Wilhite & Frees Equine Hospital

06/02/2026

Whether it is a horse owner during an appointment or a Pony Clubber on the weekend, Dr. Trahan loves the opportunity to teach and meet the next generation of horse people. 📖

Pony Club has opportunities for all ages and levels. The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. is the largest equine educational organization in North America. Started in 1954 and originally based on Great Britain’s The Pony Club, the curriculum teaches riding skills and the care of horses through mounted and unmounted lessons. Through Pony Club, members have fun with horses and make lifelong friends while they develop skills, habits, and values that extend well beyond the barn and last a lifetime. Many members apply what they have learned in the USPC program successfully in their careers, educational and volunteer opportunities, and other life pursuits. Learn more about joining Pony Club here: https://www.ponyclub.org/become-a-member

There are always opportunities to learn from horses and from each other!

05/29/2026

We often have students reach out about shadowing opportunities but we have very limited space that fills quickly due to visiting vet students on externships in their clinical year. This is an incredible local opportunity for students wanting to gain experience!

05/18/2026

We have had several calls about severe weather advice today. So this is worth a reshare!

Thunderstorms and tornadoes can be a terrifying experience for both horse owners and their animals. Horses, being large, sensitive creatures, may become anxious or fearful during severe weather. It’s crucial to take proactive steps to ensure their safety and well-being. Here are some key tips to help care for your horses during thunderstorms and tornadoes:

🌪️ 1. Bringing Horses Indoors: It can be hard to choose what is right when contemplating bringing your horse inside during severe weather. Ultimately it comes down to your horse, your barn options, how safe the structure you would use is, and sticking to your plan once you commit. Bringing your horse inside a well constructed barn or stable can provide them with protection from wind, rain, and flying debris. Leaving horses outside in open fields is a double edge sword as they could be at risk from lightning, hail, or falling debris; but in the event of a true tornado an open area where they are free from debris or trapped inside of a structure may be the safest option. Any horses outside during strong winds should have fly masks on to protect their eyes. While there are very few true "tornado proof" horse shelters a run-in shed or a sturdy structure that offers protection from the wind and rain can help during a severe thunderstorm.

🌪️2. Ensure Secure Fencing: Before storms hit, check your fencing to make sure it's secure. Loose or broken fences can cause chaos, especially if your horses are scared and try to run. Make sure gates are securely latched, and that there are no areas where the horses could get tangled or escape.

🌪️3. Avoid Tying Horses: During a storm or tornado, do not tie your horses. Horses tied in stalls, cross ties, or to posts may become panicked and injured, especially in high winds or if the area becomes flooded. Allow your horses to move freely in their stall or shelter to reduce the risk of injury.

🌪️4. Keep Calm and Keep Yourself Safe: Horses are highly sensitive to their owners' emotions. If you remain calm and composed, your horse is more likely to remain calm as well. Sticking to your normal barn "routine" as much as possible is helpful as horses may become more stressed by change. Putting hay in nibble nets or hay bags can help offer distraction from loud storms. It is important for you to seek shelter during severe weather so securing your horse safely and moving to a basement or interior room of your house as directed is best. You cannot help your horse if you are injured so remember: PEOPLE ALWAYS COME FIRST.

🌪️5. Monitor the Weather: Stay updated on weather forecasts and warnings. If a tornado watch or warning is issued, take immediate action to get your horses into a safe location. Pay attention to weather apps, local radio, or emergency services for alerts.

🌪️6. Prepare an Emergency Kit: Having an emergency kit (like the one offered by our office) can make a world of difference during severe weather. An additional kit for summer storms may include:
•Flashlights and batteries
•First aid supplies for both humans and horses
•Extra halters and leads (put in different places in case the structure is compromised)
•A portable radio or battery-powered weather radio
•Emergency contact numbers for local veterinarians and animal rescue services
•Blankets or wraps for warmth

🌪️7. After the Storm: Once the storm has passed, take the time to check on your horses carefully. Look for signs of injury, stress, or trauma. Check the barn or shelter for any damage, and ensure that fencing and gates are still secure. If there’s been flooding or downed trees, clear the area to prevent further injury.

