Acuscope by Ashley

03/17/2026

This post is a little bit more about the show life that I see. Especially at the Junior rodeo events, and or jackpots. Every year I go to all kinds of events and work on Kids horses. The horses with hearts of gold. At these events majority of the parents have mounted their kids on high dollar ponies or, they have worked hard to make what they have work. Either way they’re driving the miles and writing the checks for their kids to 🥇 win. Nothing wrong with any of it! But, for the parents that aren’t horse savvy. I see you. My parents aren’t horse people, and who to listen too when having issues is hard! If you have a big check book, it’s even harder. People know you know nothing and will charge you for nonsense. So let me talk basics. You can help your horse in small ways. Don’t let the big names bully you into another check. Do your research. Better yet make your kid learn too.
Basics to show life with a 🦄 cause my god the Patriot needed the basics.
🔸Feed- Free feed alfafa! It’s that simple. Don’t let anyone tell you the 40 supplements are necessary. If you’re tight on $. Cut those supplements out unless a vet tells you otherwise.
🔹 Long distance with a hard keeper- electrolytes, omeprazole/ succeed, alfafa and CLEAN WATER! If there is a vet on site, and your horse isn’t drinking, or is stressed. Go get them jugged. It’s cheap. It helps. 💧
🔸 Vet care- if you’re on a budget, and your vet is injecting horses every 3 months, find a different vet. Unless there is an underlying injury or issue that has been vetted and stated clear from the beginning, you are being robbed. If they aren’t listening to every concern, and are talking down to you, find another vet!! Do not let them bully you because you don’t know. But with that being said, show up to the vet appointments and learn. Sending your horses to the vet with other people is how things get missed. Pay attention!
🔹Bleeders- if your kid is getting ran off with, or their horse is refusing the gate. Walk over to a vet after their run (if they’re on site) and get them scoped. It’s too easy. 🫁 Lungs and legs are the biggest part of any athlete! Spend your money there first and for most.
- Shots. Scared of them? Well get un-scared. Go ask your vet to teach you how to properly give them! Even if you’re not a horse person but you’re the rodeo parent. You should know! 💉

Lastly- I’ve treated a lot of horses, in all disciplines. The kids that are winning, are the kids paying attention to what their horses are having done. Acuscope, chiro, farrier. Vet work. Wrapping legs Ect. If you’re asking the questions at the vet and your kid is making TikTok’s or not paying attention, just know, you want it more than they do. Eventually it isn’t going to end well 💸 You’re never to young or too old to learn something new. Ask the questions!! Keep it simple. 💯


📸- “Fax Me a Sweet Mint” 🦄 Back when I hardly knew anything and she tried every time!

03/17/2026

My favorite head horse. He’s a regular on my team!

2004 model... still likes to be 3 because Equinety, Purina, Outlaw Equine Hospital and Rehab Center and Acuscope by Ashley keep him going strong.

03/15/2026

🚩Long hair 🚩 Body soreness 🚩 Attitude 🚩

It’s that time of year where the winter hair starts to let go. Or is it winter hair? There are many factors into this topic. I might not talk about them all, and some might not relate to any. That’s fine!

Ulcers & EPM ~ Treat them. Whether you believe in pharmaceuticals or all natural. Treat them.

There are many compounds and companies that sell and promote epm meds and ulcer meds. Most come from your Vet. What works for one horse, might not work for yours. We ask this horses to show up and perform their best under the most stressful circumstances. Help them out.

Back to my 🚩 list-
🚩Cinchy
🚩Hair coat
🚩Body condition
🚩Soreness
🚩inconsistency
🚩lameness
🚩Dull
🚩Spooky
🚩Lack of appetite
🚩Drooling
These are just a few that can resemble epm and ulcers. One or the other. Or both? When treating for epm it’s always a good idea to help their stomach out. Personally, I can’t take medication on an empty stomach. So let’s cover diet.

Stomach acid can arise just about anytime and anywhere. So when treating for ulcers, they might be great on meds but the second you take them off you’re right back to square one. Having some sort of forage in them most hours of the day can help this. I’m a big believer in free feed Alfalfa 🌾 A full stomach or snacks through out the day can help reside the stomach acid. If your horse is lacking in nutrition, you’re opening up the window for ulcers and epm.

Winter hair? I mean sure. It’ll happen. But if they feel like touching a broom? You most likely have a problem. I understand there are climates that will do this to one. Here in Texas my yearling and broodmare are shinny and soft with minimal hair. They don’t get a blanket and live outside, and only get alfalfa. Consistent worming 🪱 also helps! If your horse is slicked off and fat before training and comes home dull and thin from the trainers, it could’ve been helped. Send them with ulcer meds. Extra feed or even epm meds. Stress can trigger it as well!

