Take an inside look into the latest the scientific studies at the University of Saskatchewan's veterinary college, with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's semi-annual newsletter: Horse Health Lines.

We ask a lot of our equine partners. Regardless of the discipline, maintaining optimal joint health is essential for any horse’s performance. Horses are athletes and lameness is one of the most common reasons for decreased performance. By addressing lameness issues as soon as they develop, the impact on the horse’s career can be minimized. Joint disease in horses is very common and as such, the use of one or several therapies can maximize soundness and improve long-term joint health.

Practicing good biosecurity at home and while traveling is essential for your horse’s health and safety, and is an important part of industry-wide disease control measures. We collaborated with Dr. K. Gary Magdesian, infectious disease control officer and faculty member in the Equine Internal Medicine Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital, to present a list of important things to remember when it comes to equine biosecurity.

Diagnosis and Treatment - In recent years the addition of the back examination to a routine lameness exam has become commonplace. With vast amounts of information available on the internet and social media pages, it can be daunting to understand and clarify “back pain” in the sport horse. This article will organize the clutter of information into a clear picture for riders and owners.