Alta Equine Sports Medicine

Alta Equine Sports Medicine Equine Veterinary Practice

Hoof testers are a simple yet essential tool in every equine veterinarian's toolkit. Applying gentle pressure to specifi...
06/13/2026

Hoof testers are a simple yet essential tool in every equine veterinarian's toolkit. Applying gentle pressure to specific areas of the foot can reveal a lot about a horse’s pain level, the site of pain, and what hidden structures are involved.

As with humans, sensitivity thresholds vary, and regular evaluations can help establish a "normal" for your equine athlete, aiding in the early detection of changes. While this test may appear simple, please be aware that incorrect application could cause pain or injury. For this reason, it should be performed by trained professionals and interpreted by your veterinarian as part of the overall examination to ensure the horse's safety and well-being.

Flexion tests involve applying temporary pressure to specific joints or groups of joints and observing the horse's movem...
06/12/2026

Flexion tests involve applying temporary pressure to specific joints or groups of joints and observing the horse's movement immediately afterward. This process helps assess any discomfort or irregularities in the horse's gait. Dr. Natalie interprets the results while considering your horse’s age, job, level of activity, and overall health.

While not a stand-alone diagnosis, flexion tests provide valuable information that helps guide further imaging, treatment, or management plans.

Alta Equine services include Pro-Stride Joint Therapy, a steroid-free treatment that is proccessed from your horse's own...
06/10/2026

Alta Equine services include Pro-Stride Joint Therapy, a steroid-free treatment that is proccessed from your horse's own blood.

This regenerative treatment involves concentrating multiple naturally occurring healing factors (including cells, platelets, growth factors, and anti-inflammatory proteins) and injecting them into the horse's joint to reduce pain, slow cartilage degradation, and promote tissue regeneration.

As an autologous product, it is a natural, steroid-free treatment with no drug-withholding times for horses competing at the FEI or USEF levels. This stall-side treatment option requires only one visit for the blood draw, processing, and joint injection.

Arthramid is a 2.5% injectable Polyacrylamide acetate gel (iPAAG). It can be used in any synovial joint in both the earl...
06/09/2026

Arthramid is a 2.5% injectable Polyacrylamide acetate gel (iPAAG). It can be used in any synovial joint in both the early and late stages of osteoarthritis, but as with any joint treatment, the best results are obtained when treatment is initiated early in the disease process. Administered via intra-articular injection, it works to reinforce the synovial membrane, reduce stiffness and fibrosis, and improve joint fluid quality - breaking the OA cycle.

Although Arthramid starts working immediately, it takes up to 2 weeks to fully integrate into the joint synovium. After treatment, rest your horse for 48-72 hours and follow a reduced-impact workload for 2 weeks. A follow-up at 4 to 6 weeks helps gauge your equine athlete’s treatment response. Horses often show gradual improvement in lameness within the first week, with continued progress over the following weeks.

Loss of hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid lowers viscosity, increasing joint-surface friction and accelerating cartilage...
06/08/2026

Loss of hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid lowers viscosity, increasing joint-surface friction and accelerating cartilage wear.

Viscosupplementation, which involves injecting elastoviscous solutions like hyaluronic acid (HA) or polyacrylamide hydrogels (PAAG), can restore lubrication, cushion impact, ease discomfort, and help preserve cartilage.

Early diagnosis, targeted therapy, and a proactive management plan keep your equine athlete comfortable and sound. Consider scheduling a performance evaluation with Dr. Natalie to develop a joint health plan tailored to your horse's needs.

We are expected to have a hot couple of days next week. Plan on maintaining hydration by allowing free access to fresh, ...
06/05/2026

We are expected to have a hot couple of days next week. Plan on maintaining hydration by allowing free access to fresh, clean water at all times. Providing a salt block can aid in triggering your horse's thirst response.

Your horse may need some assistance with cooling. For sweaty horses, cool water baths can help your horse dissipate heat faster. Don't skip the head, neck, and legs, as large blood vessels in these locations flush heat to the skin surface. Fans can be effective at increasing air circulation in the barn.

Check out our "Heat Tips" highlight on Instagram for more information. Call your veterinarian if you have concerns regarding your horse's water intake.

An adequate warmup can help increase the horse’s body temperature and progressively prepare the cardiovascular and muscu...
06/04/2026

An adequate warmup can help increase the horse’s body temperature and progressively prepare the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems for work. However, high-intensity work during warm-ups may actually hinder performance. Riders, trainers, and veterinarians should collaborate to evaluate how different warm-ups affect your equine athlete. By experimenting and fine-tuning these routines, you can discover the most effective approach for optimal performance.

Lindsay Archer & Casino Helsinki won the $5,000 Peregrine Equine USHJA National Hunter Derby (Open) with impressive scor...
05/29/2026

Lindsay Archer & Casino Helsinki won the $5,000 Peregrine Equine USHJA National Hunter Derby (Open) with impressive scores of 90.5 and 91 🔥

📸

Lena & Leyla had a great week at SHP with top ribbons and reserve champion in the 1.30 Am!
05/28/2026

Lena & Leyla had a great week at SHP with top ribbons and reserve champion in the 1.30 Am!

Address

579 1st Street West
Sonoma, CA
95476

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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