For more information check out this article from The Horse magazine: https://thehorse.com/116017/preparedness-is-key-to-surviving-tornadoes-with-horses/

Our office is always available for emergencies within our radius or by haul in. Our emergency line is the same as the daytime line: 816-779-0100 (you must wait to be connected to the answering service! Do not hang up!)

The best way to ensure emergency care for your horse is to have a current relationship with your vet (regular visit within the past year). Call or click the link to schedule a visit with our office: Call or click to schedule today: https://practices.allydvm.com/online-booking?practice=wilhitefrees

05/15/2026

🩹🩸 Why do we get “wound up” about wounds? Successful healing of wounds can be determined by many factors but involving your veterinarian is always the best place to start.
Primary (first intention) healing is what is referred to by closing the wound by suturing it. This is usually the ideal option as it is often quickest and most functional (and cosmetic) in regard to wound healing. Second intention is relying on the body to create a clot/scab with granulation tissue then reepithelialize and contract the wound on its own.
🛑 There are some situations where first intention healing is not available such as contamination, location, or age of the wound.
📸 In the photos seen here, first and second intention healing both took place. The flap was sutured but the “tip” of the flap devitalized or “died” (as expected) and second intention healing was required at the bottom of the wound. Bandages and stall rest were both utilized to keep the wound clean and healthy. The only part of the scar visible today is the area that healed with second intention.

❓What should you as an owner do if you find your horse with a laceration or wound?
✅ Call your DVM and take multiple up close and far away pictures to prepare them. Info like size, location (near joints or tendons), any swelling or drainage, and if the wound is clean or soiled.
✅If the wound is actively bleeding apply a clean cloth or absorbent pad and hold it in place with a bandage wrap/polo/vet wrap.
✅ DO NOT REMOVE your bandage or wrap until your vet arrives.
✅ Verify your horse’s vaccination status with your vet. A tetanus toxoid booster may be needed.

☎️Call or click to schedule today: https://practices.allydvm.com/online-booking?practice=wilhitefrees

05/12/2026

Actually, scheduling with any of our doctors is even easier than this!
📱 You can call or text 816-779-0100 during business hours (text line isn’t monitored after hours).
🔗 Click to schedule today: https://practices.allydvm.com/online-booking?practice=wilhitefrees

05/10/2026

💐 Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers but especially the two on our team who are DVMs and MOMs! Sometimes it means a pack and play in the barn to get though treatments but Dr. Askew and Dr. Johnson handle their responsibilities in such an efficient way that it should be studied. We are incredibly proud of them! Please help us wish a happy Mother’s Day to them and all the other moms who went to the barn this morning instead of brunch. 😉

05/08/2026

It's still early but this might be the "feel good story" of the year! Curly presented to our hospital on emergency after an accident that left her with several injuries, one of which being severe facial swelling that was beginning to occlude her airway. Horses are obligate nasal breathers, meaning they cannot breathe through their mouths, so when airflow cannot pass through their nasal passages an emergency tracheotomy (a hole surgically cut into the trachea to allow for respiration) is required. Thanks to her owner's quick actions, Curly made it to hospital in time to receive a tracheotomy that saved her life. However, this was only her first hurdle to overcome.

In the first few days of recovery, eating and drinking were virtually impossible for Curly. Our team worked together to come up with solutions to keep her comfortable including elevating her head to reduce further swelling. Doctors, technicians, and assistants stayed by her side to encourage her to drink, find foods she could eat, administer medications and IV fluids, manage her trach site, and treat her other multiple injuries. Curly's case required incredibly intensive care and the stakes seemed high; not just because her family loved her very much and wanted her to be well again, but because of the foal she was carrying as well.

