Paragon Veterinary Group - Equine

29/07/2025

While summer brings sunshine and dry paddocks, it also introduces a fresh set of health risks for your horse - from sunburn and dehydration to heat stress, asthma, and pesky flies 🐴☀️

Bethan has put together some of the common summer health issues we encounter, and how you can combat them.

Read more here 👉 https://www.paragonvet.com/news/2025/summer-health-issues

25/07/2025

🐴 Foal Friday! 🐴

What else would you rather find hiding in the grass? 🦄

23/07/2025

Here are a few ways to reduce your horses worm burden 🪱

At this time of year we recommend handing in a feacal worm egg count, this will tell us whether it is necessary to treat your horse or pony! 🐴
Worm egg counts are generally carried out in spring, summer and early autumn at 3-monthly intervals. 💩

If you need advice, please call us on 01768 483789 to speak to one of the equine team 📞

21/07/2025

Did you know that many horses with significant dental problems will show little to no obvious signs of pain? 🦷

Sadly, a number of groups of equines tend to be forgotten when it comes to routine healthcare and dentistry is no different...

🐴 Older equines - this group from late teens onwards are undergoing much change in their dentition and require regular dental
examinations, usually every 6 months at a minimum.

🐴 Broodmares - the dental care of the broodmare is often forgotten, particularly those that are bred from reasonably regularly.

🐴 Donkeys, Shetlands and miniature breeds - these tend to have smaller, narrower mouths and the problems that come with them.

It is important that the person caring for your equine’s teeth is a suitably trained and qualified vet or equine dental technician.

It is important to remember that a number of procedures, classed as category 3, including almost all extractions, can legally only be performed by a veterinary surgeon 🩺

Check out Freya's full column to learn more 👉 https://www.paragonvet.com/news/2025/teeth-and-dentistry

18/07/2025

🐴 Foals Friday?! 🐴
How cute is this pair of highland foals!? Definitely makes our visits much brighter 😍

17/07/2025

We are sponsoring the Supreme Horse & Pony Championship at Penrith Show this year! Wishing all competitors the best of luck 🌟🐴

❗️Penrith Show Equine 2025 – Class Numbers & Timetable ❗️

Please see below for class entry numbers for the 2025 Penrith Show Equine section. Feel free to share this post, and we can’t wait to welcome you on show day! 🐴

📢 The Showjumping timetable will be announced on social media shortly – stay tuned!