Pictured below are a few things you can find in my barn for my performance horses. Most are scripts filled by a Vet.

If you’ve made it this far and think “well I can’t afford any of that.” Take your horses off all the processed grain. Go back to a good forage diet. Horses aren’t designed to eat processed grain it’s junk. I’ll say it again, free feed alfalfa. There are ways to afford it and to help your horse. You just have to choose better options.

Treat the body as a whole 💯

03/08/2026

Life’s been good around here 🦄 Thank you to everyone that supports my small business and trusts me with your incredible athletes! My team around me is second to none. My clients are truly the best. My 10th year in this industry and so far I can’t ask for anything better 🥂🩷 Keep it coming 2026!



Edit to add- as much as I wish I could get to everyone, I still am not accepting new clients! I do have a list of technicians in north Texas who could fit you on theirs! 💯

03/07/2026

The equine carpus.

More often than not in layman’s terms this is often called the knee yet it is more likely the equivalent of our wrist in terms of anatomical layout but also very unlike our wrist in function.

Anatomically its quite easy to remember the names of the bones as often they coincide with the names of their counterpart which they either sit below or above

They are made up of cuboidal bones which means similar shape.

The carpus supports weight, allows for mobility, absorbs shock and Offers stability, it helps with flexion, extension and a little lateral motion, it also prevents hyperextension and is part of the stay apparatus.

On the top row we have the radial Carpal, the intermediate Carpal, the ulnar Carpal bones and these coincide with the radius and ulna bone which is fused in the horse and the intermediate is the one in the middle (sits between)

On the bottom row we have the 1st Carpal bone (not always present, thought to be a evolutionary remnant) then the 2nd, 3rd and fourth coincide with the 2nd, 3rd and fourth Metacarpal bones or the medial splint, cannon and lateral splint bones.

At the back we have the accessory Carpal bone which is classed as a sesamoid bone. (Embedded within a tendon). It is held in place by strong ligaments.
See easy 😀

Often issues with the carpus can be missed as the base of the neck or the lower limb gets more attention, but you know me i like the middle.

Trauma can be one of the main reasons the carpus may get in trouble, it could be to much work to young, repetitive strain, chips and I find its mainly the left forelimb which takes the brunt whether trauma or compensation from somewhere else, I often say if you see the left in trouble other things have been going on a while.

Wear and tear as the horse gets older or premature aging of the joints from an unsuitable workload
The gait can seem choppy as the carpus becomes restrictive in the full movement of the lower limb, how do I explain it ??? The action seems normal above but creates a drill down instead of a free flowing forward movement, I often think it your horse has carpus issues you may want to look at the lower cervicals as well and vice versa.

Foot balance is super important as this will affect how the carpus aligns for function not pretty.

What you can do
Visually, again if you have more than one we can simply compare while all limbs may have a teeny variation there shouldn’t be anything that stands out.

Feel, feel both at the same time with each hand, its easier to feel a difference when comparing at the same time.

Can the back of the hoof reach the elbow?? Or do you feel resistance when asking slowly?? It doesn’t like everything it doesn’t mean there is something wrong but it could indicate the horse needs to be more supplement if you are going to ask for that hard schooling exercise

How does your horse feel about you working around the area??. Behaviour may indicate pain, be careful though especially if you have a c**t or young horse they often play by biting knees so it may be a young horse thing rather than a pain response.

Stiffness, most horses who have access to the freedom to roam shouldn’t be stiff when you ask for work, but again an older horse may move differently to a younger horse, common sense can often be the catalyst to not panic, if you are riding and it feels like to much up and down and not forward and both you and the horse are knackered but not gone far maybe the horse needs a once over by a professional (unless its a breed specific thing)

Like hock lameness, lameness due to a carpus issue is usually pretty easy to spot and first call (I know i sound like a broken record) is the vet who will assess and often confirmation with an x-ray. All lameness should be investigated by a vet first!!!

And keep things in context, often one thing may mean another so we often put the pieces of the puzzle together before making a declaration, and only vets can diagnose so its not that your therapist thinks something is critically wrong when they refer your horse it simply means they are sending your horse to the right person in order to progress forward

Hope this helps xx

02/28/2026

Saturdays are for the girls with loud opinions 🤣. She’s a regular, but won’t let you know it.
What kind of athlete is she?
• 🩷 Barrel horse?
• 💚 Calf horse ?
• 💜 Team roping horse ?
• 💛 Trail Horse ?

02/28/2026

❤️

02/28/2026

My favorite Breakaway duo! 🥳