Double Barrel Creek

05/11/2026

It's MYTHBUSTER time! 🔎

The core vaccinations for every horse, regardless of their travel status, include Rabies, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), West Nile Virus (WNV), and Tetanus.

Unfortunately, mosquitoes, bacteria, and rabid animals do not discriminate when it comes to infecting horses. Whether a horse is in a freshly bedded stall, wide open pasture, or on show grounds, mosquitoes can potentially infect your horse with life threatening diseases such as EEE, WEE, and/or WNV.

Tetanus is a common clostridial bacteria present in the dirt and can infect a horse who has never left its home just the same as a horse who shows every weekend if it doesn't have proper vaccine status.

Rabies is a 100% fatal disease once clinical signs are present and is easily transmissible to humans and other animals both at home and on the trails.

It's also important to note that different regions in the U.S. may have additional "core" recommendations so be sure to ask your veterinarian what is best for your horse!

Want to learn more about vaccinations? Visit our vaccination chart on our website here: https://aaep.org/resource/adult-horse-vaccination-chart/

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information!

05/05/2026

04/18/2026

The 5 Domains Model developed by Professor David Mellor and updated most recently in 2020, is a comprehensive framework for assessing animal welfare.

It focuses on four areas of an animal's life that each contribute to the fifth domain (mental welfare).

The first four domains capture both the internal physical states and external circumstances of the animal, and the affects (subjective experiences) they generate are accumulated into Domain 5, which represents the animal's overall welfare state.

If these are lacking, not only do negative welfare states arise, but training efficiency diminishes significantly.

The 5 Domains can be studied in depth, and we encourage all horse owners to do so, but for simplicity this diagram shows 5 key needs for the horse, derived from the 5 domains;

🏇 Communication & mental stimulation (clear, logical training adhering to the principles of equitation science; mental stimulation)

🌾 Foraging behaviour (the need to forage, with gaps no longer than 4 hours)

🐎 Movement & exercise (space to move, adequate exercise - a few kilometres per day especially if the horse isn’t kept in a field.)

🐴 Social behaviour (interaction with other horses, touching/grooming other horses)

⛑ Physiological & veterinary care (good health, shelter from the elements, safety)

These are not just things the horse wants — they are things the horse is hard-wired to need.

Does your horse have these 5 needs fulfilled? Share your practical tips to achieve them!

Particularly if you have to work harder to achieve them based on location/situation - not everyone has access to fields and herds of horses.

04/12/2026

“You are special, in all of this emptiness. This is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe. You have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist together.”

Victor Glover, Artemis II

03/16/2026

Ride Like A Legend Saddle Giveaway 🐎
I ride in a Bob's because I wanted a saddle that fit my horses well so that they could feel and perform their very best. I love having a saddle that handles long days of work and is still show-ready after a quick clean! Bob’s are built to last for the rider, but most importantly, puts the horses’ comfort first and that’s why I love to them!

03/04/2026

While we are all looking forward to warm spring days and lush green pasture, the transition from winter hay to spring grass should be planned carefully to mitigate any health risks to your equine. Just because your equine friend is not obese or suffering from a nutritionally related disease, doesn’t mean you should just forget about hay entirely and let your horse eat their fill of spring grass.

Feeding high-quality hay is a good way to satisfy a horse’s urge to chew when they can’t graze and provide essential nutrients at the same time. A mature horse will eat 2-2.5% of its body weight per day; roughage should contribute to at least half of this percentage, but most agree forage should be a minimum of 75% of the horse's diet. Please remember that horses are individuals, so a horse's total nutritive requirements will ultimately depend on their age, stage of development, metabolism and workload.

Take-home message: Before making any changes to your equine companion's diet this spring, consult your veterinarian to determine their current weight/body condition score and to formulate a balanced and nutritious ration that meets your horse’s specific needs!

01/17/2026

"In our sport, one of the worst things that can happen to a horse is for it to be ridden by an inexperienced rider at a height the rider is not ready for. That’s a big welfare issue,” Leopoldo Palacios tells WoSJ. “FEI should have an international qualifying system for riders, so that they need to compete at every different height to move up in the classes. Riders should also hold a license in order to be able to compete. If you look at other sports, many of them operate with a license, and I think we should as well.”

