West Ridge Equine

30/12/2025

Sadly just before Christmas we said goodbye to the wonderful Emily, as she leaves us to go travelling!

Emily joined West Ridge Equine over two years ago and has become an invaluable member of the office and admin team.

Emily was a self confessed novice with all things “horsey” when she started with us, but has gone above and beyond to learn the ropes and has ended up doing everything from triaging emergencies over the phone, organising vets diaries, sorting surgical kits, doing worm egg counts and helping the vets out on the road with x rays and scoping. She has also been the genius behind the beautiful photographs you may have seen on our website!

We wish Em all the best with her travels, and it goes without saying she will be greatly missed.

Keep in touch Em!

✨✨✨

25/12/2025

Merry Christmas to all our brilliant clients!

Thank you to you and your horses for making our 2025 a wonderful year.
You are the reason we do what we do, and why we all love coming to work every day, so thank you all from the bottom of our hearts ❤️

Here’s to a joyous 2026 ✨

20/12/2025

🎄Our Christmas & New Year office opening hours 🎄

🎅🏼 As we head into the festive season, please see our Christmas office hours below:

Wednesday 24th December - 8.30am - 12pm
Thursday 25th December - CLOSED
Friday 26th December - CLOSED
Saturday 27th December - 8.30am - 2pm
Monday 29th & Tuesday 30th December- 8.30am-5pm
Wednesday 31st December - 8.30am - 2pm
Thursday 1st January 2026 - CLOSED
Friday 2nd January 2026 - 8.30am - 5pm

As always during the hours the office is closed there will be a vet on call for any emergencies.

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all the team here at West Ridge Equine 🎄🎉🥂🎁

18/12/2025

For all of our clients..
Please be aware that the last postal date for pre Christmas delivery will be Saturday 20th December 2025 🎄🎅🏼🎁

If you need any medications posted out before the Christmas break please get in contact with us using either number listed below or through email.

☎️01363 83030.

☎️01872303600

📨 [email protected]

10/12/2025

✨December reminder for our breeding clients ✨

As horses are long day breeders, they will not naturally start cycling until April.

However with racehorses and competition horses having to compete under their year of birth, it is favourable to have foals born early in the year so they can have the maximum age advantage.

So we can trick mares to come into season earlier by using light therapy.

🌞 Turn the lights on to make sure they see 16 hours of bright light and 8 hours of dark every day from the start of December, and mares should start coming into season in February. Perfect for January born foals 😉

✨ and remember, this applies for pregnant mares too if you’re hoping to put them back in foal once they’ve foaled! ✨

For more information on how to achieve this, give us a call and ask to speak to Hannah or one of our other stud vets!

📞 01363 83030

11/11/2025

🐎🇹🇭 Just a heads up...

Our senior vet Gordon, will be away from the 16/11/25 to 9/12/25 acting as the FEI Veterinary Delegate at the Asian Equestrian Championships 🏆

He assures us it will be all work and no play.. though we are not entirely convinced 🤔

Rest assured, the rest of our team will be on hand to look after you and your horses while he's away 👩🏼‍⚕️

11/11/2025

Just a reminder, tomorrow is the final day this offer is running.

🚨 Important Strangles Update for Horse Owners in Devon & Cornwall 🚨

Due to recent outbreaks of Strangles in the South West, we’re launching a Special Strangles Vaccine Offer to help protect your horses and stop the spread as quickly as possible! 🐴💉

🌟 Special Offer Details 🌟

💰 Just £45 + VAT for two vaccinations (given 4 weeks apart)
🚘FREE yard visits for groups of 4 or more horses

We’re making it easier — and more affordable — than ever to get your horses protected and keep your yard safe.

📅 Offer available: 15th October – 12th November
📞 Book early to secure your space and help prevent further outbreaks.

🧬 What is Strangles❓

Strangles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by Streptococcus equi.
Symptoms can range from mild fever and lethargy to severe abscesses under the jaw. The bacteria can survive in the environment for up to 6 weeks, making rapid vaccination and biosecurity crucial.

