At Equistride Veterinary, I want every owner to feel prepared, supported, and confident before, during, and after their horse’s appointment. This page outlines what to expect and how to get the most out of your lameness or performance assessment.
Preparing for Your Appointment
Lameness examinations often involve injections for diagnosis or treatment, so it’s essential that your horse arrives with clean limbs to reduce the risk of contamination and complications. Please bring your horse shod as normal and, where possible, leave at least one week after shoeing before your appointment.
If your horse is anxious, needle-shy, or can be difficult to handle, please let us know beforehand so we can allocate extra time or discuss the use of a mild sedative such as ACP.
Ahead of your exam, you will receive an online client questionnaire. Completing this helps us understand your concerns and prepare appropriately.
Please also:
- Let us know if you are anxious about needles, injections, or blood — we are more than happy to organise someone else to hold your horse.
- Bring any relevant videos of your horse.
- Provide the details of your regular vet, so we can request history and keep them informed.
- Bring your tack and a suitable rider if the issue is primarily noticeable under saddle.
What to Expect During a Lameness Exam
We begin with a conversation about your horse’s history, when you first noticed changes, and your main concerns. As we talk, I’ll carry out a detailed static examination before moving on to a dynamic assessment.
A typical exam may include:
- Straight-line and lunge evaluation on hard and soft surfaces
- Flexion tests if specific areas need further assessment
- Ridden assessment when relevant
- Diagnostic procedures such as nerve or joint blocks
- High-quality ultrasound and radiography
My aim is always to diagnose and treat within a single appointment wherever possible. However, lameness is often complex and multifactorial, so in some cases we may need to reconvene. If this is the case, we’ll discuss next steps together.
After your appointment, you’ll receive rehabilitation or discharge instructions, and I may recommend farriery adjustments, saddle checks, or physiotherapy as needed.
You will also receive information in advance about the risks associated with joint injections used in diagnosis and treatment.
Communication & Reporting
If you choose to attend the appointment, I keep you fully informed throughout the process. If not, I’ll call you with updates and decisions as we go.
We can take videos during the examination if useful. Occasionally, footage may be used for educational events or online content — you can opt out via your client form.
You will receive:
- A written report within one week of your appointment
- Access to all imaging upon request
- Streamlined insurance reports if you’re making a claim (please let us know beforehand to ensure a smooth process)
Reports are emailed and saved to your horse’s history for future reference.
Fees, Payment & Insurance
Each work-up is highly individual, and costs vary depending on case complexity. I have set fees for each component of the examination and can provide estimates prior to your appointment.
I am always happy to work within a budget and will do my best to gather as much useful information as possible while respecting financial constraints.
Payment plans are available if you need to spread the cost over time.
Aftercare & Follow-Up Support
After each appointment, we’ll book a recheck at 4–6 weeks, allowing time for initial rehabilitation and for any medications to take full effect.
I will check in at the 3-week point via phone or text to ensure everything is progressing well and to answer any questions.
As part of your examination fee, I provide fully tailored rehabilitation plans when needed, including:
- Rest periods
- Surface recommendations
- Workload progression
- Accessory exercises
For any complications following treatment, I am available 24/7 for advice and support. If your horse becomes severely lame or you are worried after an appointment, please contact me immediately.
Contact
Whether you’re booking a lameness assessment, enquiring about clinic availability, or seeking guidance after an appointment, I want the process to be simple and stress-free.
How to Get in Touch
To book an appointment, please refer to our online schedule to see when we are next in your area. Clinic spaces are intentionally limited to ensure each horse receives the time and attention required.
If the clinic you would like to attend is fully booked, please contact us via email, and our admin team will do their best to accommodate you.
For general enquiries or to request a clinic in your area, please use our online forms. If multiple owners nearby are seeking assessments and we can fill a full day, we will consider travelling — provided suitable facilities are available.
For emergencies, please call 0204 001 1918 directly.
(Please do not rely on email or messaging for urgent situations.)
Lameness Emergencies
Emergency support is available strictly for horses we have already seen.
Please contact us immediately if your horse experiences:
- Sudden, severe lameness or reluctance to weight bear
- Significant or worsening lameness after an appointment
- New limb swelling following treatment or diagnostics
If your horse shows these signs and we have not previously examined them, please contact your primary veterinary care provider as your first point of support.