South Belle Equine, LLC

09/12/2026

We introduced Dechra’s ProVet APC this year and so far have been very happy with the results. I’ve seen it help heal OCD lesions in young horses and help arthritis in older ones.

ProVet® APC is a regenerative therapy that uses your horse’s own blood to create a concentrated product containing platelets and naturally occurring proteins involved in healing.

A small sample of blood is collected and processed using the ProVet® system. The blood is separated to concentrate the platelets and other beneficial components. This process takes only a few minutes and can be performed conveniently stall-side.

The concentrated platelet product can then be administered by your veterinarian to the area being treated. Platelets contain growth factors and other substances that can help support the body’s natural repair response and may help create a more favorable environment for healing.

ProVet® APC may be considered as part of a treatment plan for a variety of joint, tendon, ligament, and soft-tissue injuries, depending on the individual horse and type of injury.

Why use your horse’s own blood?

Because the product is made from your horse’s own blood, ProVet® APC provides a personalized treatment using the horse’s naturally occurring healing components.

ProVet® APC may help:

* Support the body’s natural healing response
* Deliver concentrated platelets and growth factors to an area of injury
* Complement other treatments and rehabilitation
* Provide a minimally invasive regenerative treatment option

06/22/2026

*Out-of-Town Notice: I will be away from June 26th through July 4th. If you need assistance, please make necessary arrangements this week. I will monitor messages and emails but may have limited phone availability.

In an emergency, please contact Dr. Megan Mathias of Hartland Equine at (304) 851-7523 or Dr. Alexis Theiss with Paragon Equine at (540) 660-5566.

Picture of what I will be doing and not checking my phone

04/10/2026

Foal Friday - this amazing filly, who had a tough start in life, got a ride to the hospital in my personal car 🐴 💕

03/07/2026

Not thrilled to have a mare due in January next year, but always good to get the first one bred in kentucky, in foal 🥳

01/13/2026

A belated Happy New Year to all, with exciting news: our class IV laser has been upgraded and shockwave therapy is now available. Most horse owners are familiar with shockwave therapy, but below is a great, simplified explanation of laser therapy:

Class IV laser therapy is like a "power-up" for a horse's natural healing system. It uses concentrated light to give damaged cells the energy they need to repair themselves much faster than they could on their own.

How it Works (The Simple Version):

Solar Power for Cells: Just as plants use sunlight to grow, horse cells have "tiny batteries" (mitochondria) that absorb the laser's light energy.

Recharging the Battery: This light recharges those batteries, creating a fuel called ATP. Once a cell is "fully charged," it can repair tissue, fight inflammation, and clear out waste much more efficiently.

Opening the Floodgates: The laser also causes blood vessels to widen, which "flushes" the area with fresh oxygen and nutrients while washing away the chemical triggers that cause pain and swelling.

Why "Class IV" is Different

Deep Reach: While lower-class "cold lasers" only reach the surface, a Class IV laser is powerful enough to pe*****te deep into heavy horse muscles, thick tendons, and large joints like the stifle or hock.

Speed: Because it delivers more energy per second, a treatment that might take 30 minutes with a small laser takes only 5–10 minutes with a Class IV.

The "Feel": It produces a gentle, soothing warmth that many horses find relaxing, often causing them to lick their lips or yawn during the session.

Main Benefits for Horses

Rapid Pain Relief: It triggers the release of endorphins (the body's natural painkillers), providing relief often within hours.

Stronger Healing: It helps new collagen fibers line up correctly, which makes a healed tendon or ligament stronger and less likely to re-injure.

Drug-Free: It offers a way to manage chronic issues like arthritis or sore backs without relying solely on medications

11/22/2025

The latest update from the Equine Disease Communication Center indicates that additional cases of EHM have been reported in Texas, and a first case has been reported in New Mexico.

For the latest, most accurate information, please go to: https://equinediseasecc.org/news/article/Equine-Herpesvirus-Myeloencephalopathy-(EHM)-Outbreak)

08/03/2025

The donkey lives in Fauquier County.

06/18/2025

If you have foals, it is essential to be aware of the risks associated with foal pneumonia, particularly that caused by rhodococcus bacteria. While it may seem that the first few weeks are the most critical period, foal pneumonia can still pose a significant threat. Typically, by the time foals exhibit symptoms such as fever, coughing, and nasal discharge, they are already severely ill. Prompt treatment is crucial in these cases. Farms with a history of rhodococcus or those with multiple foals should consider routine scanning to facilitate early detection. It is worth noting that treatment can be expensive, and some of the medications used can have adverse effects on the foals. Therefore, early treatment can potentially lead to a shorter treatment period.

The ultrasounds shown below are from a 6-week-old foal and demonstrate the difference between normal lung tissue (left) and a 3.5cm lung abscess (right), which is characteristic of rhodococcus. Although the only definitive way to confirm the diagnosis is through transtracheal washes, the antibiotics used are typically effective against various types of pneumonia. Notably, this foal was asymptomatic, and the abscess was detected through a screening ultrasound. This 5-minute diagnostic procedure is relatively simple, can be performed on the farm, and typically does not require sedation.

02/11/2025

It’s bad when the engine overheats in a snow storm. I’ll be working out of a spare vehicle but services may be limited for the next few days

04/11/2024

I still have a photo album called “Artie” on my phone with all of his progress and daily bandage changes. So glad I could be part of his road to recovery!!

Joanna Gray-Randle thought her riding days were behind her in 2009 after she had cervical spinal fusion surgery to repair damage from a car accident 10 years prior. She’d given up her busy dressage barn in California a year before the surgery when her husband, David Randle, took a new job in Long ...