Southern Cross Equine Vet

Home
Australia
Moss Vale, NSW
Southern Cross Equine Vet

A mobile veterinary practice for horses and other animals based in Moss Vale.

29/08/2026

👁️ Look closely—can you spot two unusual findings in this eye?

Beau was examined last week for a painful eye and was found to have a corneal ulcer—an injury to the clear surface of the eye.

The bright green area in the photograph is fluorescein dye adhering to the damaged cornea and highlighting the ulcer. Corneal ulcers can be very painful and may deteriorate quickly. Squinting, excessive tearing, swelling, cloudiness or reluctance to open an eye should always be treated as reasons to get your vet out promptly.

During the examination, something very unusual was discovered: two pupillary openings within the one iris. This appearance is sometimes described as polycoria. True polycoria, in which both openings respond to changes in light, is extremely rare.

Thank you to the owner, Thomson for sharing this fascinating photograph.

Polycoria is certainly not something we encounter every day in equine practice!

24/08/2026

🌱☀️ Is your horse ready for spring?
El Niño is coming, with warmer and potentially drier conditions forecast for parts of eastern and southern Australia.
For horse owners, a warmer and potentially drier spring is a good reason to start preparing now:
💧 Check troughs, tanks and pipes, and make sure there is a reliable backup water supply.
🌾 Keep an eye on pasture growth and begin planning early for possible hay shortages.
🐴 Don’t be caught out by the spring grass flush. Even in a drier season, a little rain followed by warm sunshine can produce rapid pasture growth and increase the risk of laminitis in susceptible horses. Might be time to put those ponies in their Jenny Craig paddocks.
🌳 Make sure horses have access to adequate shade and ventilation as the days warm up.
🔥 Clear long grass and combustible material from around stables, shelters and fences, and review your bushfire plan—including how and when you would move your horses.
El Niño doesn’t guarantee a terrible summer but a little preparation now can make the warmer months much easier.
What is the first job on your spring horse-care list?

31/07/2026

Tomorrow we celebrate Horse’s Birthday!
Happy Birthday to every horse, pony and donkey enjoying the beautiful winter sunshine.

Did you know the oldest horse ever reliably recorded was Old Billy, who lived to the remarkable age of 62 years? Born in England in 1760, Old Billy spent much of his life as a barge horse, eventually retiring and becoming something of a local celebrity. Even today, he remains an extraordinary reminder of how well horses can thrive with good care.

While few horses reach such an incredible age, many now live well into their 30s thanks to advances in veterinary care, nutrition, dentistry and thoughtful management.

On this Horse’s Birthday, it’s a great reminder to appreciate every stage of your horse’s life—from cheeky youngsters to wise old campaigners. Each one has a story worth celebrating.

Wishing all our equine friends a happy birthday from Southern Cross Equine Vet. We hope you’re all enjoying this glorious winter sunshine. ☀️💙

📸 please post a photo of u with your horse and tell us how old he/she is

22/07/2026

🐴 Rugs on? Rugs off? Welcome to winter horse ownership! ❄️
Every day seems to start with the same question…
Does my horse need a rug today?
Many of us worry about our horses getting cold, but surprisingly, being too hot can actually be a bigger problem than being a little cool.
Horses are incredibly well adapted to winter. Their winter coats trap warm air close to the skin, acting as natural insulation. Add a rug when it’s needed, but remember that an unnecessarily heavy rug can stop this natural system from working and may cause your horse to overheat—even on cool, sunny days.
Think Goldilocks…
🐴 Not too cold.
🐴 Not too hot.
🐴 Just right.
A few things to keep in mind:
🐴 Older, clipped, underweight or unwell horses often need more protection than a healthy horse with a winter coat.
🌤️ Even in winter, horses still need access to shade. The winter sun can be surprisingly warm, particularly if they’re wearing rugs.
💨 Horses generally cope better with cold and dry than cold, wet and windy. Shelter from wind and rain is just as important as a rug.
👀 Check under the rug each day. If your horse feels sweaty or damp, they’re probably wearing too much.
Every horse is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Different breeds have different requirements too. Shetland ponies, as the name suggests, evolved in a harsh, cold climate and are comfortable with far less rugging than people expect. Finer-coated breeds, such as many Arabs and Thoroughbreds, appreciate extra protection during a Southern Highlands winter..
The aim isn’t to keep them as warm as possible—it’s to keep them comfortable.
Personally, I tend to start rugging around ANZAC Day, but I always let the horse—and the weather—have the final say.
💬 When do you decide it’s time to rug your horse?
Are you an early rugger, or do you let your horse wear their winter coat for as long as possible? Photo shows me and my Tina who doesn’t need to be rugged often.

07/07/2026

Telstra Outage
It seems my phone number has been affected by the current Telstra outage.
If you need to contact a vet and can’t get through by phone or text, please message me on WhatsApp using the same number:
📱 0413 834 370
I’ll respond as soon as I can. Thanks for your patience!

