Take Advantage of Your Time Outside the Show Ring

As we all know, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has suspended all points and ratings for the immediate future as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This unfortunately resulted in the cancellation of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), and major equestrian competitions around the world. However, this does not mean that all riding and training must come to a halt.

For the health and safety of all involved, we must follow recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. We are fortunate that Wellington, specifically the Equestrian Overlay Zoning District, is not a high-density area that offers picturesque bridle paths, idyllic weather and an abundance of expertise in all facets of the equine industry. Now is a unique opportunity for those who have been occupied by hectic schedules to take a step back, de-stress and even enjoy social distancing by saddling up and exploring the endless miles of excellent bridle paths.

Although the future of the COVID-19 pandemic in unclear, let’s make the most of our time in Wellington by continuing to ride and train our horses. Let’s try to keep a degree of normalcy in our daily routines and use this time wisely by improving both horse and rider health and well-being. Let’s use this time to ensure our horses remain in peak performance and ready to resume competition schedules when that time arrives.

Avenues for Enhancing and Maintaining Optimal Equine Health

It is always vital for teams to have a veterinarian by their side keeping a close eye on the equine athlete’s health, performance and well-being. Closely monitoring a horse’s condition is key to catching potential injuries before they progress into issues that require more serious treatments. Here are some recommendations to consider incorporating during this break in competition that may benefit your horse when its time to step back into the show ring.

Preventive Medicine

Now is a perfect time to update your horse’s vaccinations and make sure your horse is ready to step back onto the showgrounds when competition resumes.

Spring equine vaccinations to consider include:

• Encephalomyelitis, Eastern (EEE) and Western (WEE)
• Influenza
• Rhinopneumonitis (Herpesvirus)
• West Nile Virus
• Rabies
• Tetanus
• Strangles

For horses returning to areas where Potomac Horse Fever exists, a booster for that disease is highly recommended. Ensuring your Coggins test and records are up to date is always important.

Maintenance & Regenerative Medicine

Allowing our equine athletes to thrive while extending their performance careers may require Sport Horse Medicine to improve their comfort, well-being and performance. Many horses benefit from having their hocks, stifles, and/or coffin joints injected. Horses must be thoroughly evaluated by a sport horse veterinarian to determine the necessity and potential benefit of maintenance medicine before any corticosteroid injection is administered.

To further address the wear and tear incurred from intense training and competition, Regenerative Medicine is a non-steroidal option for activating and enhancing the horse’s innate bodily healing process.

Palm Beach Equine Clinic offers advanced regenerative therapies for treating musculoskeletal injuries, osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, including:

• Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
• Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein (IRAP)
• Autologous Conditioned Serum
• Pro-Stride Autologous Protein Solution

Alternative Therapies

Employing a holistic approach to treating patients, Palm Beach Equine Clinic offers veterinarians with a wealth of expertise in Alternative Medicine.

Alternative therapies are often used in conjunction with traditional medicine and can be uniquely tailored to enhance a horse’s performance and overall health.

• Equine acupuncture and electroacupuncture
• Veterinary chiropractic manipulations
• Laser therapy (from low-level to regenerative laser options)
• Shockwave therapy
• Chinese Herbal Medicine

Reproduction & Fertility

Now may be the perfect time to plan for a future competition partner by breeding your horse. Palm Beach Equine Clinic is proud to offer highly successful Embryo Transfer program. Utilize this time to begin the breeding process by having your mare safely bred through artificial insemination, with the embryo collected 7-8 days after pregnancy. A detailed Breeding Soundness and Fertility Evaluation can jump-start your future show ring champion.

Palm Beach Equine Clinic provides veterinarians with expertise in Advanced Reproductive Services and Fertility Solutions, including:

• Stallion or Mare Breeding Soundness and Fertility
• Embryo transfer: an ideal option for mares with busy competition schedules
• Genetic cloning (geldings, mares or stallions)
• Artificial insemination and semen collection, freezing, storage and shipping

Palm Beach Equine Clinic remains open and fully equipped with a team of 40 veterinarians, 60 technicians, fully stocked pharmacy, all-inclusive equine hospital and surgical suites. Speak with a PBEC veterinarian about your horse’s health and performance by calling 561-793-1599, or visit www.equineclinic.com to learn more.