Rising Sun Equine Clinic LLC

05/03/2025

X-rays or CT?
Imagine your horse has a neck problem, your regular vet recommends x-rays but another vet says x-rays of the neck don't tell us much and you should do a CT instead. What should you do? What is the difference?

X-rays show us the "outside" of the vertebrae. It is like looking at a tree trunk we can only see the bark and the shape of the outside of the tree. With radiographs (x-rays) we can see if there is a lot of arthritis in the joints and we can see if there is a mis-alignment of the vertebrae or ECVM. We cannot see the "inside" of the spine, the part where the spinal cord lives. We also cannot get a clear view of the IVF or bony tunnel in between the vertebrae that the nerves have to travel through to go out to the body. There could be a problem that will not show up on x-rays.

CT or computed tomography shows us both the outside and the inside, it is like looking at a tree after it has been cut, you can see the heart of the tree and all the growth rings. CT can give us important information about the spinal canal and that bony tunnel. CT is a good choice to look for spinal cord compression or a "pinched" nerve. A CT gives us a lot more information than an x-ray.

There are also big differences in the procedures. X-rays can be done in your barn, require little to no sedation and are less expensive. A CT scan for the low neck requires general anesthesia, must be done at the clinic and is more expensive.

Which is the best choice? There is no right answer for every situation. As a vet, I love getting as much information as possible so we can make the best treatment plan. But the higher cost and the risk of general anesthesia with a CT may mean that x-rays are the better choice. Talk it over with your vet. Ask what they are looking with the imaging and how the results would change the treatment plan or how the results would change your goals for your horse. Ask questions until you understand and are happy with your choice.

05/02/2025

My job is to get horses aligned, pain free and performing at their best but riders need attention too! Here is an interesting webinar for riders from Centaur Biomechanics.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝘀

𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗳𝗳

𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 @ 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 𝗛𝗥𝗦 𝗚𝗠𝗧

Optimal horse-rider performance and management of back and pelvic pain in the rider require an understanding of the anatomy and biomechanics of the rider lumbo-pelvic-hip region.

Knowledge of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting the function of this area in the rider can help riders, coaches, trainers and practitioners to enhance performance and manage injury in the equestrian athlete.

Session will cover

🐴Spine and pelvis and related area biomechanics
🐴Conditions of the spine and pelvis that affect rider performance
🐴The importance of sending the rider to the right practitioner/trainer/coach who can assess the above and provide management strategies OR suggest changes to the riders’ techniques
🐴Demonstration of a few BASIC screening tests for the rider hip and pelvis

TO BOOK
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-function-of-the-riders-hip-and-pelvis-with-dr-lesley-goff-tickets-1232165693759?aff=oddtdtcreator

CPD Certificates
Live Q and A
Video replay

17/01/2025

When should you call the vet?
The easy answers are:
Cuts, Coughs, Colic and Clearly lame
True "come a runnin" emergencies are:
Bleeding badly, Eye problems, and difficulty Foaling
And then what? The answers become less clear if the problem is subtle or if it starts small and gets worse over weeks to months.

Call when there is
A change in performance or behavior
Training isn't progressing as you would expect

For example there could be a problem with one lead that wasn't there a few weeks ago or the horse is carrying its head higher than usual, or is getting difficult to saddle. These are clues that is a medical problem. Another time to call is when the horse has difficulty learning a simple task, for example, turning left or picking up a canter. There is a wide range of normal and some horses learn faster than others or are more athletic. But then there are those horses that fall outside of normal range. If you have been working an a basic task over and over, in many different ways and the horse just doesn't get it; it is time to call the vet.

There is a saying "If all you have is a hammer; everything you see is a nail." And it is sooo true!
Owners/riders/trainers will consider unwanted changes as a training issue or poor saddle fit or a bad day or a rider issue or a result of bad footing, the list goes on. Veterinarians will consider unwanted changes as a medical issue. Of course the answer is that it could be either or both!

Finding the root of the problem takes all of us working together for the good of the horse. If your horse is having difficulty with a basic task or there is a change in performance it is time is to
call the Vet!

23/11/2024

My last day at Chi University. After 20 years of teaching at Chi today is my last day. I will be spending all my time treating horses and focused on my practice Rising Sun Equine Clinic LLC. I appreciate all the opportunities I've had at Chi and working with all the veterinarians, owners and horses attending classes. Its been a great run and I am looking forward being a full time veterinarian again.

08/08/2024

Voicemail is working again! Call or text today! 352-362-0074.

11/02/2024

Thermal imaging is a useful tool to clarify problems and to monitor progress. Here are some examples of how it helps us with neck problems.

07/02/2024

How do you know if your horse has a neck problem?

Difficulty bending or obvious pain are clear signs, but horses often tell us in more subtle ways. The photos show some of the things that can mean there is a neck problem.

The neck may look too small compared to the body. The upper neck muscles may look well developed but seem to stop at mid neck. This creates a hollow in the lower neck. The muscle (rhomboid muscle) just below the mane may be very tight and stick out or there may be a large step as you go from the neck to the shoulder.

Neck problems can cause poor performance, weakness in the hind legs and even front leg lameness.

07/01/2024

Let's talk about butts! Here are photos of two different hindquarters. What do you think? Can you see the asymmetries? What is different between the two?
The bay horse has an asymmetric, uneven pelvis. The red triangles and the yellow lines mark the pelvis, the right side is much lower than the left. The white lines show that his right hindquarter is smaller than the left. We can't change the shape of the pelvis in this horse, but we can help him to be his best with rehab exercises and acupuncture. The green outlines his muscles which we can improve.
The black horse's pelvis is quite even, as marked by the red triangles and the yellow lines. His muscles are a different story, especially the blue lines! The loss of muscle as seen on this horse's left side is a common problem. It usually means there is a problem in the horse's low back or SI joint. these horses are back sore or feel weak behind. This horse may need SI joint injections and can be helped with spinal manipulation and acupuncture.
What does your horse's butt look like?

05/05/2023

05/05/2023

What do you see? What is going on with this horse?
These photos are thermal images of a horse's front limbs. Red marks areas that are warm/hot. Purple and blue mark areas that are cool/cold.

In the before photo, the right front leg is cooler than the left and the pastern and foot are cold. On the inside of the left front we can see the tendon area is hot.

In the after photo we can see the temperature is more even in each leg and when we compare right and left.

This horse had neck issues that compromised the circulation to his right front. Maybe you know of a person with neck problems that has tingling or pain in their hands, this is the same thing in a horse. This horse was treated with VMM and acupuncture and the after photo was taken immediately after treatment.