Heather Pankhurst Equine First Aid

01/03/2025

It’s time to start thinking about deworming- is your deworming program helping or harming your horse? Ask your veterinarian to help you come up with a plan that works for your horse and their situation, and that doesn’t promote parasite resistance to dewormers.

Posted • With spring only a few weeks away (🙌), it’s not too early to start thinking about a deworming plan for your equine companions.

If deworming is something you’ve been doing the same way for as long as you can remember, this year we encourage you to break tradition and work with your veterinarian instead. Thanks to tools like the f***l egg count, your horse doctor can help you devise a treatment tailored to the needs of your equine friend plus monitor the efficacy of the dewormer used last.

And before you dismiss this notion because you’ve been “doing it for years,” you should know that the old-school approach to deworming is quickly becoming outdated—not only a waste of money but it also builds drug resistance in the parasitic fauna of equines, which means we are running out of drugs that can effectively help us control parasite infections.

As always, consult your equine veterinarian to learn more and for questions specific to your animals!

04/01/2025

Horses are incredible- check out these cool winter adaptations shared by

Posted • FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice; good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal, and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

31/12/2024

Another great day teaching yesterday! Thanks for having me. It was a pleasure to meet you all.

16/12/2024

As the cold winter weather trudges on, Dr. Sarah Reuss, AAEP Vice President and a horse owner herself, shares the following advice to keep your horse safe during extreme weather.

1. While lots of hay is ideal for horses to eat to keep warm, now is NOT the time to introduce a round bale if they’ve never had access to one before. It may be more work, but keep throwing them their normal hay source, just more frequently.

2. Similarly, if your horse is not used to being in a stall, now is NOT the time. The stress of a major change and the decreased activity can be risk factors for colic. Be sure they have access to shelter, hay, and drinkable water but let them move around if they choose to do so.

3. Horses that are thin, older, or fully body clipped are those most at risk in extreme weather.

4. Well-fitting blankets are great but be sure that horses do not get sweaty under them, or that the blankets don’t soak through if snow or rain covered. Wet, cold and covered is worse that dry, cold and naked.

5. Some of the highest risk times are when the temperatures hover right around freezing, as that can result in sleet/freezing rain/ice that can make horses wet and therefore colder. Slippery footing is a concern, too.

6. If using electric water heaters, be sure they are functioning and not shocking horses. Take your gloves off and stick your hand in the water (briefly!!!) to double check.

7. Entice your horses to consume extra water by flavoring a bucket, adding electrolytes to their meals, or soaking their meals in warm water. If you’ve never fed beet pulp before, be sure to add LOTS of warm water. Dry beet pulp is a common source of choke.

8. The tips of your horses' ears can be at risk for frostbite. Putting on a waterproof, jumper-style ear bonnet or other waterproof ear cover can protect them from wind chills.

If you have any questions or concerns about keeping your horses safe this winter, contact your veterinarian for advice.

08/10/2024

WHAT CAUSES HOOF ABSCESSES?

Sooner or later, nearly all horse owners will deal with a hoof abscess. But what does "hoof abscess" actually mean?

Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great. (The diagram shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help visualize the structures involved in this process.)

Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.

22/08/2024

Getting every last sunset summer ride in I can!

22/07/2024

Do you have an emergency plan for trailering? Emergencies can happen at any time and your horse may need to be hauled to an equine hospital. Knowing how you are going to get them there and that they can load confidently will save you time and stress in an already stressful situation.

12/07/2024

Happy Friday!! Hope you all get to take a little time to enjoy your horse’s company this weekend 😁🤠🐴🐎

27/05/2024

Posted • There is no doubt about it, equine emergencies are stressful!

However, not every equine medical issue requires a veterinarian’s immediate attention. Check out this veterinarian-recommended guide to get a better idea of what constitutes as an urgent emergency, same-day emergency, or non-emergency.

Remember, if you are unsure if something constitutes as an emergency, call and consult your veterinarian to determine the best course of action.

Lastly, be sure to have a prior discussion with your veterinarian regarding their after-hours policies and availability for responding to emergency calls.

27/04/2024

April showers bring May flowers... and spring hazards for our horses! But we have you covered 😉
Sign up today for an Equine Health and Emergency First Aid course and learn how to mitigate the spring risks... and respond to signs of illness or injury when they happen! From mud fever to colic, thrush to laminitis, choke, shock, vitals, and more - we will help you with your own spring prep.... knowledge!
www.heatherpankhurst.com

23/04/2024

Happy Earth Day! 🌎 🌳 🌱 🐴

There are many ways horse farms can do their part for the environment! Here are some great examples.
- Scroll ahead for 5 tips from
- check out https://www.horsesforcleanwater.com/blog/2022/3/31/6-ways-for-horse-owners-to-participate-in-earth-daywhile-creating-climate-resilience
- consider creating an environmental farm plan. Find more information at https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/canada-ontario-environmental-farm-plan/
- improve your knowledge by enrolling in a course such as Stewardship of the Equine Environment at https://courses.opened.uoguelph.ca/

12/04/2024

Did you know?
Healthy biomechanics are important for overall horse health.

: Unlike humans, horses don’t have collarbones. Their shoulders are held to the rest of their skeleton via a sling of muscles and ligaments instead, often referred to as the “thoracic sling.”

