larvae) cause extensive damage by tearing at the hosts’ tissue with sharp mouth hooks. The wound can quickly become enlarged and deeper as more maggots hatch and feed on living tissue.

Because they feed on live flesh, NWS maggots may burrow deep into wounds or openings, while other species of maggots may appear around the outer surface of the wound. In addition, even the smallest wounds have the potential to attract flies, so it is imperative that you keep a close eye on your animals for any signs of wounds.

Lastly, NWS infestations are a reportable disease! Immediately report any suspicious wounds, maggots, or infestations to a local accredited veterinarian, your State Animal Health Official, or a USDA veterinarian.

For more information, reference this resource from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm

06/07/2026

Thank you to 🐎Split Rock Jumping Tour🐎for having me be your FEI Additional Veterinary Delegate while Dr. Rick Mitchell took the a brief break to be inducted into the Carolinas Show Hunter Hall of Fame!🏆🙌🏻

As an FEI Vet Delegate, our main job is to ensure the health, safety, and welfare for the horses competing on this level. It’s an important role that helps me further support my patients at home.

06/05/2026