Known for his demanding course designs, the 78-year-old Venezuelan is one of eleven FEI Honorary Vice-Presidents, and has held several important positions within the FEI throughout the years. Between 1987 and 2006, Palacios was a member of the FEI Childrens Committee, the FEI Jumping Committee as well as a member of the FEI bureau, and in 1998 he joined the FEI Executive Committee.

🔗 Read the full interview here ➡️ https://www.worldofshowjumping.com/WoSJ-Exclusive-interviews/Leopoldo-Palacios-A-big-welfare-issue-is-horses-being-ridden-by-inexperienced-riders-at-heights-they-are-not-ready-for.html

11/26/2025

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOUR HORSE IS ACCIDENT-PRONE...🤚

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency. There are several behavioral traits that make our equine companions especially accident-prone: one is their instinctive flight-or-fight response; another is their need to establish the pecking order within a herd; and a third is their natural curiosity. Such behaviors account for many of the cuts, bruises, and abrasions that horses suffer. In fact, lacerations are probably the most common emergency that horse owners must contend with.

Do you know what to do if your horse is cut or bleeding? The initial steps you take to treat a wound can prevent further damage and speed healing. Maintaining your presence of mind could also save your horse's life. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind in case of emergency. How you will ultimately proceed will depend on your horse's individual circumstances and on the advice you receive from your veterinarian.

11/21/2025

As we continue to monitor the current outbreak of the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus (EHM) infection, let's take this opportunity to discuss once more the importance of biosecurity measures to stop disease spread. We recommend the following biosecurity precautions for horse owners, particularly if their horses have recently traveled to horse shows or were exposed to horses that have traveled:

1) Monitor horses for clinical signs (including fever, discharge from the nostrils, toe-dragging or a lack of balance) and take the temperature twice daily. Temperature greater than 101.5 F is considered a fever.

2) Immediately isolate any horse(s) showing clinical signs. Equine herpesvirus is an aerosolized virus and is spread through shared airspace, direct contact, and contaminated caretakers or equipment. A good isolation area is a separate barn or shelter that does not share airspace with healthy horses.

3) Implement movement restrictions until the situation is evaluated.

4) Contact your veterinarian to evaluate your horse and to propose a comprehensive biosecurity protocol.

5) Increase biosecurity measures that include extensive cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and equipment that come in contact with affected horses: wash or sanitize your hands between interacting with horses; take time while filling water buckets and feed tubs, do not cross contaminate; minimize the use of shared equipment and tack.

6) Make sure your horse is up to date on vaccinations.

7) Establish communication with all parties involved (owners, boarders, trainers, etc.).

More resources and information regarding biosecurity are available on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website at https://equinediseasecc.org/biosecurity

To learn more Equine Herpesvirus (EHV), visit: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/equine-herpesvirus

11/19/2025

With cases of equine herpesvirus appearing in other states, it’s natural to wonder which signs to watch for and what steps help prevent disease. Good biosecurity and early recognition are key to protecting your horse’s health. 🛡🐴

To learn more about equine herpesvirus visit: z.umn.edu/ehv

11/03/2025

🧴 It is Medicine Monday! And it is all yellow. That is right we are talking about Furacin or Fura-zone Ointment (Nitrofurazone). Not all wound products are created equally and may be a detriment to wound healing.

💛 Nitrofurazone is a topical water-soluble ointment with antibacterial properties for superficial wounds. And it is commonly used in combination with DMSO gel as a “sweat” for horses with cellulitis. Nitrofurazone should never be used on open wounds. Research has shown that nitrofurazone inhibits wound healing by as much as 24%.

☣️Nitrofurazone is associated with carcinogenicity, defined as the potential of a biomaterial to promote tumor formation. This has led to many horse owners throwing out their supply due to this risk.

🩺 We always recommend seeking veterinary advise and an exam when it comes to wounds. Wounds may involve important structures including bone, tendon sheaths and/or joints. It is important that wounds be thoroughly examined by your veterinarian so they can recommend appropriate diagnostics, treatment options and possible referral to an equine hospital.

❌ Now, Fura-Zone is no longer available; other nitrofurazone products are still available.