Peak Performance Equine PLLC

12/02/2026

🐴 Client Photo Contest — Win a 25 lb Bucket of Platinum Performance Equine 🐴

As we update our website, we want to highlight what truly matters most — our incredible horses and the clients who love and care for them.

We’re inviting our clients to participate in a photo contest, with the opportunity to win a 25 lb bucket of Platinum Performance Equine supplement — a trusted support for whole-horse health, performance, and longevity.

How to Enter:
📸 Comment below with your favorite photo and/or video of your horse
📝 Include your horse’s name (and a short note about them, if you’d like)
👍 Like this post — sharing is encouraged

The winning photo (possibly more than one winner) may be featured on our updated website and social media as a celebration of our outstanding clients and equine partners.

🏆 Winner will be announced on: April 1, 2026

Thank you for trusting us with your horses. It’s an honor to care for them, and we look forward to showcasing the heart, dedication, and beauty of this remarkable community.

— Dr. Cierra Dedeker

03/02/2026

🐴 Equine Hoof Abscesses: What to Watch for This Mud Season

As warmer weather arrives the fluffy stuff is melting and muddy conditions increase and we often see a rise in hoof abscesses in horses. Wet, soft hooves and bacteria-rich environments create the perfect conditions for infection beneath the hoof wall — and abscesses can develop quickly and become very painful.

What is a hoof abscess?

A hoof abscess is a pocket of infection trapped inside the hoof. Pressure builds as pus accumulates, often causing sudden, severe lameness — sometimes overnight.

Common signs of an abscess include:
• Sudden, severe limping or non-weight-bearing on one foot usually
• Heat in the hoof or lower leg
• A strong digital pulse
• Swelling above the hoof or pastern
• Sensitivity to hoof testers
• Reluctance to move or bear weight

What you can do at home:

If your horse becomes acutely lame:
• Confine them to a small, dry area
• Check the hoof for heat, swelling, or obvious injury
• Avoid forcing movement
• Do not dig into the hoof unless advised
• Contact your veterinarian for guidance


When to call your veterinarian:
• If lameness is severe or sudden
• If swelling travels up the leg
• If your horse will not bear weight
• If there is no improvement within 24–48 hours with soaking the foot
• If you’re unsure — it’s always better to check early

Prevention tips during muddy months:
• Maintain clean, dry turnout areas when possible
• Pick hooves daily
• Keep up with routine farrier care, we find when they’re overdue for a farrier visit, they’re more at risk for an abscess
• Address hoof cracks or thrush early
• Limit prolonged standing in mud or wet bedding

Hoof abscesses can look dramatic, but with early diagnosis and proper treatment, most horses recover very well. If you ever have concerns about sudden lameness, don’t hesitate to reach out — prompt care keeps small issues from becoming big ones.

27/01/2026

We’ve been using shockwave for EIPH and COPD lung cases for a few years now and I couldn’t be happier with the results 🐎
Thanks for sharing Rhinebeck Equine

💊 It is Medicine Monday! And we are checking in with Dr. Lauren Holley, DACVIM about the use of shockwave therapy as an adjunctive therapy for Equine Asthma and EIPH.

🐎 Shockwave Therapy: More Than Muscles
Most people know Shockwave therapy for treating musculoskeletal conditions—but did you know there’s growing evidence it may also be a helpful adjunctive therapy for Equine Asthma and Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH)?

🌬️ Equine Asthma
Equine asthma is similar to asthma in people and is often triggered by sensitivity to small particles in hay (dust, mites, etc.). This condition causes inflammation of the lower airways, leading to airway narrowing and constriction, which reduces airflow. While equine asthma is not curable, it can often be successfully managed with appropriate medical and environmental strategies.

🫁 Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH)
EIPH is a chronic condition where bleeding occurs in the lungs during strenuous exercise due to rupture of small pulmonary blood vessels under high pressure. Although nosebleeds can occur, many horses show no outward signs, and diagnosis typically relies on endoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Underlying airway disease—such as equine asthma—may increase the risk by elevating airway pressures during intense exercise.

