Robinson Equine Vet & Dental Surgery

02/02/2026

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming Professor Lesley Young to carry out a full cardiac assessment on Ruby. ❤️🐴

During a recent lameness examination, Beth detected a low-grade systolic heart murmur. Following a comprehensive cardiac work-up, Ruby was found to have a mild mitral valve prolapse. The reassuring news is that there has been no cardiac remodelling, and it is not expected to impact her athletic performance - which is fantastic news as, following hock medication, Ruby is now sound and moving beautifully. ✨

Ruby’s condition will be routinely monitored by Beth and her vet physio owner Poppy Roseanna Le Peuple going forward.

As an independent practice, we’re proud to be able to refer our patients to world-class specialists like Professor Young, who can assess and treat horses in their own environment, ensuring the highest standard of care, stable side. 🐴 🩺

13/01/2026

Sweet itch vaccination 💉

We had great outcomes with the majority of horses who received the vaccine last year. More info in our post below.

Understanding Sweet Itch in Horses and the Role of Vaccination 🐴💉

Sweet itch, also known as insect bite hypersensitivity, is a common allergic reaction in horses caused by bites from midges, particularly those of the Culicoides species. This condition leads to intense itching and discomfort, primarily affecting areas such as the mane, tail, and belly. Affected horses may exhibit persistent rubbing, hair loss, and inflamed or scabbed skin. Beyond physical symptoms, sweet itch can significantly impact a horse’s overall well-being and behaviour.

Innovative Vaccination Approach 💉

In recent years, a vaccine originally developed to combat ringworm has shown promise in reducing the symptoms of sweet itch. This vaccine is used off-license in the UK for this purpose. The vaccination protocol involves administering two intramuscular injections, approximately two weeks apart, ideally before the start of the midge season. For ongoing protection, the vaccine can be repeated every nine months or restarted annually before the midge season. 

Comprehensive Management Strategies 🛡️

To effectively manage and prevent sweet itch, consider implementing the following strategies:
• Insect Control: Regular application of insect repellents, use of fly sheets or sweet itch-specific rugs, and stabling during peak midge activity periods (dusk to dawn) can help reduce exposure.
• Environmental Management: Keeping horses in open, breezy fields can deter midges, as they are weak fliers. Avoiding pastures near woodlands or standing water, which are common midge breeding grounds, is also beneficial. Regular cleaning of water troughs can prevent midge larvae development.
• Stable Modifications: Installing insect-proof mesh on stable windows and doors, and using fans to create air movement, can discourage midges from entering stables.
• Nutritional Support: There is some evidence that feed supplements designed to support skin health, such as Cavelesse and Brewer’s Yeast, may help alleviate symptoms.

Take Action Now! 📅

As the midge season approaches, it’s crucial to implement preventive measures early. If you’re considering the vaccination for your horse, please get in touch with us to discuss the best approach and schedule an appointment. Together, we can ensure your horse enjoys a comfortable and itch-free season.

12/01/2026

You can find us on NFED Equestrian! ☺️🐴 🦷

Exceptional, personalised veterinary and dental care in the New Forest and surrounding areas of Hampshire, Wiltshire & Dorset.

06/01/2026

🐴 Case Study: Choke in a Golden Oldie 🐴

On Sunday, Beth was called out to one of her longest-standing patients and one of her dearest boys, Basil, at the grand old age of 34! 💛

Basil holds a very special place in Beth’s heart as he was one of the first horses she treated nearly 18 years ago when she first qualified as a vet, and she has been his vet ever since. What an honour 🥹

Due to his age, Basil’s teeth are now almost completely worn down. Horses’ teeth erupt throughout life, but they only have a finite amount, meaning Basil can no longer eat hay. Instead, he thrives on grass, frequent mash feeds as a hay replacer, and an awful lot of love and TLC from his wonderful, dedicated owner Jane Barter.

Over the weekend, Jane was away celebrating a big birthday 🎉 and Basil was being lovingly cared for by Caireen. Unfortunately, possibly due to the cold weather and not drinking quite as much as usual, Basil developed choke while eating his mash.

Most cases of choke will resolve within an hour, so Basil was carefully monitored but when the obstruction didn’t clear, Beth headed out to help. Basil had managed to create a fairly impressive blockage involving much of his oesophagus.

He was given:
• Light sedation
• Pain relief
• A smooth muscle relaxant to reduce oesophageal spasm

This allowed Beth to carefully pass a stomach tube and lavage the obstruction. Most of the blockage was siphoned back out through the tube (as seen in the photo 📸), with the remainder gently encouraged into the stomach. Water and electrolytes were then administered via the tube to rehydrate him.

