Brake Equine

🐴 Shockwave Therapy for Senior Horses 🐴

Did you know? ✨ Shockwave therapy isn’t just for high-performance athletes — it’s also a powerful tool to keep our older equine friends comfortable and moving well.

Whether it’s hock arthritis, sore backs, or old tendon injuries flaring up, shockwave can:

🔹 Reduce pain

🔹 Stimulate healing

🔹 Improve mobility

🔹 Extend quality of life

Sometimes a gentle pulse is all it takes to help them feel young again 💫

📍 Ask us if your golden oldie could benefit from a shockwave session!

Here are the questions discussed in the conversation on the live A and A: continue asking questions and we will answer throughout the day.

1. Should producers cancel this weekend?
- Answer: Yes, they should cancel.

2. How would you advise neighboring states to proceed with horse events?
- Answer: Less movement of horses will help resolve the outbreak faster.

3. Is BVH aware of cases outside of the Waco horses?
- Answer: Currently, only aware of cases in Waco, but expect potential spread.

4. Is this contagious to humans?
- Answer: No, it is not contagious to people.

5. Can someone who attended these races get a test at the clinic?
- Answer: Yes, they can screen horses and we will do trailer-side examinations.

6. How do you advise other disciplines to respond?
- Answer: Be discipline-specific, vaccinate, take temperatures, and practice good biosecurity.

7. Is there any risk that farriers could transmit this from barn to barn?
- Answer: Unlikely, as farriers are typically careful about infectious disease transmission.

8. How do people get vaccines without bringing their horse to the clinic?
- Answer: Vaccines require a veterinary exam, either at the clinic or on the farm, call and we can schedule this for you.

9. When do you suggest getting boosters?
- Answer: If the last vaccines were given more than 90 days ago, then as soon as possible to increase antibodies and slow virus spread.

10. What is your choice for disinfecting tech buckets, the barn, etc.?
- Answer: Avoid bleach, use accelerated hydrogen peroxide, phenols, or quaternary ammonia products. (rescue or companion)

11. How long will the virus last on surfaces if not disinfected?
- Answer: 2 days on dry surfaces, up to 2 weeks on wet surfaces.

12. Can horses have the virus without fever or nasal discharge?
- Answer: Yes, they can still be potentially contagious.

13. Can lysine or other products help prevent or build immunity?
- Answer: No, lysine and zinc have not been effective. Vaccines are the best prevention.

14. What is a normal horse temperature?
- Answer: 99 to 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on environmental conditions.

15. Is it okay to ride your horse at home if they were exposed but have no symptoms?
- Answer: Yes, but be smart about separating horses and avoid sharing tack.

16. If a horse had recent exposure in the last two days and is not vaccinated, should they be vaccinated now?
- Answer: Yes, vaccination can help reduce virus shedding and spread.

What is Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)?

You've probably heard it called Rhinopneumonitis, a respiratory tract disease that results in "snotty noses," but EHV is more than that. Depending on the strain, this virus can also cause abortion in broodmares, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) — the often-deadly neurologic form of the disease.

Because EHV is endemic in many equine populations, most mature horses have developed some immunity through repeated natural infection. However, they remain a source of infection for other susceptible horses, like weaned foals and yearlings, who usually display symptoms of the respiratory form of the disease in autumn and winter. Performance and show horses are also more vulnerable to the disease, as they commingle with unfamiliar equines in close quarters while under stress from travel and competition.

Proper biosecurity protocols can help reduce EHV outbreaks and other disease transmission. A variety of vaccines are also available for protection against both the respiratory and abortive form of the disease, but there is no equine licensed vaccine at this time that has a label claim for protection against the neurologic form (EHM).

Consult your primary equine veterinarian to learn more about this disease and work with them to determine the optimal vaccine protocol for your horses.

You can learn more about all three forms on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website here: https://equinediseasecc.org/infectious-diseases

Grateful for the farriers I get to work closely with every day!

It’s ! Let’s take a moment to celebrate and thank our farriers!

Proper foot care is the cornerstone of maintaining a sound horse, and a good farrier is an essential part of your equine's healthcare team, keeping your horse’s feet balanced and well-supported. Farriers and veterinarians often work together for the best interests of the horse, so a skilled farrier is both a necessity and a tremendous asset. Be sure to let your farriers know they are appreciated!

🚨 Guadalupe River Flood Animal Help 🐾🐴
If you’ve lost a pet or horse—or want to help animals affected by the floods—here’s what to do:

📧 Report missing pets: [email protected]
📸 Include a photo + last known location

🐶 Kerrville Pets Alive, San Antonio Pets Alive, and Facebook lost/found pet groups are actively helping.

🐴 For horses/livestock: contact local vets & stables. TEXSAR and Texas EquuSearch are assisting with large animal rescues.

🙏 Ways to help:

Donate pet wipes, feed, gloves, vet wraps
Offer shelter if you have safe space
Donate to Kerrville Pets Alive (https://kerrvillepetsalive.com)
💙 From one animal lover to another—stay safe, and reach out if you need help.

Because of the brave, we can do what we love. Happy Independence Day! 🐴🇺🇸

Don't leave water sitting - 𝑬𝒗𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 🌀☀️

Today, we honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Your sacrifice is remembered with deep gratitude. ❤️🤍💙

On a personal note, after welcoming our new addition to our family, I’m slowly easing back into work. I’ve missed the barn life and our incredible clients (both human and four-legged!), and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with you all. We appreciate your patience during this time of adjustments.

Stay tuned—more horse health tips, updates from the field, and everyday equine adventures will be coming your way soon. 🐴✨

Wishing everyone a meaningful and peaceful Memorial Day.

🐴 The Power of Acupuncture for Your Horse 🐴

Acupuncture is a safe, natural way to support your horse’s recovery and mobility with minimal side effects. By stimulating specific points on the body, it can:

✨ Reduce Inflammation & Improve Circulation – Promotes healing and overall well-being.
✨ Enhance Traditional Therapies – Works alongside joint/back injections and other sports medicine treatments.
✨ Release Muscle & Fascia Tightness – Especially beneficial for horses with tight muscles, making injections easier, less painful, and reducing soreness.
✨ Support Pain Management & Stress Relief – Helps with pain, inflammation, anxiety, hypersensitivity, and even metabolic conditions.
✨ Aid Nerve Health – Electroacupuncture can be particularly effective for nerve injuries.

🔹 Frequency depends on the horse and condition:
▪️ Severe/Recent Injuries: As often as every 2-3 days
▪️ Standard Treatment: Every 2 weeks
▪️ Maintenance/Stress Relief: Every 6-8 weeks

Considering acupuncture for your horse? It’s not about “better or worse” but finding the right balance for their needs! 🐎💆‍♂️

Colic can be a stressful and scary occurrence for equine owners, and it often requires the attention of an equine veterinarian to detect the cause of the episode and to provide treatment.

One way your horse doctor may try to determine the reason your equine companion is colicking is by performing a re**al examination. Here are a few things to keep in mind regarding the equine re**al exam:

• Re**al exams need to be performed by a skilled professional (your vet) or severe damage can occur to the internal structures.

• Re**al exams typically do not allow a veterinarian to alleviate the reason for colic. Your vet is feeling structures through the re**um not directly on the structures themselves, and therefore cannot pull out an impaction, etc.

• For the safety of the patient and your veterinarian, as well as the nature of the procedure, sedation is often required.

• NEVER perform a re**al exam yourself while waiting for the vet to arrive, as this could result in life threatening tears in the re**um and/or colon.

If you have questions or concerns that your equine companion may be colicking, please contact your veterinarian.

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

**alExams