Stringer Equine Veterinary Surgeons

25/09/2025

The weather has certainly turned autumnal now 🍁🍂 and with the new season come changing challenges for managing horse health:

- ⚠️Check your horses paddocks for acorns, sycamore seeds or the leaves of these trees and fence off any areas affected. The affects of acorn poisoning or atypical myopathy (sycamore) can be serious, and equine fatalities have already been reported this month.

- Be aware of an increased laminitis risk, as cold nights and sunny day lead to high grass sugar levels. Keep a close eye on any horse or pony with a history of laminitis, including checking the feet for excess heat and raised digital pulses.

- If you transition your horse from (more) turnout to (more) stabling be mindful of the impact sudden changes can have on their digestive systems and colic risk. Alter access to grazing and increase the amount of hay or haylage into their diet gradually as far as possible.

- Have you had a few frosts this week? DON'T reach for your encysted redworm treatment yet! It is only after a few weeks of prolonged cold winter weather that this should be considered. DO send in a sample for an autumn worm count - targeted test based treatment is the best option at this time of year.

As always, if you have any worries about your horses health just give us a call ☎️ and for anything urgent remember our vets are on call 24/7 via our usual office number for emergencies - 01647 231246

09/09/2025

Many of you will have now met Eve Magowan, who has joined our vet team (along with her lovely pup Nell) from another practice in South Devon earlier in the summer. We are delighted to have her on board, and have already had some very lovely feedback from one of her visits last month:

"Just wanted to send a quick email about your new vet Eve.

She came to see Cody (Quovadis) this week for his vaccination and was absolutely brilliant.

Cody is still wary of strangers and Eve took 5min to do some positive reinforcement training with him before and after the injection.

I really appreciated her taking the time to give him a good experience and I'm sure Cody appreciated the treats too!

I have thanked her in person but also wanted to let you know how great she is!"

Thank you Amelie for your kind words, and the handsome pic of Cody to include in this post.

Welcome to Stringer Equine Eve & Nell!

04/09/2025

Dolly and Nancy were both thrilled to receive their new 1st aid kits last week 🩹🐴

These are the two winners of our prize draw of entries at Okehampton and Chagford shows. Names were drawn on Friday August 22nd, and the kits were sent out with special delivery by some of the Stringers team to each horse and their young riders Tabby and Eva. Congratulations girls!

01/09/2025

28/08/2025

We had a really interesting evening at Rathkenny Stud last night seeing their Cold Water Spa and Water Treadmill in action. It's great to know these facilities are available locally! Rehabilitating your horse after an injury or time off due to illness can be a daunting process, but our vets are always happy to help devise a suitable individualised plan, and to work with your equine physio where appropriate to help get our patients back to full fitness 💪🐴

22/08/2025

‘What’s the matter with Des’ has been quite the Saga for our lovely client Kate at Soft and Sound, and what a huge difference there is between these 'before' and 'after' pictures! And all because of a tooth.... 🦷 (We could also start this post with 'Why routine dental checks are essential!')
The many puzzle pieces of Des' troubles were quite concerning, and in recent months along with looking poor, Des also started to look (in Kate's words), well, weird. His neck, back and shoulders lost all condition and he began to develop stringy, pronounced muscles in his neck.
Amongst the veterinary investigations, a routine dental exam by Keith Evans found just a little bit of movement in a molar with the comment 'I don’t like it…’. and a vet referral swiftly followed.
Stringer Equine are incredibly lucky to have a vet who loves teeth. Harriet - "tiny but mighty" - examined Des, and recommended X-rays. These revealed something no one could see from the outside; two of Des’s lower molars had been quietly rotting away under the gum line. With the a problem diagnosed and literally extracted the offending teeth are now gone. A few weeks down the line and Des is a much happier boy 🐴

When asked why she liked doing teeth, Harriet's reply was simple: ‘Because I’ve seen the difference good dental care can make to horses’.

We are very lucky in Devon to have some excellent equine dental technicians, and our vets are always happy to work with them where veterinary referrals (or sedation) are required, as well as offering dentals as routine appointments with one of our vets. All horses should receive at least an annual dental check, so don't let this slip by!

21/08/2025

We're excited to be heading to Chagford Show today! Don't forget to stop by and enter our prize draw to win a 1st ait kit for your stable or transport, and practice your bandaging skills on our model patient ;)

16/08/2025

Congratulations to all of the competitors out at Bicton Arena today, and especially the prize winners for the 1.20 Open! What a lovely day to be watching some fabulous jumping 👏

Winner of the 120 Open - Sponsored by Stringer Equine Veterinary Surgeons
Amanda Clark - Saddlecloth sponsored by Redpost Equestrian & prizes sponsored by Stringer Equine Veterinary Practice

14/08/2025

We still have a few space for our Zone 4 visit on Monday. Chudleigh, Kingsteignton, Bickington, West Ogwell, Landscove, Rattery areas. Please call the office if you would like to book a routine visit. 01647 231246

14/08/2025

All set up at Okehampton Show. We're right next to the blue gates so you can't miss us!

11/08/2025

There are a few spaces left on our Zone visit 5 for Wednesday. Drewsteignton, Crockernwell, Cheriton Bishop, Doccombe, Bridford, Christow, Longdown, Dunchideock, Hennock. Please call the office to book a routine visit. 01647 231246