Vega Equine Rehabilitation & Conditioning

11/19/2025

📣 ATTENTION ALL CLIENTS

Re: EHV Notice & Biosecurity Protocols

If you have recently traveled to Texas, Oklahoma, Casper or attended any of the following events:
• BFA
• WPRA Finals
• 377 Arena (Nov 15–16)

👉 Please do NOT come onto our premises or attend any of our events for the next 60 days.

We are committed to protecting our clients, their horses, and our business.

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🐴 Entry Requirements

All horses entering the property must have:
• A current Coggins
• A current Health Certificate

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🚫 If Your Horse Was Exposed

If your horse was at any of the listed states or events:

🔒 Quarantine immediately for 14 days.
• Do not allow the horse to leave your property.
• Monitor closely for symptoms (see below).

If you have an appointment with us:
• Do NOT unload your horse.
• Call upon arrival.
• A technician will come out and ask the necessary screening questions.
• You may come inside to check in, but horses must remain in the trailer until cleared by staff.

🚛 If your trailer was at any of the listed events/locations, do NOT bring it onto our property.

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🦠 How EHV Spreads
• Nose-to-nose contact
• Shared buckets, tack, or equipment
• Contaminated trailers
• Airborne droplets (coughing, snorting)
• People handling exposed horses

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👀 Symptoms to Watch For
• Fever
• Nasal discharge
• Lethargy
• Hind-end weakness or wobbliness
• Loss of tail tone / urine dribbling

⚠️ Some cases progress to EHM (Neurologic EHV), which is a medical emergency.

📆 Take temperatures twice daily and monitor closely.

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⚠️ WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

1️⃣ Keep Horses Home

Avoid hauling, shows, clinics, or mixing horses.
Horse movement is the #1 driver of EHV spread.

2️⃣ Take Temperatures Twice Daily

Fever is often the first sign.
➡️ 101.5°F or higher = call your vet immediately.

3️⃣ Recognize Early Warning Signs
• Fever
• Weakness / incoordination
• Wide-based stance
• Reduced tail tone
• Difficulty urinating
• Lethargy / decreased appetite

4️⃣ Consult Your Veterinarian

For exposed or febrile horses, your vet may recommend:
• Valacyclovir
• Anti-inflammatories
• Anti-thrombotics
• Supportive care
(Only under veterinary guidance.)

5️⃣ Biosecurity Is Critical
• Do NOT share water buckets, hoses, grooming tools, or tack
• Disinfect thermometers, trailers, stalls, and cross-ties
• Isolate any horse with a fever
• Wash hands and change clothes between barns when possible

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💉 About Vaccination
• Vaccines do NOT prevent the neurologic form (EHM)
• Boosters can reduce shedding and help limit spread
• Do NOT vaccinate febrile or recently exposed horses unless cleared by your vet

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We appreciate your cooperation and diligence.
These measures help protect every horse in our community.

11/05/2025

10/02/2025

Fall is here, the days are getting shorter and we are booking up. Message us to get your swim spots scheduled.

09/08/2025

Think Your Horse’s Cough is Merely a Transient Issue?
Think Again: The Hidden Truth About Inflammatory Airway Disease and Allergies from Multiple Sources and Firsthand Experience!

Horses coughing at the start of a ride, occasional runny noses, or seeming “a little off” during exercise—does that sound familiar? Many horse owners dismiss these signs as normal or seasonal nuisances, but as a veterinarian, I can attest that this is not the case. Here’s a startling fact: Up to 50% of athletic horses suffer from Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD)—a silent, insidious respiratory condition that quietly sabotages their performance and comfort, often without dramatic symptoms. Yet, surprisingly, most people are unaware of what IAD really is or how widespread it is. The Real Deal About IAD and Allergies

• IAD isn’t merely a cough. It’s a persistent inflammation of the lower airways that causes subtle but serious changes: increased mucus, airway irritation, and exercise intolerance. Unlike severe asthma (“heaves”), horses with IAD usually don’t gasp for air at rest, which leads many to miss the diagnosis entirely.

• Common misconception: “Coughing at the start of a ride is normal.” Incorrect. Coughing is your horse’s way of signaling that something is amiss in the lungs—usually inflammation or allergic irritation—not just a harmless tickle.

• Environmental triggers are often underestimated. Dust from dry hay, mold, pollen, and even stable ammonia fumes can exacerbate IAD and allergies.

• Horses have almost twice the lung capacity of similar-sized animals like cattle, explaining why subtle respiratory problems often go unnoticed until they significantly impact performance.

• Unlike human asthma, where eosinophils dominate inflammation, horse IAD inflammation is more often driven by neutrophils and mast cells. That’s why typical allergy treatments don’t always work the same way on horses.

