Celtic Equine Vets-Your Independent Equine Veterinary and Dental Practice

03/08/2026

💙 Meet the Team Monday 💙

This week we're introducing one of our Office Administrators, Leanne White.

Leanne joined the practice in July 2023 but some of our clients may recognise her from her previous job working for a local feed merchant.

Outside of work, Leanne loves nothing more than spending time trackside enjoying a different kind of horsepower through motorsport, as well as making memories with her husband and children. 🏎

She also runs her own small business looking after horses, ponies, donkeys and pets. Her own New Forest pony, Storm, is full of character and always keeps her smiling – he's definitely one of her happy places. 🐴

We're so lucky to have someone whose passion for animal care extends far beyond the working day. 💙

02/08/2026

🐴 Romsey Show - Equine Influenza Statement 🐴

Once again, we're delighted to be providing the equine veterinary cover at this year's Romsey Show!

We've been working closely with the Show organisers to introduce enhanced biosecurity measures in response to the recent Equine Influenza cases, helping to protect every horse, pony and donkey attending the event. As outlined in the Show's official statement:

✅ All equines must have received a minimum of 2 injections (no less than 21 days between the first & second vaccination) if starting a new course or an Equine Influenza booster within the last 6 months, but not within 7 days prior to the show. Therefore, horses vaccinated between 5th and 11th September will not be admitted.

✅ Horse passports must be presented on arrival, where vaccination records will be checked. Please have these to hand and open on the correct pages, to help our vets complete their checks as efficiently as possible. Passports then must also be presented at the Secretary's Tent before unloading any equines.

✅ Competitors are asked to follow simple biosecurity measures throughout the day, including:
• Minimising time on the showground once classes are complete.
• Not allowing horses to graze on the showground.
• Bringing your own water, buckets and equipment, and not sharing tack or grooming kit.
• Avoiding nose-to-nose contact between horses.
• Only attend if your horse is healthy and has shown no signs of respiratory disease in the previous 14 days.

The welfare of every equine attending is our highest priority. By working together and following these measures, we can help reduce the risk of disease transmission and ensure a safe and enjoyable day for everyone.

Thank you to all exhibitors and competitors for your support—we look forward to seeing you at Romsey Show! 💙🐴

📣 The announcement everyone has been waiting for is finally here! 🐴🎉

The Romsey Show Equine Schedule is now LIVE, and entries are officially OPEN! 🏆

https://romseyshow.co.uk/competitors/horse/

We are absolutely thrilled to share this year’s schedule with you and can’t wait to welcome competitors back for another fantastic Romsey Show. Whether you’re a familiar face or joining us for the first time, we look forward to seeing you in the ring.

📖 Check out the schedule and get your entries in – we can’t wait to see you all there!

For full details on our equine flu protocol, please check the webpage linked above.

30/07/2026

🐴 COUGHING, POOR PERFORMANCE OR SUSPECTED EQUINE ASTHMA? 🐴

Respiratory disease can significantly affect your horse's comfort, health and performance. The good news is that there are a number of ways we can investigate and manage these conditions.

At Celtic Equine Vets, we offer:

🔬 Airway Diagnostics

• Endoscopic examination of the upper airways
• Tracheal wash (TW) sampling to assess inflammation, infection and airway health
• Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) to evaluate the lower airways and help diagnose Equine Asthma
• Laboratory analysis of samples to guide treatment decisions

💨 Nebuliser Hire

Nebulisation allows medication or saline to be delivered directly into the airways, helping to reduce inflammation, loosen mucus and improve respiratory comfort. We have nebulisers available for hire and can advise on the most appropriate treatment plan for your horse.

📋 Individual Management Plans

Successful treatment of Equine Asthma often involves more than medication alone. We can advise on:

• Stable and bedding management
• Hay soaking or steaming
• Turnout strategies
• Dust reduction measures
• Exercise recommendations
• Long-term monitoring and prevention

Early intervention often leads to better outcomes and can help prevent chronic airway changes from developing.

