Dedicated Equine Veterinary Services Across Harrogate, Ripon And The Surrounding Areas

Castration

If a colt is not going to be used for breeding, then we recommend he is castrated. This will allow him to live with other horses, eliminate the risk of unwanted pregnancies, and whilst some stallions are perfectly behaved, in general geldings are calmer and easier to manage and ride.
Routine castrations are done under standing sedation and local anaesthetic and we need a clean stable in which to perform them. The incision is left open, and we recommend an initial 24-48 hours of box rest to allow clotting. After this time, it is preferable to be able to turn him out to allow him to exercise and reduce swelling.

Reproduction

Our reproductive services ensure your foal is well cared for from conception through birth and beyond. Reproductive scanning can be used to assist in conception and to diagnose and monitor pregnancy.
Packages for both fresh and chilled AI are available if required. Please contact us for further details.

Minor surgery

We can perform minor surgery such as lump removal, third eyelid removal, and eye removal. For more major procedures such as colic surgery and joint surgery we will refer you to a state-of-the-art hospital to ensure the best care possible for your horse.

Medical Cases

We offer services for medical cases which cover an extensive range of problems.
We can provide a good range of medical diagnostics and treatments.
Along with standard examinations and tests, we offer medical scanning, diagnostic endoscopy, gastroscopy, liver, and rectal biopsy and much more.

Colic

Colic is a stressful occurrence for any horse owner, but we are on call 24 hours a day should your horse become ill. Most cases of colic can be managed medically on your yard, but for the more severe cases where surgery may essential, we will refer your horse to an equine hospital for treatment.

Pre-Purchase Vettings

Pre-purchase ‘vetting’
When buying a horse, it is essential that you aren’t presented with any complications after you take on the mantle of ownership. We offer a pre-purchase examination to help you achieve this.
We currently offer both two-stage and five-stage vetting. Both involve a clinical examination, trot up, and the taking and storing of a blood sample. Any testing of these samples will incur additional fees.
If you are purchasing a ridden horse, we would recommend a five-stage vetting as more potential problems can be found during the vigorous exercise phase, recovery and second trot up.
Two-stage vetting is suitable for unbacked horses, or if a problem is found in the first stages that prevents us continuing. If you chose to have a two-stage vetting, you will be asked to sign a disclaimer form to accept the additional risks of conditions that may affect the horse’s suitability for purchase not being found.

Passport And Microchipping

All horses should now have a passport regardless of age, type and use. This is a legal requirement. If your horse needs veterinary attention, please have his passport available at the time as we will need to check this before administering medication. This is not necessary if we have already identified your horse as a non food equine under the medication control section of the passport and altered your horses record accordingly - please ask your vet if you are unsure whether this has been done. All vaccinations must be recorded in the passport of all horses.

Dentistry

Your horse is not going to tell you if there is a problem in their mouth. Some horses will show few if any problems eating and be perfectly behaved whilst ridden despite being in pain, so routine dental examination is essential for the welfare of all our equines.

Vaccinations

Tetanus Vaccinations
Tetanus is a disease caused by bacteria is found in the soil. The bacteria can enter via wounds and produces toxins that interfere with muscle contractions. We recommend that all horses are vaccinated for tetanus as a minimum. This involves an initial course of two vaccinations, followed by booster vaccination every two to three years. Tetanus is an awful yet preventable disease. Please don’t subject your horse to potential risk. Additionally, Mares should have a booster a month before foaling to pass on some protection to the foal.