Conejo Valley Equine

08/20/2025

Street nails are a common emergency, and we had a good one the other day! Fortunately the owner knew to call us out prior to removing the nail so that radiographs could guide how aggressive we needed to be with treatment, and whether referral was indicated. Happy to report this very lucky unlucky guy is doing great!

08/08/2025

It’s common to not get actual visible drainage with foot abscesses…. But when we do it’s extremely satisfying!!!

08/06/2025

We wanted to share a recently published article highlighting the incredibly special and life- changing work Mini Therapy Horses provides to our community. We feel so privileged to be a part of their team!❤️

https://people.com/miniature-therapy-horses-trained-to-play-keyboard-in-hospitals-exclusive-11777592n

Victoria Nodiff-Netanel’s non-profit, Mini Therapy Horses, features nine horses that offer site visits to hospitals, schools, fire departments, and more to lift people's spirits. The horses also know how to play instruments.

06/12/2025

We are currently having temporary issues with our phones. If there is an emergency or you need to contact our office please send us an email at [email protected]

04/20/2025

Happy Easter!

Maurice would like to know which pair of ears is better: Donkey or Bunny? 🫏 vs 🐰

We are open for emergencies only today!

03/17/2025

Meet the Staff Monday!

Dr. Richard Stevens certainly needs no introduction. He is one of the few that can say he has only had one job! Dr. Stevens graduated from Colorado Veterinary School in 1981 and joined Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital as an intern that same year. He has continued to build Conejo Valley Equine as the premier ambulatory practice serving Ventura and Northern Los Angeles Counties. He enjoys complex lameness cases, dentistry, and caring for horses throughout all stages of their life.

Dr. Stevens is rarely seen without a yellow Labrador puppy- in-training. Rudy is currently his 14th puppy! When not treating horses he enjoys farming on his avocado ranch.

03/10/2025

We are fortunate to have the best team around!

Each Monday we will be featuring one amazing member of our staff! Stayed tuned to learn more about our wonderful staff who dedicates themselves to providing the best care for your horses!

03/07/2025

Spring is here! It is the perfect time to schedule your horses annual wellness exam to update their vaccinations!

Wondering what vaccinations are recommended for your specific horse and situation? Our team would be happy to discuss the core vaccines that are recommended for every horse (Rabies, Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis, Tetanus, and West Nile virus) and risk- based vaccines (Flu/ Rhino, Strangles).

03/05/2025

Our wonderful team of doctors is available 24/ 7 for your equine emergencies.

Call (805) 496-0505.

03/03/2025

Final tip for a successful pre-purchase exam: Horses do not 'pass' or 'fail' their exam!

We understand that horses are a part of your family and deciding on your next partner is an emotional, rational and financial decision. Our goal with the pre-purchase examination is to provide our professional expertise to help you decide on the right horse who can be enjoyed for many years to come!

03/02/2025

Tip #4 for successful Pre-purchase exam: Understanding the lameness exam

The most common reason for performing a pre-purchase exam (PPE) is to evaluate the horse's soundness. Lameness is the number one cause for loss of use in horses, so this is often the potential buyer's biggest concern and reason for having the horse evaluated.

Here is what you can expect during the lameness portion of the exam:
1. Initial check- an evaluation of the horses conformation and look for any heat, swelling or pain.
2. Movement- the horse will be observed in a straight line and circles
3. Flexion Test- Specific joints are flexed for a period of time and then the horse is asked to jog off to see if any lameness is apparent after the stress test.

If no significant problems are discovered when evaluating the horses's gait, the next step in the exam is often diagnostic imaging of the horses's legs. The most common imaging includes taking radiographs (x-rays) to evaluate the bones and joints.

Please reach out to our office if you would like to schedule a pre-purchase exam!

03/01/2025

Tip #3 for successful pre-purchase exam: Understanding the exam

The comprehensive examination will look at all facets of the horse. We will listen to heart, lungs and gut sounds. We will do a head to tail physical exam to look and feel for anything considered abnormal. We will look thoroughly at the eyes. Then we will conduct a lameness exam.

Stay tuned for our next post detailing the lameness exam!