Circle R Equine

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas!🎄 I hope everyone is getting to enjoy this beautiful weather, preferably on horseback 🐎

11/19/2025

The Texas commissioner has issued a statement today about an EHV-1 outbreak linked to a barrel race in Waco, TX held November 5-9th. They are still investigating to determine the extent of the exposure. While there are accounts of those directly involved being shared on social media, there are also facts that have not been confirmed. The important thing is to not panic, take precaution, and be prepared.

❓What to Do Now
•If your horse has not been exposed, it is recommended to vaccinate and/or booster with a flu/rhino vaccine. Vaccinating now will decrease severity of disease if your horse does unfortunately come in contact with EHV. While the vaccine only protects against the respiratory and reproductive diseases caused by this virus and not the neurologic strain, it does help prevent the spread overall.
•Take your horse’s temperature twice daily, especially if your horse was at the Waco event or has attended any show, jackpot, rodeo, or clinic in the last 14 days
•Quarantine any horse that’s possibly been exposed for a minimum of 14 days (21 days is even better)
• Call if temp ≥101.5°F or if you notice fever, nasal discharge, cough, stumbling, weakness, or neurologic signs.

🦠 Biosecurity Matters
• Do not share buckets, tack, grooming tools, or thermometers
• Wash hands and change clothing/boots between horses

🧬 How EHV-1 Spreads
• Nose-to-nose contact
• Aerosolized droplets from coughing/sneezing
• Shared equipment
• People carrying virus on hands/clothing/boots
• Pregnant mares to unborn foals

❌ Reminder: Horses can carry latent EHV-1, and stress can trigger shedding even without symptoms. Limiting stress will help limit disease.

When in doubt, currently it’s recommended to limit interstate travel.

If you have any concerns or notice clinical signs, please contact me right away.

06/09/2025

Hey everyone. Just a heads up that I will be out of town the rest of the week as I will be helping at a horse camp. I will be available via text message (417-501-9936) or email ([email protected]) but please be patient with responses. Thank you and God Bless!

05/12/2025

Happy Mother’s Day to all the two and four-legged moms out there! May whatever makes you a mom, whether that be your children or your pets, make you feel special this day and every day!

Picture of a recip mare that was a little tall for her QH baby. Special appreciation for the mares that put up with the adorable little terrors we all love 💕

04/01/2025

I know we all love seeing horses out on green pastures actually getting to be horses, but please keep an eye on your easy keepers and those prone to laminitis. Dry lotting can seriously save their lives!

DO YOU KNOW WHAT CAUSES GRASS FOUNDER?

Spring is a wonderful time of the year, but it may be the beginning of some serious problems for horses vulnerable to grass founder — like horses that are over the age of 10, easy keepers, overweight or cresty-necked.

Laminitis or founder, as it is commonly called, is inflammation of the laminae of the horse’s foot. Laminae are the delicate, accordion-like tissues that attach the inner surface of the hoof wall to the coffin bone (the bone in the foot). A horse suffering from laminitis experiences a decrease in blood flow to the laminae, which in turn begin to die and separate. The final result is hoof wall separation, rotation of the coffin bone and extreme pain. In severe cases, the coffin bone will actually rotate through the sole of the horse’s hoof where it becomes infected and can ultimately lead to the horse having to be euthanized.

Laminitis can be triggered by different causes, like repeated concussion on hard ground (road founder), grain overload, retained placenta, hormonal imbalance (Cushing’s syndrome), obesity, and lush grass.

In cases of grass founder, the sugar fructans produced by rapidly growing grass stimulates an overgrowth of bacteria in the horse’s large intestine. The bacteria produce and release toxins (endotoxins) that are carried by the bloodstream to the foot where they cause damage to the laminae and small blood vessels.

The best way to deal with laminitis is preventing and managing the causes under your control. Consult your equine practitioner for further information and to formulate a plan tailored to your horse's individual situation. If you suspect laminitis, consider it a medical emergency and notify your veterinarian immediately.

03/20/2025

This is why I recommend having a dental done before you start riding your youngsters - these sharp points can definitely impact your training! It’s also an opportunity to remove wolf teeth and ensure that everything is in balance 🙂

Reuben (my 2 year old c**t) was a great patient for his first dental!

12/25/2024

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I’m thankful for all of you and the wonderful creatures you allow me to work with! I hope everyone has a safe and blessed holiday! Stay warm!

11/11/2024

Today we honor all our veterans.
Thank you for your service and all that you have done and do for our country.
Thank you for keeping our country safe and strong.
Thank you for your courage and selflessness.
May God continue to bless you today and every day.
Happy Veterans Day!

09/25/2024

Hey everyone! I will be out of town today-9/29. Non-urgent matters will be addressed when I return. Urgent matters will be addressed as I’m able to or referred if needed.

Hope everyone is having a great start to fall! 🐴

08/09/2024

Contact dermatitis: inflammation of the skin due to contact with an irritant. Or in my horse Tater’s case - when you get a rash from rolling in something you shouldn’t.

Tater is a 25 year old QH gelding that gives a few beginner lessons every other week but is otherwise living the pasture life. On Monday, Tater was found to have a rash consisting of slightly oozing scabs along both sides of his neck, poll, and ears. The skin at the base of both ears was warm, and he was incredibly ear shy with the left being worse than the right. No discharge was noted directly from the ear, just the skin covering the ears.

Tater was diagnosed with contact dermatitis from most likely laying/rolling in some irritating weeds in his pasture. Treatment consisted of bathing with a medicated shampoo (Ketohex) every other day for a week and topical application of SSD (silver sulfadiazine) cream daily for a few days then switching to topical zinc oxide daily. Systemic antibiotics and anti-inflammatories were administered on the first day due to the amount of pain and inflammation present. The scabs were only removed once softened, nothing was actively picked off as that would be further irritating to the skin.

Tater has responded well to treatment and should be back to toting around 4 year olds soon. While dermatitis is manageable at home for most horse owners, a severe case like Tater’s definitely required veterinary intervention!