Equine Sports Medicine Practice

14/09/2025

The future is smart

This week Dr. Emmanuelle van Erck was invited to speak at the BEVA Congress to share her expertise on:
“Using Connected Technology in the Field to Gain Insight into How Horses Respond to Work and How to Support Their Performance.”

🔬 Dr. van Erck highlighted how wearable and connected technologies are transforming equine practice—from heart rate and ECG monitoring, to biomechanical motion sensors, to environmental monitoring and even AI-driven computer vision tools.

These innovations provide real-time, high-resolution data that support veterinarians, trainers, and riders in:
✅ Detecting early signs of fatigue, injury, or disease
✅ Individualizing training programs
✅ Tracking welfare and stress markers
✅ Building proactive strategies for performance and health

⚖️ Importantly, she reminded us that while technology opens new frontiers in equine sports medicine, scientific validation, ethical deployment, and responsible data use remain essential to truly benefit the horse.

🔗 By combining technological innovation with veterinary expertise, we can shift from reactive care to proactive, welfare-centered strategies—supporting both performance and wellbeing in modern equestrian sport.

31/08/2025

What you see VS what vets see 👀

🔍 What you see during the consult:
Your vet focused on scanning with the probe and staring at the screen.

🔍 What your vet sees:
The liver’s structure, blood vessels, texture — and early signs of potential disease.

🩺 Beneath the surface, a whole story unfolds.

23/08/2025

🔥A few of our vets spent a couple of early, misty mornings this week at the legendary Chantilly racecourse — yes, with real racehorses 🐎✨
Bright and early, geared up and ready, straight to the stables before sunrise…
Here’s a little sneak peek of the action.

We’re keeping the full story under wraps for now — but trust us, you’ll want to see what’s coming next 👀

20/08/2025

Sharing how we use technology in equine sports medicine to safeguard our equine athletes and support their performance. See you there!

Don't miss the BEVA Social licence: injury prevention session at , chaired by Simon Woods.

⭐ 11.00 - Using connected technology in the field to gain insight into how horses respond to work and how to support their performances with Emmanuelle van Erck
⭐ 11.20 - Orthopaedic injury prevention and the future of racing’s social licence with Amy Hawthorn
⭐ 11.40 - Objective gait analysiswith instrumented hoof boots: What is possible? with Florian Geburek
⭐ 12.00 - The ethics of airway surgery in today’s society with Henry Tremaine

Don't miss our Social licence: injury prevention session at , chaired by Simon Woods.

⭐ 11.00 - Using connected technology in the field to gain insight into how horses respond to work and how to support their performances with Emmanuelle van Erck
⭐ 11.20 - Orthopaedic injury prevention and the future of racing’s social licence with Amy Hawthorn
⭐ 11.40 - Objective gait analysiswith instrumented hoof boots: What is possible? with Florian Geburek
⭐ 12.00 - The ethics of airway surgery in today’s society with Henry Tremaine

Buy your ticket to be there from the BEVA Congress website.

16/08/2025

🌿⚠️Toxic Plants for Horses – August Edition⚠️🌿
Keep an eye out this month!🐴☀️
These 3 dangerous plants are active or accessible in August and can pose serious health risks to your horse:
🔹 Ragwort – Looks harmless, but causes liver failure over time. Toxic even when dried in hay.
🔹 Buttercup – Bright and common, but causes mouth ulcers, colic & diarrhea when eaten fresh.
🔹 Yew – Evergreen and deadly. Just a few bites can lead to sudden death with no warning.
👀Know what to look for. Walk your pastures.
🚫Remove these plants before they become a problem.

10/08/2025

🦵Why Should You Care About Your Horse’s Limb Alignment?
Conformation isn’t just about looks:
👉 Ideal alignment = balanced stress on bones, tendons, and ligaments.
❗Poor conformation = overload on certain structures ➡ long-term damage.

But here’s the deal:
🚫 We’re not chasing perfection.
✅ The goal is to spot and reduce self-worsening imbalances that can harm your horse over time.

🔍 How to evaluate it?
✔️ Front view: check for deviations (valgus/varus) or rotations (toed-in/toed-out)
✔️ Side view: assess limb and pastern axis
✔️ Movement is key: walk reveals trajectory and foot placement

📸 Picutre 1: "Toed-in" (Cagneux)
🔁 The horse’s toes point inward, and the knees often rotate outward.
➡ This inward rotation can affect movement and increase stress on joints and ligaments over time.

📸 Picture 2: "Toed-out" (Panard)
🔁 The horse’s toes point outward, with the knees rotating inward.
➡ This conformation may cause uneven wear on the limbs and alter the flight arc of the limb.

☝🏻Small details, big impact on long-term soundness and performance 🐎✨

02/08/2025

🌟 We’re Hiring: Full-Time Veterinary Assistant (with Equine Experience) 🐴🐾

Are you passionate about animal care and looking to join a dynamic team? We’re looking for a full-time Veterinary Assistant to support our growing practice — with a special focus on equine care.

