Equine experts urge a simpler, more targeted care approach: full analysis

A new feature in The Horse is putting a familiar veterinary message into plain language for horse caretakers: sometimes the best care plan is the one with fewer interventions. Published May 27, “Horse Care: When Less is More” has Nancy S. Loving, DVM, reporting comments from Harry Werner, VMD, a past AAEP president, who argues that common equine practices are often overapplied, from joint injections and NSAIDs to hoof work, grain feeding, supplements, dental floating, blanketing, bathing, and even diagnostic testing. (thehorse.com)

The article lands in a horse-health environment that has been moving, gradually but clearly, toward more selective care. In recent years, equine medicine has increasingly challenged routine rotational deworming, fixed farrier schedules, and blanket supplement use in favor of decisions tied to exam findings, workload, metabolic status, and diagnostic results. University of Georgia Extension, for example, says rotating dewormer classes is no longer recommended and that mature horses generally need one to two annual treatments plus additional therapy based on fecal egg counts. (fieldreport.caes.uga.edu)

Werner’s core argument is that “routine” can become a problem when it replaces diagnosis. In the musculoskeletal category, he warns against joint injections performed without evidence of lameness and against using NSAIDs, especially firocoxib, like a daily supplement despite known gastrointestinal, renal, and microbiome risks. In hoof care, he says both overcomplicated shoeing and overzealous barefoot trimming can leave horses worse off, and that trim timing should follow hoof growth, which varies by season and activity. UC Davis echoes that point, noting there’s no universal hoof-care interval and that five- to six-week visits are often optimal for horses in work, but still need to be individualized. (thehorse.com)

The nutrition and management sections may resonate most broadly with ambulatory equine practice. Werner says stall confinement and processed grain feeding can set horses up for gastric ulcers, colic, behavioral issues, and laminitis, while many horses do well on primarily long-stem forage with minimal or no grain. He also argues that many nonfeed supplements offer limited benefit, adding that nutraceuticals are largely unregulated and may not contain what labels claim. Cornell’s equine wellness guidance aligns with the larger preventive message: annual veterinary visits should review body condition, nutrition, dental care, hoof health, and parasite control in the context of the individual horse, not a standard barn routine. (thehorse.com)

On dental care, Werner says annual exams make sense, but twice-yearly floating without a specific malocclusion or overgrowth does not. He also cautions against overly aggressive use of dental power tools because heat injury can damage teeth. That same “less, but better” framing carries through to grooming and skin care: overblanketing can promote overheating and skin flare-ups, overuse of fly spray can trigger hypersensitivity, and too-frequent bathing can strip protective oils and disrupt normal skin flora. He also notes that whisker trimming is restricted in some jurisdictions and banned in FEI competition horses, underscoring how cosmetic practices can become welfare issues. (thehorse.com)

Expert commentary outside the article suggests the same philosophy is gaining traction in parasite management. In a 2025 Chronicle of the Horse report on updated AAEP deworming guidance, equine parasitologists and clinicians said resistance is already widespread in some common parasites and stressed that “one size doesn’t fit all anymore.” They recommended fecal egg count testing, post-treatment reduction testing, and closer veterinary oversight rather than grabbing an over-the-counter dewormer on schedule. (chronofhorse.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this isn’t just a husbandry discussion. It’s a business, stewardship, and communication issue. Equine practices are often asked to validate entrenched barn habits, trainer preferences, or supplement regimens that feel proactive to pet parents but may add cost, risk, or false reassurance. A clearer “do less, with purpose” framework can help clinicians justify fewer injections, fewer drugs, fewer tests, and more targeted prevention. It also supports antimicrobial- and anthelmintic-style stewardship thinking in other categories: preserve what works, intervene when indicated, and document why. (thehorse.com)

What to watch: The next step is whether this message changes behavior at the barn level. Expect more emphasis on fecal egg count-based parasite programs, individualized farrier intervals, nutrition plans tied to metabolic risk, and stronger veterinary pushback on routine procedures without clinical indication, especially as resistance concerns and cost sensitivity continue to reshape equine care. (fieldreport.caes.uga.edu)