Stride Equine Vets

23/06/2026

𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐖𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆

With soaring temperatures and a red weather warning issued for extreme heat on Wednesday and Thursday we would like to reassure clients that our vets will continue to provide emergency and routine appointments and wish to thank the lovely clients who have already made themselves available for early morning appointments in the cooler times of the day as well as those that have rescheduled some routine appointments.

We would urge owners to give careful consideration continuing with some routine appointments and determine if their horses will cope with the heat, have access to adequate shade and if procedures involving sedation are necessary as we have rescheduled several of these due to the extreme heat.

We can offer very early routine appointments to safeguard not only your horses but also our vets – please contact the office to discuss this.

We wish to protect horses (and humans) as much as possible as hot weather can significantly increase the horses’ body temperature to uncomfortable or even dangerous levels that can result in a serious challenge to their health and wellbeing, if not properly managed.

Horses must be monitored carefully in hot weather to ensure their welfare.

We strongly advise against travelling horses during this time unless it is deemed an emergency as transporting horses can significantly increase the risk of heat stress, dehydration and respiratory issues.

Old and young horses and those with underlying conditions are at increased risk.
We strongly advise that unnecessary journeys and any exercise in the extreme heat over the next few days be avoided and that the welfare of your horses and ponies is a priority.

We hope everyone manages to stay cool!

Please contact the practice on 01420 551365 if you have concerns or if your horse requires urgent veterinary attention.

22/06/2026

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

Horses can become dehydrated, collapse, or even die if not managed correctly in hot temperatures.

In hot sunny conditions like we are experiencing now, we advise the following guidance and checks.
Always contact your veterinary surgeon if you are concerned about the health of your horse.

𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐓
• Turn your horses out during the cooler times of the day – early morning or late evening are best.
• If you have no access to a stable, make sure your horse has plenty of shade from trees or a purpose-built shelter.
• Remove all rugs except fly rugs

𝐇𝐘𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
• Ensure access to clean fresh water as horses will drink much more in hot weather – a normal 500kg horse will drink around 25 litres in a normal day without accounting for exercise and hot weather- this may double their requirements.

• Use of electrolytes is strongly advised particularly in hot weather

• Offer COLD drinking water – add apple juice or similar to aide interest.

𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐄
• Horses in work should be kept as cool as possible
• Riding should be done during cooler times ideally early in the morning or late in the evening.
• Put off faster work
• Cool down your horse after exercise by hosing or sponging with cold water all over their body

𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐍
• This applies to your horses as well as yourselves
• Use a fly mask and /or fly rug
• Use and SPF 50 waterproof sunscreen suitable for human use
• Also use sunscreen on the pink skinned areas of your horse

𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄:
Increased temperature
• Sunken eyes
• Positive skin tent test (skin does not return to flat within 6 seconds)
• Dry mucous membranes in the mouth– should be a pink colour and feel slimy.
• Increased respiratory rate
• Increased heart rate
• Behavioural changes – e.g., depressed, ataxic (“wobbly” walking)
• Lethargy
• Profuse sweating.

WHEN TO CALL THE VET:

• Heart rate above 55 beats per minute
• Skin Fold test remains above 6 seconds
• Dry tacky mucous membranes
• Horse is panting with nostrils flared – breathing rate above 30 per minute. Elbows may be outwardly rotated.
• Horse has stopped/reduced sweating without any change to re**al temperature.
• Horse is depressed or ‘wobbly’ when moving
• Muscle spasms or tremors, particularly over the hindquarters.

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞:
• CONTINUOUS cold hosing over main trunk of body and inside of upper legs
• Move horse into shaded area, preferably with a breeze
• Install fans around horse to aid in sweat evaporation if possible.
• Offer COLD drinking water – add apple juice to aide interest.
• Walk quietly with the horse for 5 minutes, then rest for 15 minutes and repeat.
• Water Scraping a hot horse is an ABSOLUTE NO! It makes the cooling process worse!

𝐏.𝐒 - 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬!!

Please call our team on 𝟎𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟎 𝟓𝟓𝟏𝟑𝟔𝟓 if you would like to discuss any issues regarding heatstroke

26/05/2026

What a treat on a hot day when you turn up to do X-rays in the heat and your lovely client produces this delicious treat to cool us down !

26/05/2026

An early morning visit to see the sponsorship board Lycroft Farm Equestrian Events all ready for the weekend.

22/05/2026

01/05/2026

𝑽𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 '𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆' 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌!
𝑫𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒋𝒐𝒃 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒊𝒏.
𝑾𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒔.

05/04/2026

STRIDE EQUINE VETS WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OUR CLIENTS A VERY HAPPY EASTER.

02/04/2026

Easter Weekend is here, and we want to wish all of our clients, friends, and 4 legged companions a great time over the long weekend!! 🐣🐣🐣
Callum thought best to introduce the new (lack of) hair cut so you all aren't scared next time he arrives. We have our very own easter egg in the practice now, with a little bit of spot-the-difference in the last photo🥚😂
Happy Easter from everyone at Stride and we hope you all have fun!