Equi-Health Canada Plus

A few handy emojis I need to explain my life to my non horsey friends 😜

The later summer months are typically when the mosquitoes that carry West Nile are starting to show up in monitoring traps - is your horse due for a booster?

Fully stocked backpack 🐎 first aid kits are great prizes that are easy to take from barn to trailer - these are being delivered this weekend to a big event nearby … 😜 Equi-Health Canada

What’s holding you back?

Books are open for a limited number of weekends for fall/winter 2026 - senior instructor celebrating 10 years of EHC courses taught across Saskatchewan - and beyond! Dm early for info on courses for your club Equi-Health Canada

Yep this happens!

🚨 Hoof Punctures Are a True Emergency — Don’t Pull It Unless Advised!

A nail or screw in the foot isn’t just a dramatic image, it’s a true medical emergency. Why? Because just millimetres beneath your horse’s sole lie vital structures like the navicular bursa, coffin joint, and digital flexor tendon sheath. When a sharp object penetrates the hoof, it’s not just painful. It can introduce bacteria into these sensitive, synovial structures and trigger life-threatening infection.

If your horse steps on a nail or similar object and it’s still embedded, do not pull it out straight away. As tempting as it is to remove it immediately, leaving the nail in place allows your vet to take x-rays with the object in situ. That radiograph is critical for determining the nail’s exact path and whether deeper structures are involved.

👉 If advised by your vet to remove the object (to avoid further pe*******on), mark the entry point and depth with a piece of tape or permanent marker before discarding it. Then, clean the area with antiseptic and wrap the foot to minimise contamination before your veterinary appointment.

📸 Imaging is everything when it comes to hoof punctures. According to a recent review in Equine Veterinary Education (Scharf & Peroni, 2025), diagnostic imaging including radiographs, MRI, or even CT is essential for evaluating the extent of damage and ensuring correct treatment. Superficial wounds may heal well with conservative care, but if synovial structures are involved, early and aggressive intervention is often the only way to prevent irreversible damage or even loss of the horse.

👉 Bottom line? Time, location, and proper diagnostics matter. Don’t wait to “see how it goes.” An innocent-looking puncture can have devastating consequences if it’s not investigated properly.

🩺 Contact us on 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online: https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

Long live the cowboy! 🤠

Today’s “not normal” investigation came from a gelding desperately trying to scratch his belly in the arena dirt - bugs are awful and had created sores - clean - clot - cover til they heal up 🥺 - how are your horses doing in the heat & bugs?