📍 The vet you’ll be accompanying is based in Sint Niklaas.

Your Role Includes:
🔹 Assisting with horse care
🔹 Driving with the vet – sometimes long distances travelling
🔹 Helping in the office with admin tasks
🔹 Working closely with veterinarians and team members
🔹 Ensuring cleanliness, safety, and comfort for all animals

We’re Looking For Someone Who Is:
✅ Experienced with handling horses
✅ A true team player
✅ Flexible and open to varied tasks
✅ Comfortable with long drives when needed
✅ Compassionate, calm, and reliable
✅ Organized, detail-oriented, and tech-friendly
✅ Willing to pitch in wherever help is needed – barn or office!

This is a full-time position with room to grow in a supportive environment that values animal welfare, teamwork, and quality care.

📩 Interested? Send your resume and a few lines about yourself at info@esmp.be

Let’s make a difference — together.

❤️

26/07/2025

🌾 Environmental Allergies in Horses 🐴
Like humans, horses can suffer from environmental allergies caused by:
* 🌼 Pollen
* 🌬️ Dust
* 🍞 Mold
* 🕷️ Mites
* 🌫️ Air pollutants

Common symptoms:
* 😮‍💨 Coughing & breathing issues (e.g. equine asthma / heaves)
* 👃 Clear nasal discharge
* 🤕 Itchy skin or hives (e.g. sweet itch)
* 😢 Watery or irritated eyes
* 🐌 Fatigue or reduced performance

✅ What to do if symptoms appear:
* 🚿 Soak hay and choose low-dust bedding
* 🪟 Improve stable ventilation
* 📆 Track symptoms and seasonal triggers
* 🩺 Consult a vet for diagnosis & treatment
* 💊 Use prescribed medication as needed
* 🌿 Consider supplements to support the immune system

📊 Sources : sciensano

05/07/2025

Are you in or are you out? 🧐

A recent study by the ethologist Lea Lansade and collaborators investigated shelter use in horses, revealing some surprising seasonal behaviors. Horses spent an average of 3 hours per day inside shelters, with use peaking in summer. Shelter design also played a major role in how often they were used.

Here’s a quick Q&A to break it down ⬇️

⸻

Q: How much time do horses actually spend in shelters?
A: On average, about 3 hours/day. In summer, this rises to 5.5 hours, while in winter, it drops to 2.5 hours.

⸻

Q: When do horses prefer to go inside?
A:
☀️ Summer: Mostly afternoons (12:00–18:00) to rest and cool off.
❄️ Winter: More likely to enter late at night (00:00–06:00) to eat or lie down.

⸻

Q: Does the shelter design affect how much it’s used?
A: Yes. Horses prefer:
✔️ Larger shelters
✔️ Fully enclosed stalls with a single access point
These features are linked to significantly higher usage.

⸻

Q: Do blankets or fly masks reduce the need for shelter?
A: No. The study showed that accessories don’t reduce shelter use—suggesting they’re not enough on their own for environmental comfort.

⸻

🔑 Key Takeaway:
Shelter matters—season, time of day, and design all influence equine behavior. Horses make intentional choices based on comfort, not habit!

30/06/2025

Ne manquez pas Jessica Michel-Botton!

Hello les Belges! 🇧🇪
Je débarque en Belgique en juillet pour quelques jours ! 🎉 Et j'ai quelques créneaux de coaching dispo … (région Namur/Clavier).
Pour tous ceux qui me demandent depuis longtemps "quand tu viens?" .... bah voilà !
Écrivez-moi vite 🤗
📸 Julie Tonneus en stage à Lyon en avril 25’

28/06/2025

Hot Off the Press! Another Publication Milestone for ESMP 🐴📚

We are thrilled to share that Equine Sports Medicine Practice (ESMP) has contributed to another impactful scientific publication—this time focusing on dietary strategies to improve digestive microbiota health in performance horses.

🔬 Title: Impact of Low-Starch Dietary Modifications on Faecal Microbiota Composition and Gastric Disease Scores in Performance Horses; published in Animals (June 2025)

📌 What did we discover?
Performance horses often suffer from gastric ulcers due to high-starch diets and stressful conditions. This study tracked competitive showjumpers as they transitioned to a low-starch, high fiber diet (Regul Digest, Lambey)—and the results were striking:

✅ Significant healing of both squamous and glandular gastric ulcers
✅ A shift in gut microbiota balance (lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio), associated with better gut health
✅ Improvements occurred without the use of anti-ulcer medications

🌿 In short: a simple change in feed made a measurable difference in stomach health and digestive balance during a competition season.

👏 A huge thanks to the Lambey, ESMP and Haras des Rosier teams and collaborators from the University of Manchester for supporting this research that reinforces the importance of high quality nutrition in equine athletes. This study not only deepens our understanding of gut health but also provides practical, medication-free options for improving welfare in sport horses.

🔗 Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15131908

21/06/2025

Hot weekend ahead? 🌞
Here are a few must-know tips to keep your horse cool, safe, and happy in the heat! 🐴💧

☀️