Mid-Rivers Equine Centre

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Mid-Rivers Equine Centre Mid-Rivers Equine Centre offers medical and surgical care for ill and injured horses as well as 24 h

We offer a number of different programs in an effort to address the specific needs of horses that are based on their level of activity and risk of exposure to particular diseases or infections. Strangles is an example of a complex disease that requires special considerations. Encouraging protective immunity in foals is another topic of recent research that requires special attention. A program can easily be tailored to your horses or farm, should there be a need. Simply contact our office and speak with one of the veterinarians.

BRUISED TOES. BIG BRAINS. BEST TEAM.Hurray! It’s Vet Tech Week, and we need to brag a little. Okay… a lot.The best techs...
10/20/2026

BRUISED TOES. BIG BRAINS. BEST TEAM.

Hurray! It’s Vet Tech Week, and we need to brag a little. Okay… a lot.
The best techs and veterinary assistants in equine medicine? We’re pretty sure we have them. And we’re absolutely going to be obnoxious about it. 🐴

Mid-Rivers expects our veterinarians to be at the top of their game. Our techs and assistants hold themselves to that same standard. Excellence attracts excellence, and these horse-loving powerhouses prove it every day.

So here’s to the bruised toes and sleepless nights. The dirt under your nails and lunches from a gas station. The patience when a thousand-pound patient has other plans. The steady hands, sharp minds, and enormous hearts you bring to every horse in your care.

Tough as nails. Smart as a whip. And deserving of far more thanks than one week can hold.

Help us give our techs and assistants the bragging rights they deserve. Leave them some love below! 💙

YOUR SENIOR HORSE’S COAT DESERVES A CLOSER LOOK.Dull, greasy or unusually shaggy? A change in your older horse’s coat ca...
10/20/2026

YOUR SENIOR HORSE’S COAT DESERVES A CLOSER LOOK.
Dull, greasy or unusually shaggy? A change in your older horse’s coat can offer clues about nutrition, skin health or hormonal disease. Here’s what deserves attention:

DULL, DRY OR THINNING�Nutrition may be part of the picture. Inadequate protein can affect hair growth, and worn or missing teeth can make it harder for senior horses to chew enough forage. Review dental health, weight and the entire diet with your veterinarian before adding a coat supplement.

GREASY, OILY OR FLAKY�Persistent oiliness, especially with scaling or crusting, can indicate seborrhea associated with an underlying skin disorder. It should not automatically be attributed to age, dietary fat or a nutrient deficiency. Odor, itching, redness or hair loss are additional reasons for an examination.

LONG, CURLY OR SLOW TO SHED�These changes raise concern for PPID, often called equine Cushing’s disease, which is common in older horses. Early changes may be subtle. Increased thirst, unusual sweating or loss of topline muscle make veterinary evaluation especially important. A coat supplement will not address the underlying hormonal disease.

Take dated photos and track shedding, weight, appetite and skin changes. Your Mid-Rivers Equine Centre veterinarian can help determine whether your senior needs a nutrition adjustment, dental care, skin testing or a PPID evaluation.

WINTER WOES: When Hooves Are Cracked & Chipping, It’s Time to Shift GearsIf your horse’s hooves are splitting, flaring, ...
10/16/2026

WINTER WOES: When Hooves Are Cracked & Chipping, It’s Time to Shift Gears

If your horse’s hooves are splitting, flaring, or chipping this winter, basic maintenance isn’t enough; you need damage control plus repair support.

From a veterinary standpoint, here’s what actually helps once cracks are present:

• Shorten trim cycles: letting cracks grow out worsens leverage and splitting

• Stabilize the crack: your farrier may rasp, float, or apply support to stop it from traveling

• Skip constant oils: greasy products can seal dryness in; switch to targeted conditioners used on clean, moist hooves

• Limit extreme wet–dry swings: avoid repeated thaw/mud/freeze exposure when possible

• Check for soreness: cracks can turn painful fast; watch for heat, sensitivity, or subtle lameness

• Support growth from within: cracked hooves today reflect nutrition from months ago (biotin, amino acids, zinc, copper matter)

💡 MREC insight: Chipping isn’t “just cosmetic.” It changes how weight is distributed and can set the stage for deeper cracks if left alone.

If you’re seeing damage now, don’t wait for spring growth to fix it on its own. A few smart adjustments now can keep a small problem from becoming a season-long one.

Questions? We’re always glad to help.

10/14/2026

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Yesterday’s Trivia Answer - Katie is administering a plasma transfusion.