If you’d like to learn more about Strangles or discuss the vaccine, speak to one of our vets — we’re here to help.

⛔Protect your horses. Protect your yard. Stop the spread⛔

☎️Devon - 01363 83030

☎️ Cornwall - 01872 303600

🔗https://www.westridgeequine.co.uk/contact-us

08/11/2025

‼️ Please share ‼️

We have confirmed a case of Strangles (Strep. equi equi) in a pony in the Crediton area.

The pony was recently purchased from a local Dartmoor Hill Pony sale on 28th October.

All horses on the premises in Crediton have been isolated, and the pony is making a slow recovery.

If you have any further questions about this outbreak, or if you have recently purchased a pony from this sale and are concerned, please call 📞 on 01363 83030

If you want more information about Strangles, we have a fact sheet available on our website:

https://www.westridgeequine.co.uk/news/streptococcus-equi---strangles

🐎 🦠🌡️🩺 🐎

25/10/2025

✨ Please share our message far and wide this firework season! ✨

It’s coming to that time of year again when we all love a good firework display, some sparklers and a giant bonfire! 🔥

However unfortunately for the last few years we have been called out to some heartbreaking cases of horses in distress or injured due to fireworks being let off nearby, and their owners not being given any notice to move them to safety.

So please help us share this message far and wide:

💥 Please speak to your neighbouring horsey owners around firework night!
💥 Let them know your plans, the night and rough time you are planning on setting off fireworks
💥 And allow the horses to be moved to a safe place

Thank you so so much! 🙏

21/10/2025

Had the pleasuring of meeting the gorgeous Ricky today belonging to georgiarenouf at rathkennystud 😍
We think he should be our new West Ridge Equine mascot! Who else agrees?? 😍

15/10/2025

Castration is a recognised part of keeping male horses, and removing the testicles means the horse is safe to be kept with mares, and often are easier to handle and ride.

We try to carry out this surgery under standing sedation as often as possible for multiple reasons:
- it avoids the risk of a general anaesthetic
- it keeps the incision cleaner
- the procedure is over quickly and the horse is often less stressed

However sometimes we can’t carry this surgery out standing for the following reasons:
- the pony is too small so there is not enough room underneath their belly
- there is a partially retained testicle
- the horse is not handled enough for the procedure to be done safely without being kicked!

The horse is sedated and local anaesthetic is used to numb the area. The testicles are then cleaned and removed sterilely with the blood vessels being clamped and sealed. The incision is then left open to allow for drainage.

The gelding is able to be turned back out into the field within 24-48 hours and can be safely turned out with mares after 6 weeks.

If you have any questions about this procedure give us a call to talk to one of our vets today!

14/10/2025

🚨 Important Strangles Update for Horse Owners in Devon & Cornwall 🚨

Due to recent outbreaks of Strangles in the South West, we’re launching a Special Strangles Vaccine Offer to help protect your horses and stop the spread as quickly as possible! 🐴💉

🌟 Special Offer Details 🌟

💰 Just £45 + VAT for two vaccinations (given 4 weeks apart)
🚘FREE yard visits for groups of 4 or more horses

We’re making it easier — and more affordable — than ever to get your horses protected and keep your yard safe.

📅 Offer available: 15th October – 12th November
📞 Book early to secure your space and help prevent further outbreaks.

🧬 What is Strangles❓

Strangles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by Streptococcus equi.
Symptoms can range from mild fever and lethargy to severe abscesses under the jaw. The bacteria can survive in the environment for up to 6 weeks, making rapid vaccination and biosecurity crucial.

If you’d like to learn more about Strangles or discuss the vaccine, speak to one of our vets — we’re here to help.

⛔Protect your horses. Protect your yard. Stop the spread⛔

☎️Devon - 01363 83030

☎️ Cornwall - 01872 303600

🔗https://www.westridgeequine.co.uk/contact-us