If your horse has a cough, isn't performing as expected, or you're concerned about their breathing, get in touch with the team to discuss the most appropriate investigation and treatment options.

☎️ 02380 814155
📧 [email protected]

27/07/2026

💙 Meet the Team Monday 💙

This week, we're introducing one of our equine veterinary surgeons, Stephanie Wescott.

Steph recently joined the Celtic team after relocating to the beautiful New Forest. Originally from Sussex, she headed to Liverpool to study Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2017, before spending several years working in North Wales and Cheshire.

Now settled back in the South, Steph is loving life in the Forest – especially spotting donkey foals on her drive to work each morning! She's often joined on visits by her two canine companions, Connie and Peanut, who are making the most of exploring their new home (usually with their "selective hearing" switched on! 🐾).

When she's not out visiting patients, you'll find Steph at the yard with her horse, Brad (AKA Bradley Cooper!), enjoying hacks across Acres Down, or at home trying to conquer the garden and the last few moving boxes. 📦🐴

We're so pleased to have Steph on the team. Her warm personality, dedication and love of horses make her a wonderful fit for Celtic Equine, and we can't wait for more of our clients to get to know her. 💙

25/07/2026

⚠️ Ragwort Alert: A Hidden Danger in Summer Grazing 🌼🐴

As we make our way around the New Forest and visit horses across the area, we're seeing an increasing amount of yellow ragwort in fields. Although it has huge benefits for the local insect population, Ragwort is highly toxic to horses, ponies and donkeys.

Here's why it's so dangerous:
🐴 It causes irreversible liver damage when eaten.
🌾 Horses are most at risk when grazing is poor or when ragwort has been cut and dried into hay or haylage.
🩸 Early liver damage often shows no obvious signs and can only be detected with a blood test.
⚠️ As the disease progresses, you may see weight loss, lethargy, skin lesions on pink skin, jaundice, colic, and neurological signs.
😔 Euthanasia is often the only option for horses diagnosed with late stage liver failure.

How you can protect your horse, pony or donkey:

✅ Remove ragwort from paddocks as early as possible, pulling up the entire plant including the roots. Dispose of it safely (burning is ideal where permitted).
✅ For larger infestations, consider spraying and ensure dead plants are removed or have completely rotted away before horses return to the field.
✅ Buy hay and haylage from reputable suppliers who can confirm it comes from ragwort-free fields.
✅ If you think your horse may have been exposed, speak to your vet about a blood test. Detecting liver damage early gives us the best chance of slowing progression and supporting liver function.

A few minutes spent checking your fields now could make all the difference. If you're concerned about ragwort exposure or would like to discuss liver testing, please get in touch with our team—we're always happy to help.

☎️ 023 8081 4155
📧 [email protected]

23/07/2026

🌾 HARVEST SEASON, HOT WEATHER & YOUR HORSE'S AIRWAYS 🌾

As harvesting gets underway and the weather remains hot and dry, airborne dust levels can increase significantly. For some horses, this can irritate the airways and contribute to respiratory conditions such as Equine Asthma.

Many horses show subtle signs long before they develop an obvious cough, so it's important to know what to look for.

🔍 Signs your horse may be struggling with their airways:

• Occasional coughing, particularly when starting exercise
• A slight reduction in performance or stamina
• Taking longer to recover after exercise
• Becoming reluctant to work forwards or engage
• Increased respiratory rate after exercise
• Mild nasal discharge
• Increased sensitivity to dusty environments
• Breathing noises that weren't previously present
• Changes in attitude, energy levels or willingness to work
• Looking "unfit" despite maintaining a normal workload

More advanced cases may show:

• Frequent coughing
• Laboured breathing
• Increased abdominal effort when breathing
• Flared nostrils at rest
• Weight loss or reduced condition
• Development of a "heave line" along the abdomen

The combination of dust from harvesting, dry ground conditions, pollen and stable dust can all contribute to airway inflammation during the summer months.

