Montana Equine Medical and Surgical Center

06/09/2026

Performance Under Pressure: The Hocks

Few joints work harder than the hocks.

These powerful joints absorb concussion while providing the leverage and engagement needed for acceleration, collection, stopping, turning, and pushing forward.

Over time, the repetitive demands of training and competition can place significant stress on the hocks, especially in performance horses.

Subtle signs of discomfort may include:
• Loss of impulsion
• Difficulty engaging the hind end
• Resistance to collection
• Shortened stride length
• Changes in attitude or willingness under saddle

While hocks are a common source of performance limitations, they are rarely the whole story. At Montana Equine, our Performance Evaluations are designed to identify where your horse may be struggling through a comprehensive lameness assessment, helping us create an individualized plan based on function, comfort, and long-term success.

📣 June Promotion: Schedule a Performance Evaluation and receive a $150 credit toward joint injections if they are recommended and performed following the exam.

Call Montana Equine to schedule your Performance Evaluation today.

06/06/2026

Why Do Veterinarians Flex Joints?

One of the most common questions we hear during lameness exams is:

“What exactly is a flexion test?”

Flexion tests involve briefly stressing a joint or region of the limb before evaluating the horse’s movement. This can help identify areas that may be contributing to discomfort and provides additional information about where to focus our diagnostics.

Flexion tests are just one piece of the puzzle, but when combined with history, palpation, and movement evaluation, they help us build a more complete picture of your horse’s soundness.

Schedule a Performance Evaluation at Montana Equine. If joint injections are recommended and performed following the evaluation, receive a $150 credit toward treatment.

06/04/2026

Meet Mr. Peanut 🥜

He arrived with big dreams of helping our foals during rehabilitation, but unfortunately he was a little too small for the job. While his clinical career was short-lived, he’s found a new role keeping spirits high around the hospital.

Mr. Peanut may have been too small for our foals, but he’s the perfect size for keeping the team smiling.

06/01/2026

Join Dr. Emily Green, Montana Equine and Zoetis, for an evening focused on practical first aid skills for horse owners who ride, pack, hunt, and recreate in remote areas. Learn how to recognize common emergencies, what supplies to carry, how to stabilize your horse until veterinary care is available, and when it’s time to make the call for help.

Whether you’re headed into the mountains for a weekend ride or a week-long pack trip, this will help you feel more confident when the unexpected happens.

📅 June 17th, 2026 at 6:00 PM
📍 120 South 5th Ave, Suite B102, Manhattan, MT
🍽 Food provided by Zoetis
📧 RSVP to [email protected]

We hope to see you there!

05/30/2026

At Montana Equine, we believe in treating the right horse, the right joint, at the right time.

Book a Performance Evaluation, and if joint injections are recommended and performed, receive a $150 credit toward treatment.

Our goal is to identify where your horse may be struggling and create a plan based on function, comfort, and performance, not assumptions.

A Performance Evaluation may help uncover:

• Changes in movement or stride quality

• Resistance under saddle

• Reduced performance or stamina

• Compensation patterns or soreness

• Areas contributing to discomfort

Valid for in-clinic appointments only at our Bozeman and Billings locations through June 30th, 2026.

Call Montana Equine to schedule your evaluation.

Full Service Equine Hospital

05/27/2026

Dr. Emily Green had the opportunity to visit Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine in Tennessee to receive an award on behalf of Montana Equine.

Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine Clinical Site of the Year Award Large Animal 2026.

Presented to Montana Equine Medical and Surgical Center in recognition of a clinical affiliate that offers outstanding clinical experiences for LMU-CVM students and excellent partnership with LMU-CVM.

Montana Equine partners with the college to provide learning experiences to fourth year veterinary students as part of their clinical rotations and curriculum.

05/22/2026

Montana Equine is proud to support the 22nd Annual Lynda Ottun Memorial Barrel Race this weekend in Billings!

We’re honored to support an event that brings together talented horse-and-rider teams, celebrates the equine community, and honors the legacy of Lynda Ottun.

To all competitors; safe travels, fast times, and best of luck in the arena this weekend. We’ll be cheering you on!

05/19/2026

Holiday Hours Reminder 🇺🇸
We will be closed Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. Emergency veterinarians remain on call. Remember, if you need medications we ask for 48 hour advance notice. Wishing everyone a safe holiday weekend.

05/13/2026

An emergency kit won’t replace your vet—but it helps you bridge the gap until we get involved.

Having the right supplies on hand allows you to act quickly, keep your horse comfortable, and be better prepared while you’re waiting on guidance or arrival.

At the first sign that something isn’t right, give your veterinarian a call. Early communication allows us to triage effectively and walk you through next steps.

Keep your kit stocked, easy to access, and ready when you need it.

05/09/2026

Raised in a vet truck and grounded in good old Midwest work ethic, Dr. Caitlyn Ramaeker is still willing to handle the less glamorous side of equine medicine, always lending a helping hand with a smile. 💩👍

Over the last year, Dr. Ramaeker has brought her experience, dedication, and positive attitude to clients and patients across Yellowstone County. Her commitment to excelling in lameness evaluation, chiropractic care, and general practice is evident in the positive feedback we continue to receive from both clients and their horses.

We’re incredibly thankful to have Dr. Ramaeker as part of the Montana Equine team and look forward to many more years ahead. Happy one-year anniversary, Dr. Ramaeker!