🩸🐴 WHY WOULD A NEWBORN FOAL NEED A PLASMA TRANSFUSION?

Foals are born with little to no protective antibodies circulating in their blood. They must receive those antibodies, called immunoglobulins, primarily IgG, by drinking their mare’s antibody rich first milk, known as colostrum.

NEW BORNS: If a foal does not nurse soon enough, receives poor quality colostrum or cannot adequately absorb its antibodies, the foal may experience failure of passive transfer. A blood test allows the veterinary team to measure the foal’s IgG level and determine whether additional immune support is needed.

OLDER FOALS: When an older foal can no longer effectively absorb antibodies through the intestinal tract, equine plasma may be administered intravenously. The plasma provides concentrated antibodies that help strengthen the foal’s defenses against potentially serious infections.

ILL FOALS: Plasma may also be used in certain critically ill foals for other medical reasons, so the decision to transfuse is based on the individual patient’s examination, bloodwork and risk factors.

This is why timely foal examinations and IgG testing are so valuable. A foal can appear healthy while still lacking adequate immune protection. Identifying the problem early gives the veterinary team an opportunity to intervene before infection develops.

10/13/2026

Tuesday Trivia 🌱🐴 WHEN FOALS NEED A BOOST. CAN YOU GUESS WHAT KATIE IS DOING?

Newborn foals may look strong, but their immune systems can still need extra support during those critical first hours of life.

Katie is administering a treatment designed to give foals something essential that may not have been received in sufficient amounts after birth.

Can you identify the treatment and explain why a newborn foal might need it?

Share your best guess in the comments, then come back tomorrow for the answer.

HORSE & BARN QUARANTINE BASICS FOR SICK HORSESQuarantining a sick horse takes more than an empty stall. This quick guide...
10/09/2026

HORSE & BARN QUARANTINE BASICS FOR SICK HORSES

Quarantining a sick horse takes more than an empty stall. This quick guide covers how to set up a separate area, prevent disease spread during daily care, monitor for illness and determine when your horse can safely rejoin the herd.

QUICK GUIDE:

SEPARATE FIRST.�Keep new arrivals away from resident horses. Immediately isolate a horse with unexplained fever, coughing, nasal discharge or diarrhea; call your veterinarian. Keep healthy newcomers separate from sick horses.

CREATE A DESIGNATED AREA.�Use separate housing away from horse traffic. Prevent nose contact, shared water and shared turnout. Post signs and restrict entry to essential caregivers.

DEDICATE THE EQUIPMENT.�Use separate buckets, halters, thermometers, grooming tools and manure equipment. Label them and keep them in the designated area.

FOLLOW A CARE ORDER.�Care for healthy resident horses first and sick horses last. Use dedicated boots and protective clothing; wash hands before and after care. Remove manure and dirt before disinfecting; follow the product’s dilution and contact time.

MONITOR TWICE DAILY.�Record re**al temperature, appetite, manure and behavior. Report fever or new symptoms promptly. Monitor exposed horses too; a horse can look healthy while incubating disease.

LET YOUR VETERINARIAN SET THE TIMELINE.�Quarantine length depends on the horse’s history and exposure risk. Sick horses may remain contagious after symptoms improve; testing may be needed before release.

Suspect a contagious illness? Pause horse arrivals, departures and mixing until your veterinarian evaluates the situation.

Save this checklist and review your barn’s plan with Mid-Rivers Equine Centre before your next arrival.

LONG TERM EFFECTS OF POOR SADDLE FIT Poor saddle fit can do more than make a horse sore for a few rides. Long term, it m...
10/07/2026

LONG TERM EFFECTS OF POOR SADDLE FIT
Poor saddle fit can do more than make a horse sore for a few rides. Long term, it may contribute to:

CHRONIC BACK SORENESS: Back problems can be a cause of poor performance and gait abnormalities in sport and racehorses, and diagnosing the exact cause can be challenging.

VISIBLE SIGNS AND MUSCLE DAMAGE OR LOSS: A saddle that does not fit may impair the biomechanical function of the back, interfere with muscular development, cause pain, contribute to muscle atrophy, swelling, lumps dry spots, rubbed hair, or ruffled hair.

COMPENSATORY MOVEMENT AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS: When the horse changes how they move to avoid pressure or pain, that compensation can affect the neck, back, limbs, and overall movement quality and performance. Behavioral issues may also arise; unwillingness to work, difficulty in transitions, reluctance to jump, loss of gait amplitude, resistance or changes in jumping style.