If you've noticed any of these signs, it may be worth having your horse assessed. Early investigation can help identify problems before they begin to significantly affect your horse's health or performance.

Keep an eye out for our next post, where we'll discuss the diagnostic options and treatments available for horses with respiratory disease.

20/07/2026

💙 Meet the Team Monday 💙

This week, we're introducing our Office Administrator and Marketing & Social Media Coordinator, Ellen Smith.

Ellen has been with the practice since 2023. She is a key part of our office team, helping ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the practice and is also heavily involved in our marketing and social media presence.

Having lived in the New Forest all her life, Ellen has always been surrounded by horses and ponies. She owns a New Forest Pony called Sam, who enjoys everything from hacking to jumping and is also a New Forest Boxing Day Point-to-Point Winner! Also pictured is Ivy, Ellen's Working Cocker Spaniel, who loves joining her out on rides or curling up for a cuddle on the sofa. 🐾

Outside of work, Ellen is a New Forest Young Commoner and owns several of the ponies that roam freely across the New Forest. Much of her spare time is spent checking on her forest stock and helping with the annual New Forest pony round-ups. 🏇

We're lucky to have Ellen as part of the team, bringing both her organisational skills and her lifelong passion for the New Forest and its animals to the practice. 💙

16/07/2026

⚠️🐴 Latest UK Equine Influenza Update 🐴⚠️

Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) has released its latest update on the ongoing Equine Influenza outbreak across the UK.

Whilst there are no confirmed Equine Influenza outbreaks based on sampling dates in the past seven days, EIDS are aware of a further 50 confirmed outbreaks that are not included in the report due to permission for reporting not being granted.

Equine Influenza may still be circulating undetected, particularly as horses continue to travel and mix at competitions and events throughout the summer.

The best ways to help reduce transmission are:
✅ Keep your horse's flu vaccinations up to date.
✅ Maintain good biosecurity.
✅ Investigate respiratory signs promptly.
✅ Report confirmed outbreaks.

Let's continue working together to protect our horses and keep Equine Influenza under control. 🐎💙

13/07/2026

💙 Meet the Team Monday 💙

This week we're introducing one of our senior vets, Chloe Casalis de Pury, who has been part of the Celtic Equine team since 2021.

Chloe is our equine nutritionist and behaviourist and is passionate about taking a 'whole horse' approach to veterinary care. By considering every aspect of a horse's health and wellbeing, she helps ensure each patient receives the best possible care.

Chloe is often joined on visits by “therapy dog” springer spaniel, Moss. You have to see Moss with horses to believe it - he’s yet to meet a horse who doesn’t enjoy his cuddles! 🐾

When she's not out on the road, Chloe has a busy home life with two young children, two dogs, a bearded dragon, six degus, and three much-loved retired horses who now spend their days enjoying life as pampered field ornaments. 🦎🐴

We're lucky to have Chloe on our team—her expertise, kindness, and whole horse approach make a real difference to our patients and clients. 💙

09/07/2026

🌞🐴💨 Keeping our patients cool during the heatwave! 🐴💨🌞

With temperatures soaring, we're always looking for ways to make our patients as comfortable as possible.

Our latest addition to the practice is this industrial portable fan, helping to keep horses cool while they receive examinations and treatments. Whether they're standing for a routine procedure or recovering after sedation, a steady breeze can make a real difference on these hot summer days.

As always, the comfort and welfare of our equine patients is at the heart of everything we do. 💙

Don't forget to help your own horses beat the heat too:
💧 Ensure fresh, clean water is always available
🌳 Provide shade where possible
🌅 Exercise during the cooler parts of the day
🧽 Hose or sponge down with cool water when needed

Stay safe, stay cool, and give your horses a little extra TLC during the heatwave! ☀️🐎