Desert Mountain Equine

05/22/2026

🐴 Healthy Hooves Start Here! 🐴

Looking for trusted hoof care products for horses? Jim Ricken’s Foot Formula #1™ is a go-to solution for horse owners, farriers, and equine professionals focused on maintaining healthy horse feet and overall hoof condition.

Designed for use on the sole and frog of horse feet, Rickens Foot Formula is commonly used for hoof maintenance and support for horses dealing with tender feet, bruising, and routine hoof care needs.

✅ Supports healthy hoof condition
✅ Helps maintain strong, resilient hooves
✅ Great for horse hoof maintenance routines
✅ Trusted by horse owners and farriers
✅ Ideal for year-round hoof care support

Strong feet are the foundation of a strong horse. Whether you own performance horses, ranch horses, barrel horses, trail horses, or backyard companions, proper hoof care matters.

📍 Available at R&K Farrier Supplies
19011 E. San Tan Blvd. Ste 101
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
📞 480-855-7963

Stop in today and get the hoof care products your horses deserve!

05/01/2026

🧡🐍 Rattlesnake season is here in Arizona — don’t let your guard down. 🐍🧡

This is a case we treated last year after a rattlesnake bite.
The swelling became so severe that this horse required an emergency tracheostomy (breathing tube) to survive.

⚠️ These cases can escalate quickly and become life-threatening.

Signs to watch for:

• Sudden, severe swelling (face, muzzle, limbs)
• Pain or agitation
• Difficulty breathing
• Weakness or collapse

🚨 If you suspect a bite — call immediately. Early treatment is critical.

How to reduce risk:

✔️ Keep weeds, brush, and debris cleared
✔️ Check around feeders, water tanks, and barns
✔️ Be cautious in tall grass or desert areas

📞 We are available for emergencies
Office: 480-294-7403
Emergency: 480-848-5240

A quick response can make all the difference.

Let’s keep your horses safe this season. 🐴

04/30/2026

🎉 APRIL BIRTHDAYS 🎉

Dr. Lucas Casterton, Marisol & Lauren 💛

This group brings a little bit of everything to the clinic—in the best way. The laughs, the personalities, the random moments that somehow make even the longest days better… you can’t miss it when they’re around.

At the same time, they care deeply—about their patients, their clients, and each other. It’s that mix of passion and personality that makes them such an important part of our team.

We’re really lucky to have all three of you.

Happy Birthday 🥳

04/27/2026

We had the privilege of being part of an incredible clinic this weekend with Eddie Palacios, put on by R&K Farrier Supplies.

This hands-on workshop offered an in-depth look at the equine lower limb, focusing on practical, real-world anatomy to sharpen diagnostic skills. From guided leg dissections to reading radiographs and even shoeing the cadaver—every piece tied directly back to improving how we care for these horses.

Grateful for opportunities like this to keep learning, growing, and bringing better knowledge back to our clients and their horses.

04/21/2026

🚨 Notice 🚨

Our phone lines and internet are currently down due to a Cox outage, with an estimated restoration time of 3:00 PM.

If you have an emergency, please call 480-848-5240.

We appreciate your patience and will update as soon as everything is back up and running!

04/10/2026

🩻 Fun Case Friday! 🐴

Here’s an interesting one for you 👀

Take a look at this X-ray and tell us… what do you think is going on? 🤔

👉 What stands out to you?
👉 What would be your concern?

Drop your guesses in the comments ⬇️ — we love seeing how you all think through these cases!

We’ll share the answer later, so stay tuned 👏

04/08/2026

🚨 VSV Travel Update: What You Need to Know Right Now 🐴🇨🇦

We know many of you have been hoping the travel requirements might ease up… but with another confirmed case of Vesicular Stomatitis (VSV) in Arizona, it looks like restrictions are here to stay for the time being.

Here’s a clear breakdown of what this means for travel 👇

⸻

➡️ If You’re Leaving Arizona (or any affected state)
Before you can move into a VSV-free state, you’ll need:
• A current health certificate (must be done prior to travel)
• Negative Coggins (within 1 year)
• Careful timing — some states are tightening health certificate windows

⸻

➡️ 21-Day Quarantine Requirement (for Canada-bound horses)
• Must be completed in a VSV-free state
• 21 consecutive days
• Receipts and documentation required for proof of stay
• This step is essential before re-entry into Canada

⸻

➡️ Returning to Canada
Once quarantine is complete:
• Vet re-exam required in the quarantine state
• International health certificate needed for travel
• Coggins must be within 6 months
• USDA endorsement required (can take up to ~2 weeks)

⸻

⚠️ What’s Changing Right Now
We’re seeing tighter timelines across multiple states for health certificates, for example:
• Nevada — 7 days
• Washington — 24 hours
• Oregon — 72 hours
• New Mexico — 14 days
• Montana — 7 days

With the new confirmed case, it’s also expected that Canadian border restrictions on Arizona horses will remain in place for at least 30 days from the most recent case, and possibly longer.

⸻

👉 Bottom line
If you have travel plans coming up — especially interstate or international — start planning early. A little extra preparation now can save a lot of last-minute stress later.

As always, if you need help navigating paperwork, timing, or quarantine planning, reach out to us anytime — we’re here to help keep you and your horses moving safely 🐎💙

04/08/2026

Heads up from Desert Mountain Equine — we’ve had another confirmed case of Vesicular Stomatitis (VSV) here in Arizona, per the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC).

We’re sharing their post to help keep everyone informed, but here’s what this likely means moving forward:

• Border closures (Canada):
With a new confirmed case, it’s expected that the Canadian border will remain closed to Arizona horses for at least 30 days from the most recent case (and possibly longer).

• For our Canadian clients:
Horses will need to be quarantined in a VSV-free state for 21 days before qualifying for re-entry into Canada.
They are requiring receipts and proof of quarantine, so be sure to document everything carefully.

• Travel + Health Certificates:
We have been seeing tighter restrictions across the board. Many states have shortened the validity window for health certificates, for example:
– Nevada: 7 days
– Washington: 24 hours
- Oregon: 72 Hours
- New Mexico: 14 Days
- Montana: 7 Days

Bottom line: If you have travel plans coming up, especially interstate or international, please plan ahead and give yourself extra time. These rules are shifting quickly, and we want to help you avoid any last-minute hiccups.

As always, if you have questions about travel requirements, quarantine planning, or paperwork, reach out to us — we’re here to help keep you and your horses moving safely

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04/07/2026

This sweet mare came into our clinic after foaling for a retained placenta, got taken care of, and decided a little post-baby recovery nap was in order. We love seeing all the babies this time of year and helping keep both mares and foals safe and healthy 🤍

Important things to watch for after your mare foals:

• Placenta passed within 3 hours – anything longer is considered retained and needs veterinary attention ASAP
• Make sure the entire placenta passed – it should come out complete and intact (think “Y” shape). If anything looks torn, missing, or questionable, call your vet
• Keep the placenta for your vet to examine (it tells us a lot!)
• Excessive bleeding or foul odor – not normal, call your vet
• Mare acting painful, lethargic, or off – could be early signs of complications like infection, colic or laminitis
• Foal nursing within 2 hours and up, bright, and active

Foaling season is beautiful… but it can turn quickly if something is off. When in doubt, call your vet!

We’re always here to help keep your mares happy, healthy, and ready to enjoy their new little ones 🐴✨