⚡ Shockwave & Lower Airway Disease
Ongoing research is exploring the effects of Shockwave therapy on lower airway conditions. In a small Texas study of 21 horses with EIPH (many also with equine asthma):
🩸 76% improved by at least 1 BAL RBC grade
🩸 47% improved by at least 2 BAL RBC grades
Average BAL RBC score decreased by 1.5 grades
Regarding equine asthma, 65% of horses showed at least a 6% reduction in neutrophil counts, with a positive correlation between improvement in BAL scores and decreased airway inflammation.

🔬 What This Means
Shockwave therapy is emerging as a safe and promising supportive treatment for horses with EIPH and equine asthma. PulseVet (Zomedica) is continuing to investigate its role and currently offers a clinical registry for Shockwave use as an adjunctive therapy:
👉 https://pulsevet.zomedica.com/shock-wave-therapy/equine-asthma-clinical-registry/

⚠️ Important note: Shockwave therapy is not a replacement for standard medical, environmental, or exercise management. Instead, it may help provide additional relief and potentially extend the time between flare-ups in these chronic conditions.

27/12/2025

From all of us a Peak Performance Equine, wishing you and your horses a healthy, happy holiday! May your barns be warm, your waters unfrozen, the hay and treats plentiful and your hearts full this holiday season 🐴🎄

10/12/2025

✨Winter Newsletter is Live! ✨

Want performance insights, conditioning tips, and seasonal care guidance from our sports medicine team?

📩 Message us your email to join our newsletter list

06/12/2025

Winter Nutrition: Small Adjustments, Big Impact ❄️🐴
As temperatures drop, horses use more energy to stay warm. Providing extra calories and forage during cold spells supports thermoregulation, muscle recovery, and overall wellness through winter.

However, avoid dramatic changes—both for gut health and metabolic stability. Increase feed gradually and never more than a 20% change in the total ration or a 20% change in feed type at one time. Sudden shifts can disrupt the hindgut microbiome and increase the risk of colic or laminitis.

✔️ Add calories primarily through high-quality hay, not concentrates
✔️ Consider oil or fat-based supplements for performance horses
✔️ Monitor body condition weekly, not monthly
✔️ Ensure free-choice salt and warmed water to maintain intake

Protecting your horse’s energy balance is about small, intentional adjustments, not overfeeding.

— Dr. Cierra Dedeker, DVM
Equine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation 🐎

05/12/2025

🔔 Signs of Subtle Lameness 🐴

Not all lameness looks like a head bob.
In sports medicine, the earliest signs are whispers in the body, long before a horse “looks” lame. 🐴

Here are patterns I look for in early or compensatory lameness:

🔹 1. Changes in Posture at Rest
• uneven weight bearing
• one hind leg always camped under
• resting one front leg excessively
• pelvic tilt or dropped hip
• rib cage collapse to one side

The body reveals pain even when still.

⸻

🔹 2. Loss of Elasticity

Movement becomes mechanical instead of fluid:
• shortened stride, not limping
• decreased fetlock drop
• reduced swing through the back
• rigid tail carriage
• less thoracic lift

Elasticity fades before gait irregularity.

⸻

🔹 3. Asymmetry on the Circle

Circles expose truth:
• inside hind isn’t stepping under
• outside shoulder carries more load
• hip hike or drop becomes obvious
• front end “falls in” or “drifts out”
• inconsistent bend through the rib cage

Circles show compensation patterns, not just pain.

⸻

🔹 4. Changes in Behavior

Pain often shows up as “attitude”:
• reluctance to go forward
• sourness under saddle
• ear pinning with certain transitions
• inconsistent leads
• tension when saddled or mounted

Behavior is biomechanics communicated.

⸻

🔹 5. Uneven Muscle Development

The body builds around dysfunction:
• topline loss on one side
• glute asymmetry
• hollowing behind the shoulder
• uneven hamstrings
• one-sided belly lift

Muscle tells the story of long-term adaptation.

⸻

🔹 6. Micro-Expressions of Pain

If you look closely:
• blinking or flinching to touch
• tail swish during palpation
• nostril tension
• jaw tightening
• breath holding

Pain lives in the smallest reactions.

⸻

Early Intervention Saves the Athlete

Subtle lameness isn’t minor — it’s a warning light from the body.
When we catch it early, we protect:
• the joints
• the fascia
• the spine
• the longevity of the athlete

Lameness isn’t just a symptom — it’s a system response.

