The Horse First: A Veterinary Sport Horse Podcast

Dr. Audrey DeClue and Dr. Daniella Vansteenkiste discuss recognizing and managing nerve pain and neuropathy in sport horses. Dr. Vansteenkiste emphasizes the importance of understanding subtle clinical signs like behavioral changes, sweat patterns, and postural alterations. She explains the complexities of nerve pain, including the concept of "wind-up" and the slow healing rate of nerves, which can take weeks to months. They highlight the need for multimodal treatment approaches such as pain management strategies and stress the importance of early detection and long-term management rather than quick fixes. The conversation underscores the necessity of veterinarians and horse owners being aware of the chronic nature of nerve pain and its impact on horse welfare.

Dr. Audrey DeClue discusses the importance of recognizing pain in horses, emphasizing that many issues misdiagnosed as training problems are actually pain-related. She highlights the need for veterinarians to understand biomechanics and pattern recognition to accurately diagnose and treat pain. Dr. DeClue explains how she identifies and addresses pain and stresses the role of equipment in causing lameness. She advocates for veterinarians to prioritize rideability and trainability over soundness and lameness, aiming to improve horses' quality of life and performance.

In part two of this series, Dr. Audrey DeClue and world-renowned Veterinarian Dr. Sue Dyson discuss the importance of pain ethograms when identifying discomfort in horses. Dr. Dyson shares her extensive experience, highlighting the challenges in veterinary practice, including the reliance on technology over clinical skills and the need for better training. They discuss the impact of rider weight, tack fit, and training methods on horse comfort, underscoring the need for veterinarians to prioritize horse welfare and the importance of continuous learning and collaboration.

Dr. Audrey DeClue hosts Dr. Daniella Vansteenkiste, a neurologist, to discuss equine neurology. Dr. Vansteenkiste, who practices in Philadelphia, shares her journey from wanting to be an equine surgeon to specializing in neurology. They discuss the importance of recognizing subtle neurological signs in horses, such as girthiness and muscle atrophy, and the challenges of diagnosing and treating neurological conditions. Dr. Vansteenkiste also announces the launch of her consulting practice, VSK Veterinary Neurology, to help other veterinarians with neurological cases.

Instagram: @vskvetneuro

Watch the video here

Dr. Audrey DeClue interviews Dr. Brandy Ashman, a general practitioner from Virginia, who discusses her journey from burnout to renewed passion in veterinary medicine after discovering Dr. DeClue's methods. Dr. Ashman highlights her success with treating lameness and behavioral issues in horses, emphasizing the importance of biomechanics and practical application. They also discuss the challenges veterinarians face, the need for better mentorship, and the establishment of a retirement facility for horses, which Ashman operates, providing comprehensive care and rehabilitation.

Watch the full video here

Dr. Audrey DeClue discusses the importance of education and research in solving problems with sport horses, rather than relying on quick fixes or thinking outside the box. She emphasizes the need for a thorough understanding of horse anatomy and biomechanics and shares her approach, which involves using an extensive education and toolbox of knowledge to address root causes. She also highlights the importance of collaboration and troubleshooting and mentions upcoming workshops and seminars for veterinarians and physiotherapists to enhance their understanding and skills.

Dr. Audrey DeClue and Dr. Kate Workman discuss the need to change mindsets within the institution of equine sports medicine. They also highlight the success of a recent seminar on treating girthiness emphasizing practical, hands-on training. At the core, they stress the need to understand the whole horse - not just limb lameness - to provide the best outcomes. This also requires asking different questions to achieve better diagnoses and treatments.

The conversation underscores the need for a paradigm shift in veterinary education and practice to improve horse welfare and performance.

Watch the video on YouTube here

Dr. Audrey DeClue and Dr. Kate Workman discuss common lameness issues in sport horses, emphasizing the importance of recognizing body lameness beyond limb issues. They highlight that pain is the most common cause of lameness, with inciting factors including trauma, fatigue, and inflammation, noting that many conditions often go unrecognized.

The conversation underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to equine lameness, including the role of biomechanics and the need for more veterinary education and research.

Watch the video of this podcast here.

Dr. Audrey DeClue, DVM and Dr. Kate Workman, DVM discuss the complexities of body lameness versus limb lameness in equine sports medicine. Dr. DeClue emphasizes the importance of understanding body lameness - a term she coined to describe issues not limited to limbs.

Dr. Workman shares her experience as a performance veterinarian, highlighting the basics of sports medicine and the challenges of diagnosing and treating body lameness. They discuss the interconnectedness of the body, the limitations of current veterinary practices, and the need for proper rehabilitation protocols.

This episode underscores the importance of a whole-horse approach to equine lameness and the role of veterinarians in advancing the field.

Watch the video here