• IAD isn’t contagious and doesn’t come with fever—so it’s often mislabeled or ignored as “just a cough” or “training issue” when it’s really a chronic inflammatory problem needing attention.

By combining smart barn management—like reducing dust and soaking hay and doing regular breathing treatments—all can help greatly reduce IAD.

In a nutshell: Don’t accept “just a cough” as normal!

09/03/2025

Fall Fun Fact- Do you know why administering a dose of wormer containing ivermectin or moxidectin is highly recommended for all horses in the fall following a hard frost?
Botfly eggs are a relatively common sight on a horse's legs during the summer and fall months. The life cycle, in brief, entails the fly laying eggs on the hairs of the legs (most common), chest, flanks, and sides of the horse. Horses ingest the eggs while chewing due to the itching sensation. The larvae then burrow into the gums before migrating into the stomach. Once inside the stomach, the larvae attach to the stomach wall, potentially interfering with digestion and causing symptoms ranging from dull coat and weight loss to colic. Furthermore, they increase the risk of developing gastric ulcers. If left untreated, these larvae can remain in the stomach for 6-8 months. Eventually, they pass out of the digestive tract and hatch in f***s, transforming into botflies and repeating the life cycle.
It is essential to administer wormer and maintain your horses' regular deworming schedule. Winter and the first hard frost are approaching rapidly.

08/29/2025

Equi-Breeze – Breathe Easy, Naturally Veterinarian-formulated respiratory support for horses Equi-Breeze is a powerful, all-natural supplement designed to help horses struggling with respiratory issues—including coughing, nasal discharge, exercise intolerance, or allergies. Whether your horse is...

07/22/2025

𝐓𝐌𝐉 𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐲

The 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 (TMJ) is the hinge between the jaw and skull. And yes, it can absolutely affect performance.

This joint does a lot more than chew. If it’s inflamed, restricted, or sore, you might see:
- Head tossing, bracing, or resisting the bit
- Inconsistent frame or contact
- Resistance to turning, bending, or backing
- Sensitivity while bridling or ear-shyness
- Even vague lameness, often mistaken for something else

Some horses overflex behind the vertical to avoid jaw discomfort. Others just feel “off” in a way you can’t quite explain. If they’ve already had their teeth done and it’s not a saddle fit issue, don’t forget to check the jaw.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀:
TMJ injections use a small amount of anti-inflammatory medication to relieve pressure and restore comfort. For the right horse, the change can be dramatic: better flexion, softer poll, easier turns, and more consistent connection.

But we don’t inject blindly. We rule out dental issues, poll pain, and neck stiffness first. If your horse constantly braces, grinds their teeth, or acts touchy around the face, it’s worth asking your vet.

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐗 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞
xxvets.com ◦ (940) 514-9500

07/01/2025

03/05/2025

𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝗼𝐮 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝗼𝐰

Kissing spine (Overriding Dorsal Spinous Processes) is one of the most misunderstood causes of back pain in horses. Some cases cause discomfort, while others never show symptoms at all.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞?
It occurs when the bony projections (spinous processes) along the spine touch or overlap, causing pain, stiffness, and performance issues. It’s commonly found in barrel horses, jumpers, dressage horses, and reiners due to the demands of their jobs.

𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐘𝗼𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝗼𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞
• Shortened stride or reluctance to extend
• Bucking, stiffness, or hollowing under saddle
• Sensitivity to grooming or saddling
• Difficulty collecting or engaging the hind end
• Loss of topline despite good nutrition & work

𝐇𝗼𝐰 𝐃𝗼 𝐖𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝗼𝐬𝐞 & 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐭?
X-rays confirm the severity, but not all cases require treatment. Many horses stay comfortable with injections and therapies that reduce inflammation, along with core and topline strengthening. Severe cases that don’t respond to management may require surgery, which can be highly successful. The best approach depends on the horse’s pain level, workload, and soundness.

Kissing spine varies in severity. Mild cases may appear on X-rays but cause no pain. Moderate cases can cause discomfort but are often manageable with injections, therapy, and strengthening. Severe cases result in chronic pain and sometimes require surgery.

𝐒𝐡𝗼𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝗼𝐮 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝗼𝐧 𝐚 𝐇𝗼𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐏𝐏𝐄?
Not necessarily. Kissing spine on X-ray alone isn’t a deal breaker. Many top performance horses have mild cases and never show signs of soreness in this area. It’s a concern if the horse is already extremely sore despite injections or if surgery is necessary for long-term comfort. However, if the horse is performing well, requires little to no maintenance, and has no signs of pain, there’s no reason to pass up a great athlete.

02/21/2025

Two common surgical techniques do relieve symptoms of kissing spines, but veterinarians still don't know exactly why they work