Why is this important? We often ask our equine athletes to perform complex movements that require tremendous strength and coordination, and horses carry the majority of their weight in their front end. Therefore, it is imperative that the bulk of the muscles that support the front end are kept healthy and conditioned, and the horse is trained to use their “motor” — that is, engaging the large hind end muscles as much as possible to avoid excessive weight bearing on the front end.

If the front end of the horse is consistently overweighted or not at an appropriate level of fitness, repetitive biomechanical stresses get transferred down the leg to the smaller ligaments and tendons that were not designed to bear this weight, which can then lead to injury.
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Brough to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

26/03/2024

It’s always something!

The joys of owning horses 😭🍷

©️Emily Cole Illustrations

14/03/2024

Check out this free info session! Register to get some great info from experienced vets.

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to face a medical emergency.

On March 20, join AAEP members Drs. Allie Catalino, Racquel Lindroth, and Nikki Scherrer for a one-hour webinar discussing how horse owners can prepare themselves for equine veterinary emergencies. Learn to identify problems requiring immediate attention and take appropriate action while awaiting veterinary care!

Attendance is FREE but registration is required; attendees are also encouraged to submit their questions in advance through the registration form. A recording of the webinar will be available if you miss the live event.

Register now at https://aaep-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7L6QaXs_RI6UymQgAWBuvg #/registration

This informative session is brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

02/03/2024

Are you providing your horse all of their basic needs to keep them healthy and happy?

Just as humans have Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs, horses have a very similar set of needs that drives their behaviour. While horses aren’t seeking Self-Actualization, they do need social connection and fulfillment. The 6F’s graphic below is a good reminder of ways to keep your horses healthy & happy!

12/02/2024

Contagious diseases are ever present in our equine populations. That is why it is important we educate ourselves on how best to prevent and control their spread.

Proper biosecurity protocols should always be in place. Here are some examples of steps you can take.
Farms should have a quarantine protocol for all new horses, report outbreaks of disease,and work with their veterinarian to implement strict protocols during an outbreak to control and prevent their spread. Farms that host shows and events should implement protocols to minimize contact between horses from different farms.
Equine professionals and equestrians that travel between farms should be implementing measures to prevent spread of disease including changing clothes, disinfecting boots and equipment and washing hands.
When taking your horse of property remember to avoid contact between you and your horse with horses from other farms, bring your own water and feed buckets, and do not share tools and equipment between horses.

Below are some great tips from AAEP on what to look for and how to manage Strangles.

DID YOU KNOW?

Strangles is one of the most commonly contagious diseases of the horse (worldwide) and in 2017 it became a nationally monitored disease. This condition is caused by bacterial infection with "Streptococcus equi subspecies equi" (referred to as "S. equi”), which typically infects the upper airway and lymph nodes of the head and neck, and is highly contagious in horse populations—particularly affecting young horses.

Transfer from horse to horse usually involves direct face-to-face contact, or exposure to things such as contaminated feed, water, hands, veterinary instruments or grooming tools. A stall or van recently used to house or transport a horse that is shedding the organism may also be a source of infection.

WATCH OUT FOR ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS!
It is not uncommon for strangles infections to recur on a farm with previous outbreaks of the disease, and the primary source of recurrent infections are most likely asymptomatic carrier horses—animals who display no clinical signs but may continue to shed the bacteria for months to even years, serving as a continual source of new infections.

If you suspect a strangles outbreak, be sure to involve your veterinarian right away to determine the diagnosis and the best control practices for your particular farm. Without control and biosecurity measures, a strangles outbreak will ultimately affect all susceptible horses, last longer, and have a greater chance of leading to complications.

**Please note that strangles is a reportable disease in some states.**

To learn more about strangles, visit our website at https://aaep.org/issue/understanding-equine-strangles
And as always, contact your veterinarian for more information as they remain the best source of advice!

08/02/2024

Your horse’s dental health is a vital part of their overall health. Don’t overlook this important annual treatment.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. While horses don’t exactly qualify as pets, this is still a good opportunity to remind everyone about the importance of having a veterinarian check your horse’s teeth at least once a year.

Following is some important food for thought (pun intended) courtesy of AAEP member Dr. Christine Staten:

“Did you know that horses don’t really need their incisors to eat? Yep, even pasture. But if their incisors are a mess, it affects their ability to appropriately grind their food with their molars and pre-molars.

Dental work in horses is not just about floating teeth to get off points. It’s about balancing the mouth so that they can get the most nutrition out of their food without pain.

Shearing hay in the mouth is necessary to get the nutrition out. The guy in the picture was skinny because he could not move his jaw laterally enough to shear his food, but his health and body condition score improved significantly once the incisors were balanced.”

When was the last time you had your horse’s teeth checked?

03/02/2024

Is your horse getting older? Follow these helpful suggestions from to keep them healthy and fit as they age.

Posted • It’s not uncommon to find horses and ponies living well into their 20s and 30s, thanks to continuous advances in nutrition and health care.

Horse owners have a big impact as well and can help their horses thrive in their golden years through proper management practices like those illustrated in the graphic. But remember: although there is much you can on your own do to keep your older horse happy and spry, some conditions associated with aging require medical intervention.

Scheduling regular visits and keeping a good line of communication with your veterinarian will allow you to respond quickly to any ailments or injuries that could cause your horse a serious or prolonged set back. That means less worry for you, and a better quality of life for your old friend!
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