Clinical evaluation can include:
• gait analysis
• flexions
• palpation
• spinal mobility assessment
• diagnostic imaging
• performance history

Sometimes the most important thing I do is translate what the horse has been quietly saying.

🜂 Dr. Cierra Dedeker
Equine Veterinary Sports Medicine

30/11/2025

My favorite blankets!!

30/11/2025

❄️ Winter Equine Care in Montana ❄️

Keeping your horse healthy through our long, cold Montana winters takes a proactive approach. Here are more tips on the essentials every owner should focus on:

🐎 Movement Matters
Even in freezing temps, daily movement keeps joints supple, supports circulation, and strengthens the immune system. Turnout—even short, safe sessions—helps reduce stiffness and winter stress.

💧 Hydration + Warm Water Access
Horses naturally drink less when it’s cold, increasing the risk of impaction colic. Offer warm (not hot) water, check tanks twice daily, and ensure heaters are working properly.

🩺 Dentals
A dental within the last year helps to ensure proper nutrition without pain. Horses teeth continually errupt throughout their lifetime. Ensuring proper alignment of the teeth is critical to prevent issue such as choke, colic, and unwanted weight loss.

🪱Deworming
Adequate protocols are important to prevent parasite loads that rob the horse of their nutrition ans can cause gastrointestinal disruption - we reccomend a f***l egg count to ensure youre dewoming plan is working

🧂 Electrolytes for Winter
Electrolytes aren’t just for summer. Sodium intake encourages drinking and supports immune function. Consider adding a salt block and offering loose salt or winter-safe electrolytes daily. We love the redmond rocks and loose salt added to soaked alfalfa pellets.

https://a.co/d/2fx7LOV

🛡️ Blanketing Considerations
Not every horse needs a blanket—but some absolutely benefit. Consider age, body condition, coat quality, wind exposure, and wet weather. A wet or clipped horse should always have appropriate coverage. Check blankets daily to ensure proper fit and dryness.

❤️ Winter Wellness
A strategic approach to movement, hydration, and temperature regulation can prevent illness, support immunity, and keep your horse thriving all season long. We love platinum performance equine supplements - https://www.platinumperformance.com/

Stay warm, stay safe, and give your horses a little extra love this winter.

And for some extra winter fun, visit this guy at the Sun Valley Stables in Idaho for a sleigh ride 🐴💯

— Your Equine Veterinary Team at Peak Performance Equine

21/11/2025

Update on EHM- (EHV-1 neuro)
Nov. 21, 2025

Thank you to everyone who shared yesterday’s EHM outbreak alert and helped spread awareness. As of today, no EHM cases have been reported in Montana, and current confirmed cases remain limited to Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, and Colorado with one unrelated case identified in Maryland.

To help ensure the safety of all our patients, a pre-appointment screening questionnaire will be required for all horses prior to arrival at the clinic or our arrival at your facility.

We encourage owners to continue practicing strong biosecurity, monitoring updates from the EDCC, and contacting their veterinarian with any concerns regarding recent travel or potential exposure. Horses returning to
Montana must have a vet exam and health certificate drawn up within 72hrs of travel home. And all 6 mo health certs are on hold for now.

Attached is some good info on the virus itself, and biosecurity measures. Ensuring your horses immune system is supported it key to individual health and disease prevention. We reccomend adequate nutrition with additional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Platinum Performance Supplementation is our top recommendation.

Staying informed and proactive remains the best way to protect your horses. Let us know if you have any questions for your horse, herd or facility.

20/11/2025

📣 Current update on EHM (EHV-1 neuro) 🐴🩺

There are at least seven confirmed cases between Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana and roughly two dozen more suspected reports in multiple states.

At this time, there are no known clinical horses or confirmed cases in Montana, but the extent of this outbreak is unknown and likely to expand.

The Waco, Texas event had 670 contestants from 31 states and 4 Canadian provinces. The Guthrie, Oklahoma event had 1280 horses from 28 states and 4 Canadian provinces. It is believed that in addition to barrel racing animals, there was overlap with breakaway roping horses and other rodeo-type horses. Horses at those events should have returned to their home locations.

Here are some great resources for more info!

· American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) EHV-1 Guidelines:https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Guidelines/Equine%20Herpesvirus.pdf

· American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Equine Herpesvirus-1 Consensus Statement: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0304.x