Exclusively Equine - Texas Edition

08/05/2026

Welcome to Follow Along With Emma, where I’ll be sharing her pregnancy journey for the 2027 foaling season. This story didn’t begin the way any of us hoped. A dear friend tragically lost her mare on the drive home from the breeding shed earlier this year, right after she was bred.

In the middle of that heartbreak, I offered Emma—she was open, healthy, and ready to step in. If you breed long enough, you learn to live by a simple motto: God has a plan. Sometimes it’s not the plan you wanted, but it’s still a plan. It doesn’t erase the losses, but it helps you carry them.

And then, in true miracle timing, I checked Emma the very next day after the misfortune… and she was gearing up to ovulate within 24 hours. Wendy jumped in her truck, zoomed to Oklahoma for the semen, and Emma was bred that same day.

Fast forward 10 days and she came up pregnant! The journey begins.

08/05/2026

Dr. Trish is now an authorized NWS certified inspector to better meet your needs in Johnson/Tarrant/Hill Counties.

Know before you go!

🛻 Movement requirements are in place to prevent spreading NWS while still allowing normal business to continue safely.
🐄 If you are planning on moving livestock from an infested zone, be sure to follow current movement regulations. Animal movement out of an infested zone requires a NWS Treatment/Movement Certificate.
🔎 These certificates are issued by a veterinarian, state or federal animal health official, or an authorized NWS-Certified Inspector.
📞 Plan ahead. At least two days before expected travel, contact the TAHC or NWS-Certified Inspector to schedule an inspection.

Visit http://bit.ly/3RhJPSi for additional guidance on livestock movement from a NWS infested zone.
View a list of certified NWS inspectors authorized by TAHC: https://bit.ly/TAHC_NWS_Inspectors

08/05/2026

Recall notice:
American Regent Animal Health issued a nationwide recall on specific lots of Adequan Canine injection and Adequan IM injection for horses. Glass fibers were found during quality testing.

Lots of concern:
Adequan IM (horses): Lots 24416 and 25265P
Adequan Canine: Lots 25011 and 3369

Please check your bottles and if you are affected, please contact EEAP.

07/28/2026

Hopefully foaling season is done for all of you, however if your horse has a fresh wound, please administer 10 mls of ivermectin liquid orally at time of incident to combat NWS.

The FDA has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Liquid Ivermectin (ivermectin oral solution) for Horses for short-term prevention of NWS infestation.

Under the EUA, the product may be administered within 24 hours of birth or at the time of initial wound care in horses. Please consult your veterinarian first for guidance.

Continue to monitor animals and treat wounds quickly. Early detection and treatment are crucial for prevention of NWS.
Fact sheet for veterinarians: bit.ly/3RlVPlZ
For more FDA-approved treatments: bit.ly/TAHC-NWSApprovedDrugs

07/08/2026

Welcome to July in Texas, where 4 a.m. is the only reasonable time to exist outdoors. Feed, water, and exercise those horses before 10 a.m., when the atmosphere turns into a convection oven and humans begin to liquefy.

It’s still my favorite time of day — quiet world, maybe a whisper of breeze if the weather gods are feeling generous, and not a single person has blown up my phone yet.

Stay sharp the next couple months. Keep water flowing, shade available, and watch those elderly horses like hawks. This heat is brutal, and I’ve already had to help a few make their peaceful transition over the rainbow bridge.

If anything feels off, give me a call.

07/04/2026

06/30/2026

Horse people have a toxic situationship with hay.
We adore that glorious moment when the barn is stacked to the ceiling like a golden Fort Knox…
but ask us to pick up hay when the heat index hits 104 degrees, and suddenly everyone’s got:
a “bad shoulder,”
a “doctor’s note,”
or a “deep spiritual commitment to staying indoors.”

Yet the second those bales are stacked, we’re all standing there sweaty, itchy, and proud like,
“Behold… my crispy, overpriced, sun‑baked treasure.”

06/29/2026

Saharan Dust in Texas & Your Horses

If you’ve noticed the haze lately, that’s Saharan dust blowing in from across the ocean — and yes, it can affect our horses. These fine particles (PM2.5–PM10) act just like barn dust: they irritate airways, trigger coughing, and can flare up equine asthma/heaves.

Most horses will only show mild signs, but sensitive ones may have:
• More coughing
• Reduced stamina
• Slower recovery after exercise
• Mild nasal discharge or airway noise

What you can do:
• Ride during lower‑dust times (often early morning).
• Stable horses when the air quality dips.
• Wet/steam hay to reduce total dust load.
• Use nose‑mesh fly masks for a bit of extra filtration.
• Keep RAO/IAD horses on their usual management plan and watch for increased effort.

It’s temporary, but worth paying attention to — especially for the horses who already struggle with dust. Stay safe and breathe easy out there, Texas.