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If your horse seems “off,” gaining weight easily, losing topline muscle, acting sluggish, developing hoof sensitivity, or battling recurring infections, you’re probably not imagining things. Equine metabolic disorders such as PPID (Cushing’s disease), insulin resistance (IR), and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) develop gradually and often go unnoticed until complications arise. The good news? With proactive…

Horse owners hear the phrase “no hoof, no horse” all the time, but most people don’t understand what that really means in the day-to-day decisions that keep an athlete sound. In Episode 20 of The Equine Vet Connect Podcast, Dr. Dan Carter sits down with local farrier Kyle Schmidt to break down what matters most…

Foot mapping is the process of using consistent anatomical landmarks — not guesswork — to balance a hoof under the limb and protect long-term soundness. When done correctly, it removes subjectivity from trimming and creates predictable, repeatable results. In Episode 20 of The Equine Vet Connect Podcast, Dr. Dan Carter and farrier Kyle Schmidt break…

Because the hind end is the engine and when a horse can’t grab the ground behind, the front end pays the price. Many front-end soreness issues don’t start in the front feet at all. They begin with slipping, instability, and lack of purchase in the hind feet. In Episode 20 of the Equine Vet Connect…

Vertical depth is not the same thing as toe length and confusing the two is one of the fastest ways to create sore, unhealthy feet. A hoof can look “long” and still be correctly balanced, while a short-looking foot can be dangerously under-protected. This misunderstanding shows up constantly in performance barns, and it’s a major…

Insulin resistance in horses is one of the most common — and most dangerous — metabolic conditions veterinarians see today. When insulin levels stay too high for too long, the risk of laminitis increases dramatically. The challenge is that insulin resistance often develops quietly, with few obvious signs until a crisis occurs. Understanding what insulin…

Metabolic disease in horses rarely announces itself loudly at first. Long before bloodwork changes or obvious symptoms appear, subtle changes begin in the feet — and farriers are often the first professionals to notice. Because the hoof reflects internal health so clearly, farriers play a critical role in identifying early warning signs of metabolic disease…

Cushing’s disease in horses — properly called Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) — often develops quietly. Long before the classic long, curly hair coat appears, subtle changes in muscle tone, energy, immunity, and hoof health can signal a problem. Recognizing these early signs allows veterinarians to diagnose PPID sooner, begin treatment earlier, and dramatically reduce…

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is often misunderstood — and frequently oversimplified as “a fat horse problem,” but to many owners’ surprise, it can affect lean horses as well. In reality, EMS is a complex metabolic condition that increases a horse’s risk for laminitis, often without dramatic warning signs. Understanding how EMS differs from insulin resistance…

Parasite control is one of the most important aspects of keeping your horse healthy, yet it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Many horse owners remember the old-school method of deworming every two months with a different product. But is that still necessary today? In this post, we’ll explain how modern parasite control has evolved…