With each day she was brighter and stronger our team revised and updated plans. Pregnancy checks occurred throughout her stay and at each check, a healthy heartbeat remained. As Curly improved, our team advanced with procedures to help her heal. She became stable enough to remove her tracheostomy device and perform a surgery to remove her 3rd eyelid that had been damaged in the accident. Her family visited her at the hospital regularly but eventually the day came that they didn't need to visit her anymore because Curly was stable enough to go home!

But that is not where our story ends with Curly... Since she had experienced such trauma to her body, her family wanted to give her the best shot at a smooth birth so it was decided that Curly would return to the hospital to foal out when the time came. As her due date approached Curly made the trip back to the clinic. Our entire staff was excited to see her again and be able to care for her in house. The saying goes something like a "watched pot doesn't boil" and that is true with waiting on a baby. So we waited, and waited, and waited for her foal to arrive. Eventually, just ONE day short of a full year, Curly delivered a beautiful HEALTHY c**t. Though we are all biased, she was the best mom and he was a perfect baby. It felt like the biggest win. Everyone had been so invested in this case and it felt great to share this relief, joy, success, and happiness with Curly's family. They came to visit her after foaling and delivered flowers and a balloon for her to enjoy. Curly Sue and her "Boy Named Sue" then returned back to the farm where she continues to thrive and he continues to grow.

05/06/2026

💡 Staff Member Spotlight 💡
If you haven’t seen her yet for an appointment, Dr. Askew is back to full time following her maternity leave! She is this month’s staff member spotlight. Take a little time to get to know her better 👇🏼
1. Where did you grow up? Central Illinois, but I’ve also lived in Vermont, Tennessee, and Virginia!
2. How have horses been a part of your personal life? I got my first horse when I was around 7 years old. I started showing horses in open shows a few years later, and eventually did low-level eventing. Now I enjoy trail riding. I rode my horse down the aisle at my wedding too! I am excited to share my love of horses with my daughters too.
4. What is a fun fact about you that may surprise people? My husband and I had twin daughters in January.
3. What do you do in your free time? I enjoy hiking, hunting, and anything outdoors, especially when I can do those things with my husband and twin daughters!
5. What drew you to equine veterinary medicine? When I was 10 years old, I told my parents I would be going to the University of Illinois vet school to be an equine vet. I wanted to be a vet to my own horses, something I was able to follow through with and accomplish!
6. What is your favorite thing to do in your job and why? Anything eye related! I especially enjoy doing ocular injections and surgeries.
7. Which of your professional accomplishments are you most proud of? I completed a one year long equine ophthalmology fellowship. This is a very uncommon field of interest, but equine eye emergencies are very common. I saw anywhere from 4-10 horse eye cases per day for an entire year! I love being able to see primary eye cases, referral cases, and do consulting work for patients who aren’t local.

Want to see Dr. Askew for your next visit? Call or click to schedule today: https://practices.allydvm.com/online-booking?practice=wilhitefrees

04/14/2026

🧼 Biosecurity saves lives, time, money, and a lot of headache. Literally just using hand sanitizer at the barn is a fundamental part of biosecurity. Bonus points if it comes in a fun dispenser like this one! 😂

People and equipment are major sources of disease transmission from horse to horse. Some barns have higher risks than others but educating yourself on good practices can help modify your policies and protocols to reduce your risk.

📈Use this biosecurity risk calculator by the University of Guelph to analyze your barn’s biosecurity score: https://thehorseportal.ca/biosecurity-risk-calculator-tool/personalized-biosecurity-risk-calculator/

🦠 what are some of your barn’s go to biosecurity tips to keep everyone safe?

Concerned about your horse’s biosecurity risk? Wellness visits are a great time to discuss that! Call or click to schedule today: https://practices.allydvm.com/online-booking?practice=wilhitefrees

04/10/2026

The worlds biggest horse does in fact weigh enough to break the ice. Dr. Johnson and Sydney are at meeting students at the career fair in Trowbridge Arena. Stop by and say hi!