06/07/2026

👁️ A tiny foreign body… causing a very painful eye.

I recently saw a gorgeous pony, Lollypop, after developing a very sore eye.

She had marked conjunctivitis, copious discharge and was keeping her eye tightly closed due to pain.

After a careful examination, we found the culprit—a tiny foreign body sitting directly on her cornea, only about 4 mm long.

Although Lollypop’s eye looked extremely painful, fluorescein staining showed no evidence of a corneal ulcer after the foreign body was removed, which was excellent news. This highlights why a thorough eye examination is so important—it’s impossible to know the cause or severity of an eye problem without looking closely.

It’s amazing how something so small can cause so much discomfort.

If your horse suddenly develops:
🐴 A tightly closed eye
🐴 Excessive tearing or discharge
🐴 Swelling around the eye
🐴 Sensitivity to light

don’t wait to see if it settles. Horses can develop corneal ulcers very quickly, and early examination can make all the difference.

📷 Swipe through the photos to see:
• Lollypop’s eye before treatment
• Her eye after recovery
• The tiny 4 mm foreign body responsible

Early veterinary attention can mean the difference between a simple treatment and a much more serious eye problem.

02/07/2026

🐴 Sometimes It’s the Small Things That Matter Most 🩺

One of the things I’ve learnt as an equine vet is that horses rarely read the textbook.

Sometimes they let us know something is wrong in obvious ways. But just as often, it’s the little changes that tell the story.

Perhaps they’re standing quietly at the back of the paddock instead of greeting you at the gate.

Maybe they leave a little feed behind when they’re normally enthusiastic eaters.

They might drink a bit less, seem just a touch quieter than usual, or their poo production isn’t what it usually is.

On their own, these changes may not seem significant. But together, they can be the first signs that your horse isn’t right.

No one knows your horse better than you do. If you find yourself thinking, “They’re just not quite themselves today,” trust that instinct. It doesn’t always mean there’s a serious problem, but it’s often worth keeping a close eye on them—or giving a vet a call if you’re concerned.

Early intervention can make all the difference.

💙 I’d much rather answer a question early than be called when a horse is seriously unwell.

📞 Southern Cross Equine Vet
0413 834 370

21/06/2026

🐴 What Do You Do With Your Horse Poo? 🐴

When I was little, my brothers and I started a business called “Poo 4 U.” If you’ll pardon the pun, it never really got off the ground! 😄

All these years later, I still spend plenty of time thinking about horse poo. At home, I bag up manure and local gardeners are always happy to take it away. This week, a lovely neighbour even thanked me with some homemade lemon and lime curd.

Regularly picking up poo is one of the simplest things horse owners can do to help maintain their horse’s health. Removing manure reduces pasture contamination with worm eggs and larvae, helping to lower the parasite burden on your property.

As a general rule, paddocks are best picked out at least once a week, and more often where stocking densities are high.

So, I’m curious:

💩 Do you compost your horse manure?
🌱 Give it away to gardeners?
🚜 Spread it on the paddocks?
🥕 Use it in the veggie patch?

Let us know in the comments what happens to your horse poo!

Southern Cross Equine Vet
📞 0413 834 370

14/06/2026

🐴 Seeing More Colic Cases at the Moment 🐴

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been called out to a noticeable increase in horses suffering from colic.

While colic can occur at any time of year, winter often brings a number of additional risk factors, including:

❄️ Reduced water intake
🌱 Changes in pasture availability
🌾 Increased reliance on hay
🏇 Reduced exercise during wet or cold weather

Some simple steps that may help reduce the risk include:

✅ Ensuring horses always have access to clean, fresh water
✅ Adding salt to the feed to encourage horses who are poor drinkers to drink
✅ Making any dietary changes gradually
✅ Maintaining regular exercise where possible
✅ Monitoring appetite and manure output closely

Signs of colic can include:

• Pawing
• Looking at the flank
• Rolling
• Repeatedly lying down and getting up
• Reduced appetite
• Reduced or absent manure production

Unfortunately, colic can become life-threatening very quickly, so when in doubt, give us a call.

📞 Southern Cross Equine Vet
0413 834 370

04/06/2026

I have been so touched by people’s kindness over the last few weeks. My family, my friends, and my clients (many of whom have become dear friends) have all been amazing.

The drawings, the flowers, the biscuits and messages have meant a lot. My lovely old neighbours, who loved Gully too, sum it up perfectly.

Grief can feel very lonely, but the kindness people have shown me has really helped.

Thank you, everyone. ❤️

Address

Moss Vale
Moss Vale, NSW

Telephone

+61413834370

Website

http://www.southerncrossequinevet.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Southern Cross Equine Vet posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Southern Cross Equine Vet:

Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service in Moss Vale?