Equine experts urge a simpler, more targeted care approach

Veterinarians and equine teams have a fresh, practical client-education piece to point to this week: The Horse on May 27 published “Horse Care: When Less is More,” in which Nancy S. Loving, DVM, draws on comments from Harry Werner, VMD, past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, to argue that many common horse-care habits are being overused rather than optimized. The article calls out routine joint injections without documented lameness, frequent NSAID use, overaggressive trimming or shoeing, excess grain and supplements, twice-yearly dental floating without indication, overblanketing, frequent bathing, and unnecessary diagnostic testing. It also emphasizes that more turnout, more forage, and more individualized decision-making often serve horses better than adding interventions by default. (thehorse.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the piece reflects a broader shift toward evidence-based restraint in equine care. That’s especially clear in parasite control and hoof care, where outside guidance has moved away from one-size-fits-all routines: University of Georgia Extension advises against rotational deworming and recommends fecal egg count-guided programs, while UC Davis notes that even hoof trimming intervals should be individualized rather than fixed. Cornell’s equine wellness guidance similarly centers routine veterinary exams, body condition assessment, hoof health, dental review, and parasite control as part of a tailored preventive plan, not a checklist of automatic procedures. For practices, that creates an opening to reframe conversations with pet parents around “appropriate care” instead of “more care,” which may help reduce overtreatment, preserve drug efficacy, and build trust. (fieldreport.caes.uga.edu)

What to watch: Expect continued pressure on equine veterinarians to lead more individualized care plans, particularly as deworming guidance evolves and resistance concerns push the industry further away from routine, unsupervised treatment. (chronofhorse.com)