Simon Constable's Equine Vets

09/08/2026

Glyncoch Honey Pot in very illustrious company!!!

07/08/2026

Foot abscesses have been surprisingly common this summer with the dry weather. Usually it is wet muddy conditions that soften the hoof and allow dirt and bacteria to get deeper into the horn to cause an abscess.
After paring out the abscess, opening it up to allow the pus to drain, it is important to flush (“tubbing”), poultice and keep it clean to allow drainage.
Here is an easy way to bandage the foot after applying the poultice, using a duct tape mesh.
I can’t claim the invention of this technique!!

31/07/2026

Why Regular Dental Checks Are Essential for Your Horse?

When we think about keeping our horses healthy, dental health is one of the most important reasons horses are living longer. It’s something that can easily be overlooked because it’s not easy to check without a gag!

Unlike humans, a horse’s teeth continue to “grow” or, more correctly, erupt throughout their life. As they wear down through chewing, sharp edges, hooks, and uneven surfaces can develop. These can make eating uncomfortable and may even affect your horse’s performance.

Some common signs that your horse may need a dental examination include:

• Dropping partially chewed food (known as quidding)
• Weight loss or difficulty maintaining condition
• Head shaking or resistance when ridden
• Bad breath
• Excessive salivation
• Difficulty accepting the bit

It’s worth remembering that many horses show no obvious signs of discomfort until problems have become quite advanced. Regular dental examinations and rasping (or floating as it’s also known) allow issues to be identified and treated before they become painful or lead to more serious complications.

Routine dental care can improve comfort, digestion, performance, and overall wellbeing. Most adult horses benefit from a dental examination every 6–12 months, although youngsters, aged horses and those with known dental issues may require more frequent checks.

We always carry sedatives with us so I f sedation is required then this can easily be given to make the stress of dentistry more tolerable!

Give us a call on 0161 724 4503 to book in.

29/07/2026

Last week we had the most amazing show whilst attending the Agria Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead.
We have found the showing world to be such a friendly place and are lucky enough to have made lots of friends. The girls lived their best life and enjoyed the hot and sunny weather all week playing with friends in between competing.
There were lots of clients there who are challenging and winning at the very top level but who are also happy to socialise and make the most of free time!
Thanks to everyone who helped us have a great show- all your help is much appreciated!

27/07/2026

“Sorry not sorry” to mention the massive laminitis risk after the rain in the North West this weekend. Having seen just how scorched the grass is down south and to a lesser extent around here, the rain is hugely important for grass and crop growing. In some areas of the country, farmers are having to feed hay in the fields to provide for their livestock!
However, the laminitis risk is huge in our area where rain has appeared.
Caution but not panic is required. Limiting turnout a little may be necessary as well as monitoring the “greenness” of poo, body condition and heat/pulses in the feet as well as close inspection of how your horse or pony is walking. Soaking hay may be difficult in the high temperatures but helps to get rid of some of the sugars out.
Keeping in some sort of work is also an important preventative measure to use up an excess energy. Preventative medication is rarely necessary but we have done this on occasions in very high risk cases! Obviously this also requires careful monitoring!!

26/07/2026

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/equestrian-sports/showing/family-team-celebrates-2026-royal-international-pretty-polly-supreme-title?fbclid=IwdGRjcATQsdVwZG9mBWZkaWQWULI2FOzmWPZembA3kfLXo8raIUu-l2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7hLz91a7N9Aym7BsHjfFHrsTamM92fvEmviVxsLKfb4SdKuEsZeBojgSj-6w_aem_RPwSbcWiWbILSXv0MD8n9A

Family team celebrates a remarkable double as Glyncoch Honey Pot claims the Pretty Polly mini M&M crown at the 2026 RIHS

26/07/2026

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/equestrian-sports/showing/family-team-celebrates-2026-royal-international-pretty-polly-supreme-title

Family team celebrates a remarkable double as Glyncoch Honey Pot claims the Pretty Polly mini M&M crown at the 2026 RIHS

21/07/2026

It’s now mid- grazing season and it’s really important to check for worms in faecal samples.
Faecal egg counts are not a 100% guarantee of the presence or absence of worms because there may not be representative distribution of the worms eggs in the faeces.
A good way to represent this is as follows- “A horse may have a million worms but none are laying eggs or have one worm that is laying millions of eggs.”
This shows the unreliability but it DOES give us an indication of the worms being pushed onto the pasture and therefore is a valuable tool.
Additional tests include blood samples to test for small redworms and tapeworms which also help to build up a picture.
In view of the massive problems with anthelmintic (deworming drugs) resistance, testing is the best way forward to prevent an explosion in worm related issues over the next few years.
We do all our worm egg counts in-house by veterinary surgeons who are up-to-date with all the latest knowledge and can give bespoke worm advice to clients.
Give the office a call on 0161 724 4503 for any help!

17/07/2026

I appreciate that this is is a personal post and not really business related but I had to mention the Great Yorkshire Show on Thursday.
It’s a show I first went to over 40 years ago and one of my favourites.
To compete in the Rydings Ring with both my daughters, Zara, in previous years and this year with Izzy (whose riding has come on tremendously in just a few months) as well as the brightest star of a pony, Honey, is a dream come true. She performed with her usual glamour with the highest ride mark of 49 out of 50! Very proud!
I appreciate that we are lucky to have such a superstar pony who is the kindest most gentle mare and always looks after my girls - she pings along with that show pony sass despite my lead rein being lovely and loose following my every move. I think all of us have a horse or pony of a lifetime………
The trust we have in these ponies and horses is incredible and is consistently rewarded!

13/07/2026

The hot, dry weather has a profound effect on the hoof quality especially the moisture content.
As a result of the dryness in the fields coupled with bedding in the stables, hooves become brittle and start to crack or split especially when under pressure or when toes become longer (growth rate generally increase too with the amount of grass and temperature).
This means that shoes can be more easily ripped off because the hoof wall integrity is poorer which can lead to large deficits in the hoof wall .

Additionally it can be harder for farriers to find good quality wall that is strong enough to be nailed into.

Using hoof moisturisers, such as local farrier Paul Conroy’s The Nourished Hoof products, topically on the hoof wall help to provide moisture into the hoof wall and prevent evaporation or loss of moisture to the environment. Although hoof oil is a great product to use, moisturisers actively “push” water into the hoof wall horn whereas hoof oil just prevents moisture loss.