Rein’em In Equine

09/10/2026

🐴💊 **BUTE vs. BANAMINE: WHICH ONE WHEN?**

They’re probably two of the best known medications in the horse world. Both relieve pain and inflammation, but they aren’t necessarily the first choice for the same problems.

Here’s an easy barn trick for remembering the difference:
🦴 BUTE = BONES, JOINTS & FEET
🤢 BANAMINE = BELLY & FEVER

🦴 BUTE | Phenylbutazone: Think musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. Bute is commonly used for things like arthritis, hoof pain, laminitis, strains, soreness, and other causes of lameness. If your horse hurts when he MOVES, your veterinarian may reach for BUTE.

🤢 BANAMINE | Flunixin Meglumine: Think visceral pain, meaning pain coming from the internal organs. Banamine is especially useful for **colic and abdominal pain** and is also commonly used for fever and inflammation associated with systemic illness. If your horse hurts in his GUT, your veterinarian may reach for BANAMINE.

🐴 BUT WAIT...
Bute doesn't have a GPS programmed for the legs, and Banamine doesn't magically drive straight to the intestines. 😂

Both are systemic NSAIDs, and both can reduce pain and inflammation throughout the body. There’s plenty of overlap. The difference is that each has situations where veterinary evidence and experience make it a more logical first choice.

⚠️ DON’T STACK THEM. Giving Bute and Banamine together can increase the risk of ulcers, intestinal injury, and kidney damage.

⚠️ Banamine may make a horse with a serious intestinal problem appear much more comfortable temporarily. If the pain returns, breaks through the medication, or your horse continues showing colic signs, call your veterinarian.

🦴 My horse hurts when he MOVES. Think BUTE.
🤢 My horse hurts in his GUT. Think BANAMINE.
🤷 I don't know WHY my horse hurts. Think VET. ☎️

And remember, pain relief isn't the same thing as fixing the problem.

07/23/2026

06/21/2026

My forever SOAPBOX! Teach ‘em young!

05/18/2026

This is one thing that has frustrated me about the majority of larger operations, they leave them out in pastures, unhandled until they are ready to ride.

I am not arguing that they need the social interaction and the horse mentality they get out in a herd, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a balance that can be found! These are crucial years where they are growing and learning and the best opportunities you will have to build a positive relationship between horse and human.
Horses left out in a pasture without handling until sent to a trainer are now 10x larger and 10x stronger, making your trainer put in 10x the effort. Of course there are always the exceptions to the rule, the good minded, gentle soles. Imagine how much faster your horse could progress in training when you send them off with basic handling skills!

Even before thinking about training, think if your foal, weanling, yearling, gets hurt out in the field and needs to be doctored. Depending on the injury, your horses ability to be handled can affect the outcome of the recovery! If your horse can’t be haltered an led onto a trailer to go to the vet, if your vet can’t get close to your horse to sedate them if needed, if your horse won’t tolerate bandage changes, or even interaction multiple times a day for medication administration, healing and recovery can be affected.

In my opinion, It’s so rewarding to work with foals, it’s just amazing to see how quickly they pick up on things! You don’t need to/ and shouldn’t be spend hours drilling on an exercise, but know every interaction you have with a young horse teaches them how to act.

03/07/2026

Vitamin E in Horses: Why It Matters and How to Get It Right
Hunter Greer, DVM

Vitamin E is a critically important antioxidant that protects cells and tissues from damage, and thus, plays an important role in supporting the normal function of various body systems. Vitamin E is considered an essential nutrient, and it cannot be produced by the body to meet necessary requirements; instead, requirements must be met via dietary intake or supplementation. Fresh, green grass is a great source of natural vitamin E, but levels become insufficient once harvested as hay.

Access to green pasture is limited here in Central Oregon, especially during certain times of the year. Because of this, our horses are at risk of a deficiency that can be accompanied by severe potential health repercussions. There are several vitamin E-deficient diseases, most notably impacting the nervous system and muscles. Signs may include muscle wasting, weakness, low energy, prolonged recovery from exercise, performance issues, lack of coordination, abnormal stance, and behavioral changes. In many cases, an effective treatment or cure is lacking. Hence, prevention is the key.

Although individual animal factors and genetics play a role in the development of such diseases, vitamin E supplementation is necessary for many horses. Supplementation is not a one-size-fits-all scenario. Vitamin E requirements vary for each horse based on life stage, use, diet, and the environment. In addition, we now know that over-supplementation can have deleterious consequences at high levels. Measuring the vitamin E concentration in your horse’s blood is the most reliable way to determine their vitamin E status and will allow your veterinarian to tailor recommendations to your horse’s individual needs. Blood concentrations should be measured prior to starting supplementation and routinely monitored thereafter. For many horses, we make an annual blood test for vitamin E and selenium part of their annual wellness program.

Several supplements are available for over-the-counter use, but not all products are created equal. Alpha-tocopherol, the active form of Vitamin E, is the main ingredient in available supplements. However, it exists in synthetic (dl-alpha-tocopherol), natural (d-alpha-tocopherol), and natural water-soluble forms. While the synthetic form is cheaper than natural forms, it is absorbed from the gut less readily and, as a result, does not adequately increase blood and tissue concentrations of vitamin E. Therefore, it is less effective at addressing Vitamin E deficiencies. Conversely, natural water-soluble formulations have been shown to be most effective at rapidly increasing blood and tissue levels of vitamin E. As a horse owner, you should look for products containing the natural forms of Vitamin E, d-alpha-tocopherol or d-alpha tocopherol acetate, when considering the use of a supplement. Avoid use of d-l-alpha-tocopherol, which is the synthetic and poorly absorbed form.

Dosing recommendations largely depend on your horse’s individual needs, blood concentrations, presence or absence of clinical signs associated with a vitamin E deficiency, and the type of Vitamin E supplement (synthetic vs. natural vs. water dispersible; liquid vs. pelleted/powered). Ongoing modifications to the supplemental program are made based on repeat testing and individual responses. The National Research Council recommends 1-2 IU/kg body weight of daily vitamin E for horses; however, the form of vitamin E (synthetic vs. natural) is not accounted for in these recommendations which is an important thing to consider regarding appropriate dosing.

Consult with your veterinarian for recommendations on how to meet your horse’s Vitamin E requirements and for guidance on the dose and formulation used.