Due to the small but possible risk of aspiration pneumonia, Basil was also given intravenous antibiotics as a precaution.

✨ We are delighted to report that Basil has made a good recovery ✨
Jane sent us a lovely update today and was very happy to be home with her boy. Basil is back to happily grazing in his paddock, with a normal temperature and no cough or nasal discharge - all signs we ask owners to monitor closely following choke.

Well done Basil, and huge thanks to Jane and Caireen for his excellent care 💙
A wonderful reminder that even our golden oldies can do brilliantly with attentive management and prompt veterinary care. 🥰🐴

02/01/2026

02/01/2026

🎉🐎 Happy New Year! 🐎🎉

What a way to trot into 2026! Two of our wonderful clients, Sarah Blake and Rob Forbes, had the honour of taking part in the New Year’s Day Parade through London. A perfect start to the Year of the Horse 🐴 ✨

Now it’s your turn! How did you kick off 2026? We’d love to see your photos, so pop them in the comments below 📸🥳

30/12/2025

💙🎄✨ A huge thank you to all our wonderful clients! ✨🎄💙

Thank you for the lovely gifts, cards and Christmas messages, they’ve truly made our days. As we reflect on a very busy year, it reminds us how lucky we are.🐴

We always strive to treat every horse, pony and donkey as if they were our own, and the little gestures truly mean so much to us. They reconfirm why we always go the extra mile to provide the very best care and service possible.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2026! 🌟💙🐎

21/12/2025

🎄✨ Wishing all our wonderful clients a festive season filled with peace, love, and joy for your families and your horses, ponies & donkeys! 🐴🫏 🥰

Our team had a fantastic evening celebrating together-making wreaths, playing games, and sharing lots of laughter. Barley even managed to photobomb! 🐶

We’d love to see your horsey festive photos-share them in the comments and let’s spread the seasonal cheer! 📸❤️

19/12/2025

🌟 Huge Congratulations! 🌟

We are absolutely thrilled to congratulate Aimee Dovey and her wonderful mare Mollie, who were foot perfect in the Rising Stars Cob class at the London International Horse Show today! 🏆✨

Mollie’s journey to the spotlight hasn’t been straightforward. Back in February she began showing reluctance under saddle, leading to a full lameness investigation. This included nerve blocks, X-rays and ultrasound scans, which revealed bilateral hock osteoarthritis and foot pain.

Following Arthramid treatment in both hocks, alongside excellent remedial farriery, physiotherapy, and an enormous amount of dedication and hard work from Aimee, Mollie is now looking better than ever 💪🐴

This result is a true testament to the power of a whole-team approach and to Aimee’s commitment to Mollie’s wellbeing. We couldn’t be prouder to have been part of this journey.

Well done Aimee and Mollie, what a fantastic achievement! 🏆

21/11/2025

21/11/2025

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟

Our very own Nicky Brooks is delivering two lectures at the London Vet Show, sharing her expert knowledge and experience in equine dentistry with fellow veterinary professionals. 🐴🦷

The London Vet Show is Europe’s largest two-day gathering of the veterinary community, bringing together thousands of vets from around the world to learn, connect, and advance their skills.

We’re incredibly proud to have Nicky on our team. Her expertise, dedication, and passion for equine dentistry make her an invaluable part of our practice. 💙

Good luck, Nicky — we know you’ll do us proud! 👏

10/11/2025

🚨 Case Spotlight: Red the Forest Run Mare 🚨

⚠️ Warning: Graphic images of a horse injury below ⚠️

Poor Red got a little too curious for greener grass… A fallen forest perimeter barbed wire fence caught her, resulting in a severe heel bulb injury. She even severed her digital vein in the process! 😳

Beth was able to fit several fingers deep into the wound, and incredibly, Red avoided vital structures including the navicular bursa, coffin joint, and digital flexor tendon sheath—a truly lucky escape.

Wounds in this location are tricky to manage due to the constant movement when walking. Bandaging alone often isn’t enough, making these cases perfect candidates for a foot cast to immobilise the area and promote healing.

Our approach:
✅ Immediate haemostasis and surgical debridement of the wound
✅ After a couple of days, once the inflammation had settled, Beth & Nicky applied a foot cast

Fast forward 4 weeks post-injury—cast removed and the wound looks fantastic! There was some proud granulation tissue, which we carefully resected, and now the wound is almost completely healed.

Red is on track for a full recovery, and we couldn’t be happier with her progress. 🐴💖

A huge reminder to all horse owners to regularly check and repair any damaged fences to avoid serious injuries.