NCVC Equine

28/10/2026

All excitement on our end as we prepare for the move into the beautiful new clinic in Cheviot. Monday is the day, and here's the plan to keep service available.

27/10/2026

07/10/2026

🐴 SPRING INTO SPRING – HOOF BALANCE SPECIAL! 🌱

Is your horse ready for a sound and balanced spring?

🦶 Save 10% on hoof balance X-rays
🦷 Add a dental and get 15% off your hoof balance X-rays!

X-rays can help us identify what’s happening inside the hoof and guide your farrier towards a more accurate, balanced trim and shoeing plan.

Let’s get those feet balanced and ready for the season! 🌼🐎

30/09/2026

🌱🐴 SPRING WORMING – LET THE FEC RESULTS GUIDE YOU! 🐴🌱

Spring is here, and it’s a great time to review your horse’s parasite control — but not every horse needs a worm treatment just because it’s spring!

Faecal egg counts (FECs) can help identify which horses are shedding the most worm eggs and allow us to make a more targeted treatment plan.

Why test first?
- Reduce unnecessary worming
- Help slow the development of drench resistance
- Identify high egg-shedding horses
- Monitor whether your worming programme is actually working

🐎 Every horse is different. Age, grazing history, previous treatments, stocking density and previous FEC results all influence the best parasite-control programme.

Don’t just reach for the drench — check first! 💩🔬

📞 Contact NCVC Equine to chat about what best works for your horse.

07/09/2026

🐴 SPRING HOOF BALANCE X-RAY SPECIAL 🐴

🌱 Spring is the perfect time to get your horse’s feet checked!

🌟 SPRING SPECIAL 🌟

10% OFF hoof balance X-rays

And for the ultimate spring reset…

🦷 ADD A DENTAL EXAM & RECEIVE 15% OFF YOUR HOOF BALANCE X-RAYS!

A great opportunity to get your horse’s feet and teeth checked at the same time before the busy spring and summer.

Hoof X-rays can help us assess things that we just can’t see from the outside of the hoof, such as:
• Coffin bone position and alignment
• Hoof-pastern axis
• Sole depth
• Changes that may not be visible externally

📞 Contact North Canterbury Vets Equine to book your spring hoof balance X-rays.

13/08/2026

🎉 Time to celebrate and share the little big victories🎉🐴

Our beautiful little friend Lacy has been undergoing monitoring for PPID (equine Cushing’s disease), and her latest ACTH result has come back at 14.3 — a HUGE improvement from her previous result of 329!

We’re absolutely thrilled to see such an encouraging change for this gorgeous girl and her caring owner. We think it’s worth sharing our little patients big victory and her positive story with the world 🐴🎈

07/08/2026

⚠️ Horse Choke Cases - We’ve seen an increase in recent cases of horse choke, so it’s a good time to refresh ourselves on simple ways to reduce the risk.

Here are a few prevention tips:
➡️ Feed hay in manageable amounts and consider soaking it if it’s dry or coarse.
➡️ Introduce feed changes gradually.
➡️ Ensure pelleted feeds and beet pulp are prepared according to directions.
➡️ Encourage slower eating by using slow feeders, placing large smooth rocks in feed tubs (where appropriate), or feeding smaller, more frequent meals.
➡️ Make sure your horse always has access to fresh, clean water. Make sure to break the ice in the morning 🧊❄️
➡️ Have your horse’s teeth checked regularly, especially senior horses or those with known dental issues.🦷
➡️ Avoid feeding large treats whole—cut apples and carrots into smaller pieces. 🍎🥕

Signs of choke can include:
🔹 Feed or saliva coming from the nostrils
🔹 Excessive drooling
🔹 Difficulty swallowing
🔹 Repeated coughing or gagging
🔹 Stretching the neck or appearing distressed

If you suspect your horse has choke, remove all feed immediately and contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. While many cases resolve with prompt treatment, choke can lead to serious complications, including aspiration pneumonia.

We are always available on the other end of the phone line to talk things through. So don’t hesitate to call ☎️

28/07/2026

Give your horse a winter WOF

As winter settles across North Canterbury, many horses enjoy a quieter season with reduced competition schedules, lighter workloads and many of our farm and station horses are turned out for a deserved break. While it can be tempting to ease off management tasks during the colder months, winter is actually the ideal time to give your horse a thorough "Warrant of Fitness" and ensure they are prepared for a healthy spring and summer ahead.

1. Body condition check - Winter conditions can challenge even the hardiest horses. Assess your horse's body condition regularly by feeling over the ribs, spine, and neck rather than relying on appearance alone beneath a thick winter coat.

2. Dental health - A horse's teeth continue to erupt throughout life, and uneven wear can affect chewing efficiency, feed utilisation, and overall comfort.
Signs your horse may benefit from a dental examination include:
• Dropping feed while eating
• Weight loss
• Quidding (dropping partially chewed feed)
• Head tossing or resistance when ridden

3. Parasite control - Rather than relying solely on routine drenching, faecal egg counts can help determine whether treatment is necessary.

4. Minerals - The main mineral that we consider in horses, especially through winter, is selenium. A simple blood test can tell you whether you need to be giving anything, and like sheep and cattle, it is vital for horses' health.

5. Restock your first aid kit - A quick stocktake of your equine first aid supplies can save valuable time during an emergency. Check for: bandages and dressings, thermometer, saline solution, antiseptic products, and emergency contact numbers.

Winter is the perfect time for your horse's annual Warrant of Fitness check. If your horse is due for a dental examination, vaccination review, parasite management plan, or general health assessment, contact the clinic to book a winter wellness check.

22/07/2026

Don't miss all the info in our latest From the Horse's Mouth newsletter. Click the link to have a read ...

As we head into winter, a wetter, colder period across North Canterbury, paddock conditions can deteriorate quickly. Increased moisture and mud not only make management more difficult but also create ideal conditions for hoof problems and lameness. These can be quite the battle to get on top of, esp...