Becker Equine

11/19/2025

🎁🐴 Drafting your gift list? Give the horse enthusiast in your life the gift of knowledge with our online certificate courses!

Our Equine Biosecurity course is the perfect way for caretakers to learn about protecting the health of their horses at home and on the road. The course covers:
🔹 Understanding infectious diseases
🔹 Biosecurity practices at home and at events
🔹 The economics of practical biosecurity
🔹 How to develop a tailored biosecurity plan for your operation

👉 For more info and to register, visit z.umn.edu/horseevents

11/19/2025

⚠️ Texas EHV Cases: What Horse Owners Need to Know

There is a confirmed exposure risk for horses that attended the WPRA Finals November 5th-9th or the 377 Arena on November 15th- 16th. If your horse was at either location call your veterinary to discuss quarantine action.

Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) is highly contagious- now is the time to stay informed and proactive. Vaccination can decrease symptoms and shedding of this virus but does not prevent this disease or its incubation. If you have had an exposed horse do not vaccinate until cleared with your veterinary and remain in quarantine for at least 14 days.

🔍 Early Signs to Watch For
• Fever – often the earliest indicator (check temperatures twice daily)
• Lethargy / decreased appetite
• Nasal discharge or cough
• Incoordination, hind-end weakness, stumbling
• Urine dribbling or inability to urinate
• Tail weakness

If any neurologic signs appear, consider this an emergency and contact your veterinarian immediately.

🦠 How EHV Spreads
EHV spreads through:
• Direct horse-to-horse contact
• Respiratory droplets
• Contaminated tack, buckets, grooming tools
• Human hands and clothing
• Airflow within barns (short distances)

🛡️ Prevention & Biosecurity
• Isolate any horse with fever or respiratory signs
• Temperature checks twice daily for all horses during an outbreak
• Separate equipment (lead ropes, feed buckets, grooming tools)
• Limit movement on/off property; postpone hauling and high risk events if possible
• Disinfect stalls, trailers, and shared equipment regularly
• Wash hands & change clothes between groups of horses
• Vaccinate routinely — while vaccines don’t prevent neurologic EHM, they reduce viral shedding and respiratory disease.
• Quarantine new arrivals for 14–21 days

𝗔𝗔𝗘𝗣 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀
https://aaep.org/resource/aaep-infectious-disease-guidelines-equine-herpesvirus-1-4/

📞 When in Doubt — Call
Know your horses vaccination status and remember rapid response limits spread. If your horse spikes a fever or seems “off,” regardless of their vaccination status early testing and isolation make all the difference.

We have seen ZERO cases at BE but in an abundance of caution we have enacted our additional biosecurity protocols for your horses safety. Please see front office to check in before unloading appointments at this time.

Stay vigilant, stay informed, and keep your herd safe.

10/09/2025

Thank you to Dr. Modesto, Rolando and Madison at Becker Equine for taking such amazing care of our Val today and always.

10/09/2025

Books open today at 10am!!

09/04/2025

🙏🙏🙏

Thank you Becker Equine for being here for our babies when we need you the most.

P.S. sorry I missed your faces 😬
P.S.S. Sorry our rooster attacked you a little 🤦‍♀️

07/27/2025

The term "fat leg" is pretty self-explanatory, but do you know the difference between stocking up and cellulitis?

Many horses will "stock up" with subcutaneous edema (fluid swelling) in two or more legs (usually the hind limbs). Stocking up generally results from a significant decrease in exercise and usually resolves as the horse starts exercising again.

Lymphangitis (or vasculitis, big leg disease, staph infection, or cellulitis), however, is a bacterial infection and a dramatically different condition. While its causes may vary, it’s easy to spot once it sets in. The swelling will be extreme, hot, very painful to the touch, and the horse will be depressed due to the fever and discomfort.

If you think your equine friend has cellulitis or even if you're not sure, we encourage you to seek professional help promptly. Your equine practitioner will make the best treatment recommendations, both to reduce swelling and to address any sort of bacterial infection that might be active or that could occur due to the edema in the soft tissue.

06/16/2025

A U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service investigation confirmed that 21 horses tested positive for equine infectious anemia as of late May across California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas.

02/13/2025

Late night pasture X-rays Becker Equine

02/13/2025

🙌👍💪

01/13/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15nwJCiAFd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Foundation for the Horse continues to reach out to veterinarians and the horse industry to help horses affected by the wildfires in Southern California. If you or someone you know needs assistance with veterinary care, shelter, transportation, feed, hay, or supplies, please contact The Foundation at [email protected]. Assistance is available to veterinarians treating horses affected by the fires and for veterinary medical supplies, treatment, euthanasia, and more.

To assist in these efforts, donations are needed and can be made directly to our Disaster Fund at https://www.foundationforthehorse.org/impact/disaster-relief/

12/25/2024

12/08/2024

**Cold Weather and Blanketing Your Horse 🐴🧣**

As the temperatures start to drop, it’s important to know when and how to blanket your horse to keep them comfortable and healthy during the colder months. Here are some key tips for proper blanketing:

1. **Temperature Matters**: Generally, horses that are fully acclimated to cold weather don’t need a blanket. If your state (shout out to Texas) has a lot of fluctuations generally most horses are comfortable until it drops below 30°F (-1°C), but it depends on your horse’s coat, activity level, and shelter available! Older, thinner, or clipped horses may need extra warmth even in higher temperatures.

2. **Wet or Windy Conditions**: If your horse gets wet or if it’s windy, they may need a blanket to retain body heat and prevent chills but more important is protection from the wind. Wet hair doesn’t insulate as effectively!

3. **Check for Fit**: Make sure your blanket fits properly—not too tight or loose—and is comfortable around the chest, with enough room for shoulder movement. It should never restrict movement or rub. Spandex/Lycra layers can support prevention of shoulder or blanket rubs in high friction areas.

4. **Quality Over Quantity**: Invest in a good-quality blanket with adequate waterproofing, breathability, and insulation, tailored to your climate. If layering with temperature fluctuations - coolers can support whisking water or any potential sweat from the horse body to further prevent chills

5. **Indoor vs. Outdoor**: Horses kept indoors or in a sheltered area may not need a blanket unless the weather is extreme, while those outside all day may need extra protection.

More important than any of the above is ensuring your horse is taking in adequate water and calories to maintain their health and condition. Cold weather is a great time to refresh salt licks. Remember electrolytes are not just for warm weather!

Remember, every horse is different! Assess their needs based on their age, coat, and lifestyle. Happy winter care!