WORSENING OR CONTRIBUTING TO KISSING SPINES RISK: UC Davis notes that kissing spines are likely acquired and may result from multiple factors, including poor saddle fit and improper training that allows the horse to carry itself with the head up, hollow back, and poor core engagement.

DEEP DIVE: FEVER PROTOCOLS & WHEN TO ISOLATE An unexplained fever warrants immediate isolation precautions while you con...
10/06/2026

DEEP DIVE: FEVER PROTOCOLS & WHEN TO ISOLATE

An unexplained fever warrants immediate isolation precautions while you contact your veterinarian. Do not wait for coughing, nasal discharge, diarrhea, or a positive test.

For an adult horse at rest, over 101.5°F is a practical threshold for taking action.

WHAT IS A FEVER PROTOCOL?
A fever protocol is a planned response to an elevated temperature: identify and record the fever, separate the horse, notify your veterinarian and barn manager, and begin monitoring and infection control measures.

The goal is to evaluate the affected horse while limiting potential exposure to others. Not every fever is contagious, but the cause may not be apparent initially.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

• STOP exercise and prevent contact with other horses. Use a designated isolation area; an adjacent stall may not provide adequate separation.

• CALL your veterinarian with the temperature, symptoms, recent travel, and possible exposure to sick horses. Call ahead before transporting to a hospital.

• ASSIGN separate buckets, a thermometer, grooming tools, and manure equipment. Limit caregivers. Handle healthy horses first, exposed horses next, and sick horses last.

• WASH hands and change protective clothing and footwear appropriately. Remove manure and debris before disinfecting; follow product instructions.

• RECORD temperature, appetite, water intake, manure, behavior, and medications. Follow your veterinarian’s monitoring schedule for affected and exposed horses.

• ASK before giving Banamine or bute; these medications can mask fever.
Know your horse’s normal resting temperature. Take routine readings after cooling out from exercise. Concerning symptoms require attention even below 101.5°F.

WHEN IS IT URGENT?
Difficulty breathing, staggering, inability to stand, severe diarrhea, significant colic, or rapid deterioration require immediate veterinary attention.

WHEN CAN ISOLATION END?
A normal temperature does not mean a horse is no longer contagious. Your veterinarian determines when release is appropriate and whether testing is needed.

🐴 YOUR HORSE’S STANCE MAY SPEAK BEFORE THEIR GAIT DOES.Most horse owners know to watch for a shortened stride, head bob ...
09/25/2026

🐴 YOUR HORSE’S STANCE MAY SPEAK BEFORE THEIR GAIT DOES.

Most horse owners know to watch for a shortened stride, head bob or uneven gait. But your horse does not have to take a step to show you something may be wrong.

Healthy horses commonly stand with their lower legs nearly vertical. According to a biomechanical study published in Biology Open, this neutral posture allows a horse to remain stable with relatively little muscular effort.

Researchers found that a canted-in stance, where the front and hind hooves are positioned unusually close together beneath the body, may require more than twice the stabilizing effort of a neutral stance.

Why does that matter?

The authors suggest that a horse repeatedly standing this way may be:

▪ Having difficulty with balance or postural control
▪ Receiving altered information about where its body and limbs are positioned
▪ Compensating for muscle weakness or fatigue
▪ Attempting to support itself through its bones and ligaments instead of its muscles

That last strategy may temporarily reduce the demand on tired or impaired muscles, but the researchers note that it could also be painful or potentially place tissues at risk.

A wide or braced stance deserves attention, too. A horse may spread its legs for temporary stability on uneven ground, while carrying additional weight or during late pregnancy. But when that posture is new, persistent or paired with other changes, it may indicate that the horse is trying to feel safer or more comfortable.

Also watch for:
▪ Repeatedly standing with the same foot forward
▪ Consistently resting or unloading one limb
▪ Frequent weight shifting
▪ Changes in head, neck or back position
▪ Reluctance to stand square
▪ A stance that changes after exercise
▪ Stiffness or declining performance

One unusual stance is not a diagnosis. First consider footing, fatigue and what the horse was doing at the time. The clue is a posture that becomes habitual or represents a change from what is normal for that horse.

📸 PRO TIP: Take occasional photos of your horse standing naturally on firm, level ground. Photograph the horse from both sides and from the front and back. These images may help you recognize a gradual change and provide useful information for your veterinarian.��Also, observe them in their stall, when they don’t know your there.

They will be standing the most naturally for the best evaluation.

Don’t only watch how your horse moves. Watch how your horse chooses to stand.

Address

404 Stable Lane
Wentzville, MO
63385

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+16363325373

Website

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