🖤 Fell Ponies
4010 Registered Pony – 6

4011 Registered Brood Mare with Foal at Foot – 2

4012 Foal (from previous class mare) – 1

4013 Registered Yearling – 3

4014 Registered Filly or Gelding – 4

4015 Registered Mare or Gelding – 8

🐎 Hunters, Cobs & Riding Horses
4095 Small Ridden Show Hunter – 5

4096 Mixed Ridden Show Hunter – 3

4130 Riding Cob, Show Traditional or Maxi – 4

4131 Large Riding Horse / Sports Horse – 7

🐴Shetland Ponies
4030 Registered Stallion – 2

4031 Registered Brood Mare – 4

4031a Registered Foal – 4

4032 Registered Yearling – 3

4033 Registered Gelding or Filly – 5

4034 Registered Mare or Gelding – 3

4035 Registered Mare or Gelding – 1

4036 Miniature Stallion – 5

4037 Miniature Brood Mare with Foal at Foot – 2

4037a Miniature Foal – 2

4038 Miniature Pony – 6

4039 Miniature Pony – 5

🎀 Plaited Ponies
4110 Mini Open Pony – Lead Rein – 3

4111 Mini Open Pony – First Ridden – 4

4120 Mixed Height – 1

4132 Riding Club Type Pony/Horse – 5

4133 Riding Club Type Horse/Pony – 2

🎨 Coloured Horses & Ponies
4090 Traditional/Native/Cob In-Hand – 9

4091 Non-Traditional In-Hand – 4

4092 Traditional/Native/Cob Ridden – 8

4093 Non-Traditional Ridden – 2

4094 Open Youngstock – 5

🩶Veterans
4021 Veteran In-Hand – 6

4022 Pre-Veteran In-Hand – 12

4024 Veteran Ridden – 4

4025 Pre-Veteran Ridden – 8

❤️Horse & Pony Breeding
4100 Brood Mare (in foal or with own foal) – 2

4101 Foal (from previous class) – 1

4103 Filly or Gelding – 4

⛰ Mountain & Moorland – In-Hand
4060 Small Breeds – 6

4061 Large Breeds – 12

🐾 M&M Mini Ridden
4070 Open Lead Rein – 9

4071 Open First Ridden – 7

🌿 M&M Open Ridden
4080 Ridden Class – 1

4081 Ridden Class – 1

4082 Ridden Class – 4

4083 Ridden Class – 3

4084 Ridden Class – 6

🫏 Donkeys
4163 Best Conditioned & Turned Out – 4

4164 Mare / Brood Mare – 3

4165 Yearling / 2 & 3 Year Olds – 3

4166 Gelding or Stallion – 3

4167 Working Donkey – 3

4168 Young Handlers – 1

🌍 Foreign, Rare & Ex-Racers
4137 Foreign/Rare/Critical – Ridden – 1

4138 Foreign/Rare/Critical – In-Hand – 2

4050 Ridden Thoroughbred / Ex-Racer – 4

4051 In-Hand Thoroughbred / Ex-Racer – 2

👒 Concours d’Elégance
4135 Open Concours – 11

🐴 Heavy Horses
4142 Yearling – 3

4143 Filly or Gelding (2 Years Old) – 1

4144 Mare or Gelding – 8

4139 Ridden Heavy Horse – 2

📱 Follow us for updates – including the Showjumping timetable which is coming soon!

Let us know if you have any questions. Thank you for your support – we look forward to a fantastic 2025 show! 🎉

14/07/2025

Would you know what signs to look out for if your horse was dehydrated? 💧🐴

Dehydration occurs when a horse loses more water (in sweat, urine etc) than it drinks and takes in.

Signs can initially be subtle, but as dehydration progresses, horses show signs such as:

💧Reduced urination
💧Darker urine
💧Dry droppings
💧Reduced droppings
💧High heart rate
💧Dull eyes
💧Dry mouth
💧Changes in gum colour

If you suspect dehydration, veterinary advice should be sought quickly.

14/07/2025

Want to make your horse’s healthcare simple and stress-free? 🐎

With our Horse Health Plan, you can spread the cost of essential routine care for just £18 a month.

Your horse will benefit from: ⬇️

✅ Annual vaccinations for flu & tetanus
✅ Annual dental check and rasp, including sedation if needed
✅ Annual full health check (eyes, heart, lungs, skin & trot up)
✅ Comprehensive worming programme
✅ 10% off additional vaccines, lifelong medications & Paragon supplements
✅ 1 FREE routine visit per year
✅ Unlimited FREE telephone consultations
✅ FREE use of our weighbridge

Keep your horse happy and healthy all year round! 💙

Find out more 👉 https://bit.ly/40wBNXu

12/07/2025

With the hot weather due this weekend please consider what measures you can apply to your routine to make your horses as comfortable as possible.
☀️ Provide shelter in paddocks or bring in through the hottest part of the day ☂️
☀️ Ensure a constant supply of fresh water is available 💧
☀️Encourage them to drink by putting apples or carrots in the water 🍎
☀️ Exercise them early morning or later in the evening 🏇
☀️Try and keep them comfortable from flies with a fly sheet and mask if they will allow 🐝
☀️Apply sun cream to pink skin! 🧴
☀️Be careful that hosepipe water can be hot at first, make sure it runs cool if you're wanting to hose them down 🚿

‼️Heatstroke is a serious condition that can occur if a horse is exercised in or exposed to very hot and humid conditions for prolonged periods of time‼️

It often goes in hand in hand with dehydration, and signs of heatstroke can include ⬇️

⚠️ Fast, shallow breathing
⚠️ Flaring of nostrils
⚠️ Irregular heartbeats
⚠️ Increased re**al temperature (above 38.5)
⚠️ Decreased appetite
⚠️ Muscle spasms
⚠️ Poor performance or recovery from exercise.

As this progresses, the horse will become severely ill and can show neurological signs, which can be dangerous to manage.

If you are concerned about heatstroke, contact your vet immediately 📞

11/07/2025

It's Foal Friday 🐴🤩

If you have any pictures you would like us to share for foal Fridays, please send us a message 📩

10/07/2025

❌☀️ Over-rugging in the summer ☀️❌

Whilst we tend to rug our horses in the winter, for most horses rugging in the summer is unnecessary.

Rugs may be required during the summer months for insect protection or to protect your horse from the rain. However, even the lightest of rugs can prevent a horse from cooling down.

You should only rug your horse if they genuinely need it and keep a close eye on them for sweating and signs of overheating.

If you need advice, please call us on 017684 83789 to speak to one of the equine team 📞

04/07/2025

🐴 Foal Friday! 🐴
Grabbing a tasty snack in this miserable weather 🌦️ roll on the sunshine again! ☀️